While the foundation cat for the Burmese breed was imported from Burma, this breed was actually created in the United States when this cat was bred to a Siamese cat and a kitten from her first litter was bred back to her. The Burmese cat breed actually has two distinct strains, the American Burmese and the European Burmese. These strains have become so different that some people now consider them to be two different breeds.

The American Burmese has an extremely round head and enormous round eyes. The tail is darker in color than the body. Although there are other colors as well, the Cat Fanciers Association prefers Sable, Champagne, Blue, and Platinum coat colors. The European Burmese has a more traditionally catlike wedge shaped head, although it does have the same large round eyes. The European Burmese comes in a wider range of colors than the American Burmese. Both breed strains weigh in at eight to fourteen pounds.

Unfortunately, for some time the American Burmese was bred to create an even rounder head and this breeding program caused some serious problems. A hereditary head deformity began appearing in these cats. Sometimes the deformity was so serious that the cats literally died. Other times, they had to be put down because they were in such bad shape. Today, breeders are concentrating a little less on the extremely round head and more on the health of the breed.

This breed is a very friendly and sociable one, so if you spend very little time at home, you may want to look for a different cat breed. If you still want to own a Burmese, you may want to consider buying two kittens instead, so that they can keep each other company while you are away.

The Burmese is happy in family environments. These cats are laid back enough that a bit of noise and activity doesn’t stress them out. They enjoy having plenty of attention and don’t mind a few visitors. While this breed is friendly, it is not as playful as some other Oriental cat breeds. If you think the Siamese is just a bit too outgoing and obnoxious, the Burmese temperament should be ideal.

Since this cat breed has a short, fine coat, you should not need to spend much time grooming your cat. Combing through his hair once a week should be enough to keep him looking glossy and healthy. In fact, you may just want to rub him down with a soft cloth or a grooming glove to pick up loose hair.

So, if you have always wanted to own one of the Oriental cat breeds, but think that the Siamese is too loud and active, then the graceful, sweet natured Burmese may be the perfect cat for you and your family.

The Bombay cat gets its jet black coat color from its American Shorthair ancestors and its body shape from its Sable Burmese ancestors. This breed has very short hair that has a very smooth and silky feeling. This cat breed must have enormous copper colored eyes that have a round shape. Cats that do not develop the copper eye color or have eye color that fades as they age are automatically disqualified. These cats should be jet black, but occasional sable kittens still appear. For the small size of its compact body, the Bombay is no lightweight, weighing in at six to eleven solidly built pounds. 

Of course, since the Bombay is the descendant of two domestic cat breeds, it does not have the personality of a panther. In fact, this breed is known for being very friendly, sweet, and extremely intelligent. Just how smart is the Bombay? This is one of the few cat breeds that can learn to fetch and heel. The Bombay excels at learning parlor tricks, as well. While the Bombay is a bit talkative, it does not have a loud or shrill voice.

If you would like to own dogs and cats, this breed is a good choice. Bombays rarely meet a person or animal they do not like. Of course, you will still need to be sure that you choose a dog breed that is tolerant of cats. Households with children should also consider the Bombay. These cats are very patient and love people, including children. They even like complete strangers and often will greet visitors at the front door, instead of hiding under the sofa like most cats.

For people who spend a lot of time at home, the Bombay is a wonderful choice. These cats will spend all day hanging out with their humans and love to curl up in any available lap. Some people think that they crave the extra heat that our bodies give off, but most people prefer to think that these cats just enjoy being with their families. If you spend a lot of time away from home, you may want to think twice about owning a Bombay. If you do still decide that this breed is for you, you may want to get a second cat, as a single Bombay left home alone is a very unhappy cat.

With their short, sleek coats, these cats need very little grooming. In fact, rubbing your cat down once a week with a grooming glove should keep him glossy and beautiful.

If you want a cat who looks wild but has the personality of a teddy bear, then a Bombay is the perfect choice for you.

While no one is completely sure where the Birman breed came from, all cat fanciers agree that it is an older breed. Some breeders say the Birman is closely related to the Siamese cat, since it resembles a slightly stockier Siamese in appearance. In fact, more than one person has said that when the pure white Burman temple cats changed color, it was probably because a stray Siamese cat fathered a few litters of kittens.

