SIBERIAN CATS

 like the naturalness of this cat and the appearance of the cat indicates that she is well suited to the Russian climate. In short, she looks like a Siberian cat. The Maine Coon has that natural outdoor cat look as well. A cat that has survived without domestication (or minimal domestication) and who has "come in from the cold" to live with humans. 

She is agile, a great jumper and is another one of those cats that is "dog like". Bengals can be dog like for example as they like to play "fetch". So, if your wife likes cats and you like dogs, compromise and adopt a Siberian.

 

The Siberian is a large, affectionate, semi-longhaired Russian cat breed. The national cat of Russia, the Siberian cat is recognized by most major cat registries for Championship competition worldwide. 

nown to be an exceptionally agile jumper, the Siberian is a strong and powerfully built cat, with strong hindquarters and large, well rounded paws. Their barrel chests and medium sized ears, broad foreheads, and stockier builds set them apart from their brother Forest Cat breeds, the Maine Coon and Norwegian Forest Cat.

Weighing, on average, between 11 to 15 pounds for the males, and 9 to 12 pounds for females, the cat is heavily boned and barrel chested, giving the breed its characteristic "bull dog stance" look. As with many large breeds, Siberians attain full growth and mature characteristics slowly over their first five years.

MINIATURE CATS

These cats are usually bred small through a selective breeding program so that all the litter will be small as opposed to a single kitten being small within an average sized litter of kittens (see below though).

Average sized cats typically weigh in the order of 5 to 12 lbs. Although there are some exotic cats that weigh a lot more (e.g. the Savannah). It is difficult to classify by exact weight what constitutes a cat that has been miniaturized or indeed a Teacup cat.

In practice due to the lack of precision in definition, there may be an overlap in size between a small "normal" cat, a "miniature" cat and a "teacup" cat.

Genuine miniature cats are still rare (see rare cat breeds). They are only available, it seems, in the USA. They have been bred through progressive downsizing since the '80s.

RAGDOLL CATS

If a dog is "man's best friend," then it must also be said that Ragdoll cats are "man's best companion." More than pets, Ragdolls are true companions. The Ragdoll cat has many special features. The Ragdoll's sweet temperament is probably its most outstanding trait.
Ragdolls are large, bulky and handsome cats. They have been commonly referred to as "the gentle giants" - because in spite of their handsomeness and grace, they are extremely even-tempered and docile.

Able to steal your heart and make you wonder exactly who owns who, Ragdoll cats quickly adapt. They fit right into your life and fill it with "Ragdoll Magic!"
Ragdoll cats charm their owners with funny, as well as tender moments. The character traits of this breed alone makes it special! However, the physical aspects, build, and "looks" of the breed will further impress your fancy.

The Ragdoll is a cat breed with blue eyes and a distinct colorpoint coat. It is a large and muscular semi-longhair cat with a soft and silky coat. Developed by controversial American breeder Ann Baker, it is best known for its docile and placid temperament and affectionate nature. The name "Ragdoll" is derived from the tendency of individuals from the original breeding stock to go limp and relaxed when picked up.

The Ragdoll has a sturdy body with a large frame and proportionate legs. A full grown female weighs 8-15 lbs while males are substantially larger, ranging from 12 to 20 lbs. The genes for point coloration is also responsible for the blue eyes of the Ragdoll. More intense shades of blue is favored in the show ring. While the breed has a plush coat, they consist mainly of long guard hair and the lack of a dense undercoat results in, according to the Cat Fanciers' Association, "reduced shedding and matting".

Ragdolls come in 6 different colors - seal, chocolate, flame, and the corresponding "dilutes" blue, lilac and cream. There are three different patterns:
Pointed - One color darkening at the extremities (nose, ears, tail and paws)
Mitted - Same as pointed, but with white paws and tummy. With or without a blaze (a white line on the face),
Bicolor — White legs, white inverted 'V' on the face, white tummy and often white patches on the back.

