Cat Health

Superstition aside, you've decided you want a black cat. Here is information and a list of the various black cat breeds for you to pick from. Decide what features and personality attributes you want in your cat.

Bombay Cat

The Bombay cat is the only breed of cat that is all black. There are no other recognized deviations; the coat must be black to the roots for the cat to be a true Bombay. Although these cats are aloof and independent in nature, they are friendly towards all family members and like to play. They crave affection and attention but only on their terms.

They have a rounded face with pointed ears, and they are very muscular and heavy set in the body. Their eyes are generally orange, but the British breed has golden or green eyes.

This breed was created by Nikki Horner in the 1950s. She wanted to create a small panther-like cat, and after a few attempts, she created what is now recognized as the Bombay cat with its rich eye color. They were named after Bombay, India, which is considered the land of the black leopard.

Persian Cat

Persians have a regal air about them. Their nature is a lot more placid than other cat breeds. The inbreeding and attempts to meet competition requirements means that the Persian cat is very docile. However, there are Persian cats that are more lively, particularly the Chinchilla cat. They don't have the flat face that most other Persians do. Grooming is a daily must with a Persian cat as their coat will turn knotty very quickly.

The Persian cat has a rounded head, flat face, and short ears. Generally, they have a bigger jaw, with some Persians having an overshot jaw from inbreeding. They often have eye discharge, and they may have breathing difficulties because of the shape of their face. Their coats are extremely furry, and their tails are bushy.

Persians have been shown in competitions since 1871 when they appeared at London's Crystal Palace. However, they were first seen further back with the first sightings around the mid 1500s in Europe. They originated in Persia (now Iran) and Turkey. Their coat was thought to have grown longer as an adaption to the cold mountain areas of Persia.

American Shorthair and British Shorthair

With variations in their coat texture, these two breeds are together in this section because they are very much the same in nature having been bred from a wide gene pool and being very hardy stock. They are healthy, robust and playful with no genetic defects like other breeds. This breed is the type you would see on the street; in other words, your general moggy.

The British Shorthair is native to Great Britain. The American Shorthair is thought to have been introduced via the Mayflower ship.

Other black cat breeds:

American Curl/LH
American Bobtail/LH
Cornish Rex
Chausie
Cymric
Japanese Bobtail/LH
LaPerm/SH
Maine Coon
Munchkin
Manx
Norwegian Forrest
Scottish Fold/LH
Oriental Longhair
Oriental Shorthair
Sphynx
Turkish Angora

The breeds in this article are the most popular, and profile cats you are more likely to recognize.

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There are two distinct schools of thought when it comes to cat owners. The majority are quite happy sharing their home with a "moggie" which is any mixed bred cat. Generally, especially after neutering or spaying they are loving affectionate creatures that in return for some tender loving care will give you joy and affection.

However, there is also another school of cat owners who are devoted to one of the pure breeds of cat. There are over 70 plus separate breeds of cat which are officially recognized by the national cat societies. Although do not differ in shape and size as much as canines there are still large differences between the various breeds.

In simple terms cats can be divided between short-haired and long-haired varieties British, American and Oriental short-haired varieties come in a range of different colors. Apart from the more common black, white, tabby (calico) and ginger cats there are also cream, lilac and chocolate colored short-haired varieties.

The most well know of the long-haired is possibly the Persian. It is believed that the Persian Longhair was probably the fist pedigree breed that was imported into the UK and USA. They are believed to be descended from Angora cats of Turkey and Iran and were bought back to Europe by sailors sometime in the sixteenth century.

Other non Persian long-haired breeds include Angora, Balinese, Chinchilla and Birman. In the USA the Maine Coon is a popular long haired breed as are the Norwegian Forest cat and the Ragdoll. Owners of the long-haired breed will tell you that their pets can be very placid and docile and they seem to lack the aggressive tendencies of some other breeds. On the downside long-haired cats do require a great deal of grooming and are very prone to getting hairballs.

Short-haired breeds include Abyssinian American Wirehair, Bengal, Egyptian Mau, Rex and of course the Siamese considered by some to be the real aristocrats of the cat world. Because of their short coats they do not need as much grooming as their long haired cousins.

Pedigree cats tend can cost a lot of money especially if they are descended from winners at major cat shows. Whether you opt for "moggie" from your local cat rescue centre or go to a specialist breeder you are going to a pet that is going to become part of yours and your family's life.

Being a cat owner comes with responsibilities you need to know about Cat Care. To find free articles about looking after your cat visit http://www.cat-lovers.co.uk

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