In the nineteen twenties, the Birman cat reached Europe. A single female survived the long voyage from Burma to France and gave birth to a female kitten who is the ancestor of today’s Birman cats. This cat was most likely crossed with a Siamese cat. After World War II, the Birman was in grave danger of extinction, as only one known pair of Birmans had survived the German occupation. The breed was again outcrossed with another cat to avoid extinction, although this time the Persian was most likely used.

With all of the inbreeding that was done to save the Birman breed, it would be no surprise if these cats were prone to several hereditary diseases. However, the breed is surprisingly healthy overall. Just be aware that most of these cats are prone to anesthesia sensitivity and this problem, along with the fact that Birmans can be either A or B blood type, can cause trouble on the operating table. The breed is also prone to developing hairballs.

Since the Birman is prone to hairballs, you may want to feed your cat a diet that is formulated to aid in hairball prevention. If he becomes lethargic and does not eat as much as he normally does, you should consult your veterinarian about treating him for hairballs. Since this breed is not as active as some other breeds, you may also need to ask your veterinarian about feeding your cat a weight control diet if he becomes overweight.

While this breed is a longhair breed, it does not have a heavy coat. As long as you comb your Birman’s hair once a week, you should not have a problem with the coat matting.

If you are looking for a cat that isn’t quite as demanding and attention seeking as some of the more affectionate breeds, but also isn’t too standoffish, the Birman breed is a good choice. These cats are still somewhat playful, curious and affectionate, like their Siamese relatives, but are more laid back and relaxed than the Siamese, like their Persian relatives.

These cats, which are classified as a part of the Championship Class by the Cat Fancier’s Association, are on the large side, weighing in at eight to fifteen pounds. The Shorthair has a wide face with prominent cheeks and a powerful well muscled body. His tail is slightly thicker at the base than at the tip and is shorter than his body. His eyes are big and have an alert expression.

While tabbies are probably the most common Shorthair patterns, cats with self, tortie, smoke, and bicolors patterns are also available. The striking silver tabby color has been popular since one of these gorgeous cats was the winner of the nineteen sixty five United States Cat of the Year Award. However, the tortise shell and white cat, also known as a Calico is also quite popular.

The American Shorthair actually is a descendant of the European Shorthair. As this breed adapted to life in the United States, it developed a heavier, coarser coat to protect it from the bitter American winters. In addition, the American Shorthair is a bit larger than its ancestor, because of the many dangers the breed faced when it first arrived from Europe.

The American Shorthair is usually a mild mannered, quiet cat, although it can be a fairly formidable hunter of mice and other small rodents. Since this cat breed is quite content to curl up on the sofa, it is an ideal breed for apartment living. These cats are often tolerant of children and other pets, as long as they are not mishandled, which makes the American Shorthair breed a good choice for a family looking for a pet cat.

Since any cat that met the American Shorthair breed standard could originally be registered as a pedigreed American Shorthair, the breed did not suffer from the inbreeding that caused so many hereditary health conditions in other breeds. Of course, as the breed developed, unpedigreed cats could no longer be registered just because they resembled the American Shorthair.

Since this breed is not very active and already tends to be a bit on the large side, you may want to keep an eye on your cat’s weight. If he eats too much, you may have to stop offering unlimited amounts of dry food. You may also need to consult your veterinarian about feeding a weight control diet.

While American Shorthair cats do not have problems with matted coats, grooming is still important, as it helps cut down on shedding. You may want to accustom your kitten to having his teeth brushed, as well, since as cats age, they can develop severe dental problems if their teeth are not cared for properly.

If you want a cat that is an undemanding but enjoyable pet, then the American Shorthair may be the ideal choice for you.

The Cat Fancier’s Association classifies the Abyssinian as a part of the Championship Class, along with thirty six other cat breeds. This breed is often smaller than many other cat breeds, weighing in at only nine to sixteen pounds.

The Abyssinian has a graceful tail that is as long as the rest of its body. Although Abyssinians can have coats in almost any shade, from red to lilac, they all are tabbies with a ticked appearance. This means that each individual hair has bands of dark and light color. This cat breed has a wedge shaped face with eyes that are green, amber, or hazel colored.