BENGALI CATS

The Bengal is a relatively new hybrid breed of cat, which exhibits the "wild" markings (such as large spots, rosettes, and a light/white belly), and body structure suggestive of the wild Asian Leopard Cat (Prionailurus bengalensis). The Bengal cat has a desirable "wild" appearance with a gentle domestic cat temperament, provided it is separated by at least three generations from the original crossing between a domestic feline and an Asian Leopard Cat.

The name Bengal was derived from the taxonomic name of the Asian Leopard Cat (ALC), as shown above, and not from the more widely known Bengal tiger species, which is unrelated to the Bengal's ancestry.

LE PERM CAT

LaPerm is a recognized breed of cat. A LaPerm's fur is curly (hence the name "perm"), with the tightest curls being on the belly, throat and base of the ears. LaPerms come in many colors and patterns. LaPerms generally have a very affectionate personality.

The LaPerm is a rex breed which originated in the USA and is now present in many other countries worldwide. The breed is genetically unique and not related to any other rex cat varieties, having a dominant gene causing their curly coats. They have an elegant and athletic build and are affectionate, active and outgoing in character. 

LaPerms make wonderful lap-warmers. Make no mistake, though, they are very bright and playful as well. LaPerms also come in every color and coat type - except they are curly and require no grooming. These curly-coated, incredibly affectionate cats have several pluses. Low shedding is a big plus, so is their lack of need for formal grooming. Occasional brushing is all that is needed. The curls are permanent and even the whiskers and eyebrows are kinky. This means when your friends come over you will not have to defuzz them as they leave. A big help with allergy sufferers and particular housekeepers.

KINKALOW DWARF CAT

Kinkalow dwarf cats. The kinkalow dwarf cat results from the mating of an American Curl to a Munchkin. Terri Harris developed this breed and says this about the name:"The Kinkalow name was decided on while I was at Kinkos getting some copies make. The Kinkalow has kinky ears and low legs, Kink+low = Kinkalow". I believe Kinko's is a FedEx shop/office where copies can be made. The Kinkalow are adorable, with winning purrsonalities. The Hybrid child of the Munchkin & American Curl, short statured like their Munchkin parent with curled-ears like the American Curl. The Kinkalow are becoming reasonably well established in programs across the USA now & a few have made it into showhalls in TICA in Household Pet Kitten classes through the 2006 show season.

 

SCOTTISH FOLD

The Scottish Fold—sometimes called Coupari by Canadian breeders, is a breed of cat with a natural dominant-gene mutation that makes its ear cartilage contain a fold, causing the ears to bend forward and down towards the front of their head, which gives the cat what is often described as an "owl-like" appearance.

Originally called Flops (for "floppy" ears), the name Scottish Fold became the breed's name in 1966.
                     

The foremost characteristic distinguishing the Scottish Fold cat is its small ears which fold forward and downward, giving it an impish look. Sweet-tempered and attentive, devoted, but not demanding the "Fold" makes a perfect pet. As the fold is outcrossed with both American and British Shorthair cats, think of it as as having a "British sense of decorum along with an American sense of self-confidence."

MAINE COON CAT

The Maine Coon is a breed of domestic cat well known for its distinctive physical appearance. It is one of the oldest natural breeds in North America, specifically endemic to the state of Maine, where it is the official State Cat.

Although the Maine Coon's exact origins and date of introduction to the United States are unknown, many theories have been proposed. The breed was popular in cat shows in the late 1800s, but its existence became threatened when long-haired breeds from overseas were introduced in the early 20th century. The Maine Coon has since made a comeback and is now the second most popular cat breed in the world, according to the Cat Fanciers' Association (CFA).

The Maine Coon is generally noted for its large bone structure, its rectangular body shape, and a long, flowing coat. The breed can be seen in a variety of colors and are known for their intelligence  and gentle personalities. Health problems, such as feline hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and hip dysplasia, are seen in the breed, but testing is available to detect the genes responsible for causing these abnormalities

The ancestral origins of the Maine Coon are unknown. There are only theories and folktales. One such folktale involves Marie Antoinette, the Queen of France, who was executed in 1793. Before her death, Antoinette attempted to escape France with the help of Captain Samuel Clough. She loaded Clough's ship with her most prized possessions, including six of her favorite long-haired cats. Although Antoinette did not make it to the United States, her pets safely reached the shores of Wiscasset, Maine, where they mated with short-haired breeds and evolved into the modern breed of the Maine Coon.

PERSIAN CAT

The Persian (Persian: گربه ایرانی ) is the oldest breed of cat[citation needed]. In Britain, it is called the Longhair or Persian Longhair. A Persian without an established and registered pedigree is classed as a domestic longhair cat.

The first documented ancestors of the Persian were imported from Persia into Italy in 1620 by Pietro della Valle, and from Turkey into France by Nicholas-Claude Fabri de Peiresc at around the same time[1]. From France they soon reached Britain. The longhaired cats from Persia were interbred with Turkish Angoras[2]. Their appearance then differed greatly from today's standard[3]. Hundreds of years of selective breeding made Persians cobbier cats with drastically shorter muzzle. It's not clear when longhair cats (in general) first appeared, as there are no African Wildcats (believed to be ancestors of domesticated cats) with that kind of fur. There have been claims that the gene responsible for long hair was introduced through hybridization with Pallas cat. Recent research however refutes this theory. 

Persian cats are noted for their gentle temperament and ease with which they adjust to new environments, making them ideal show cats. They are quiet and, although not shy, tend to be undemonstrative. They are quite loving and affectionate and make wonderful companions, and come in a variety of colors. The Persian cat has graced the show scene for more than 100 years. Judges and spectators have been impressed with their sweet, gentle nature and long flowing coats which occur in multitude of colours and patterns.

A show-quality Persian has an extremely long thick coat, short legs, a wide head with the ears set far apart, large eyes, and an extremely foreshortened muzzle. Due to their 'squashed' faces, it is not uncommon for Persians to have moderate discharge from their tear ducts. This is easily cleaned, and a Persian's eyes should be maintained consistently by its owner. The breed was originally established with a short (but not non-existent) muzzle, but over time this feature has become extremely exaggerated, particularly in North America.

BRITISH SHORT HAIR CAT

Shorthair felines, British Shorthairs belong to Britain. The cats evolved centuries ago when Romans brought cats from their homeland and those cats mated with wild cats of Britain. With time the British Shorthairs came to being. However, it was not until the later half of nineteenth century that these felines started appearing in cat shows and began to be formally recognized. Originally they were accepted only in blue color and were thus known as British Blue. With time though other colors were given formal recognition and the name changed to the current one.

British Shorthairs are somewhat large sized with a muscular physique. They have strong chest, shoulders and legs and are known to possess significant strength relative to their size. Body is stout overall. Head is round with chubby cheeks, big round eyes that are usually copper to golden in color, and short widely set ears. Well developed whisker pads give rise to a very sweet 'smiling' facial expression. Tail is tapering at its end and paws are rounded. Apart from blue, which is the most common color, other colors and patterns include black, chocolate, cinnamon, fawn, lilac, red, white, bicolor, colorpoint, tabby and tortoiseshell.

British Shorthairs are healthy and sturdy felines. They don't suffer from any persisting health ailment in their lines. They are relatively heavy as a breed and not very agile. They are active though and have been reported throughout history to be quite capable hunters in their natural environment.

Easy going and calm, British Shorthair cats have a very good temperament. They are independent and playful and not very demanding. Their lustrous coat doesn't shed nor require daily grooming. As kittens they are quite playful. As they age, taking nearly four years to reach their full size, they become relatively sedentary and overweight in some cases. Still they maintain their loyalty and affection towards humans.