This breed is much older than many other cat breeds. Images in ancient Egypt show cats with a very similar appearance, right down to the ticked appearance of their coats. The first Abyssinians to arrive in England came from Ethiopia in the eighteen hundreds.

Abyssinians have a reputation for being very curious. These cats want to know everything about what’s going on around them. They seem to actually try to help their owners complete household chores and like to hang out with them in the garden. It is no surprise that such a curious breed is also extremely active. This breed spends a lot of time playing and needs a lot of toys. If you don’t provide playthings, your cat will use your belongings to create his own toys. Abyssinians will scale any barrier in their quest to explore their surroundings, from curtains to fences. If you allow your cat to spend time outdoors, keep a close eye on him, as he will most likely be a bit of an escape artist.

This breed’s personality means that it needs a lot of attention and affection from its owner. An Abyssinian is the wrong choice for anyone who spends a lot of time away from home. If you aren’t home a lot, you may want to consider adding another Abyssinian to the household, as this breed does enjoy playing and interacting with other cats.

Abyssinians are so intelligent that they can easily learn a few simple commands. Don’t be surprised if your cat learns to come when he is called and picks up some tricks like fetching a toy.

Although most Abyssinians aren’t chow hounds like some other cat breeds, you may still want to be sure your cat doesn’t overeat. If he starts to become too fat, you may want to talk to your veterinarian about feeding him a weight management cat food, instead. Although urinary tract infections are not as common in this breed as they are in some other breeds, you may want to talk to your veterinarian about feeding a diet that helps prevent infections if you have an altered male cat.

One common health problem this breed does often have is an inherited eye disease called retinal atrophy. This is very unusual in cat breeds, although it is fairly common in many dog breeds.

With its short sleek coat, the Abyssinian needs very little grooming. However, these cats often enjoy receiving the extra attention, as long as you are gentle.

If you want a cat breed that is as affectionate and devoted as any dog, then the Abyssinian is the perfect choice for you.

The first thing you should consider is whether you will be able to handle having a vocal cat. Some cat breeds can actually be quite noisy. While many cat owners do not have a problem with these vocal breeds, as they realize their cats are just communicating with them, a loud cat can be a problem in an apartment situation. Breeds that are very vocal are the Siamese Cat, the Korat, and the Burmese. The Scottish Fold, Somali, and the American Curl are considered to be very quiet cat breeds.

Next, you will want to think about whether you want a cat who is cuddly or if a more aloof breed is right for you. If you do not have a lot of free time, a cuddly cat who loves attention may be the wrong choice. However, affectionate cats are usually better with children than more reserved breeds. Some of the friendliest cat breeds are the Snowshoe, Abyssinian, Maine Coon, Ragdoll, Tonkinese, and the Himalayan Persian. Less sociable breeds are the Norwegian Forest Cat, the Nebelung, and the Russian Shorthair.      

If you are looking for a cat who can amuse himself and will not get into constant mischief, then the Sphynx, Siamese, Rex, Balinese, and British Angora breeds may be a bad choice. These cats are very inquisitive and energetic. However, for someone who is homebound or has a lot of free time, these cats are a wonderful source of entertainment. In fact, the Rex is downright silly in his attempts to amuse those around him.

Of course, while you are looking at what cat breed to shop for, don’t get so caught up in selecting the right temperament that you overlook other important features. One of the most important things to consider when you are looking for the right cat is whether you want a long haired or short haired breed. People who don’t have a lot of time to devote to a pet may want to opt for a short haired breed. Although that fuzzy ball of fluff may look adorable right now, grooming adult long haired cats can take up quite a lot of time. If you neglect your cat’s coat, it can tangle and matt up at an alarmingly fast rate, right down to his skin. Once this happens, your only option is to have him shaved completely, which can be quite traumatic. Also, your cat will probably have to be sedated before he can be shaved down, which poses a health risk.

Once you consider all of the different features and traits for the cat breeds you are interested in, you will finally be ready to start searching for your new pet. Now, you will need to decide whether you want a kitten or if you would prefer to give an abandoned older cat a second chance. If you are looking for a certain breed of kitten, check out your local cat show, since most exhibitors have a few kittens for sale. If an older cat is right for you, give your local humane society or animal rescue a call.