Color: Ocicats come in all the colors associated with the parent breeds: tawny, cinnamon, blue and fawn from the Abyssinian; chocolate and lavender from the Siamese; and each color on a silver background from the American Shorthair.
Grooming: The short, satiny coat requires no special grooming. Frequent petting will help to remove dead hair and leave the coat shiny.
National Breed Club: Ocicats of North America; www.abcs.com/catoninetail/ona
Personality: Exotic in looks only. Intelligent and easily trainable, this breed adapts well to homes with dogs and other cats. They travel well and are not bashful with strangers. Ocicats thrive on human interaction and therefore do not do well in homes where they are left alone for long periods. They talk like a Siamese but do not have the same raucous voice.
Appearance: A large, athletic cat with an extremely muscular body. The head is a gently curved wedge with a squared muzzle and broad nose, much like the ocelot it mimics. The coat is short, with a satin sheen that shows off the pattern. Spots on the body are shaped like a thumbprint and ideally scattered randomly over the body. Classic, or marble, patterns occur in Ocicat litters but are not showable. Like any other tabby, there are stripes on the legs, rings on the tail and vest buttons on the belly, as well as dramatic facial markings. All markings should be clearly defined against the lighter background color.
Grooming: The short, satiny coat requires no special grooming. Frequent petting will help to remove dead hair and leave the coat shiny.
National Breed Club: Ocicats of North America; www.abcs.com/catoninetail/ona
Personality: Exotic in looks only. Intelligent and easily trainable, this breed adapts well to homes with dogs and other cats. They travel well and are not bashful with strangers. Ocicats thrive on human interaction and therefore do not do well in homes where they are left alone for long periods. They talk like a Siamese but do not have the same raucous voice.
Appearance: A large, athletic cat with an extremely muscular body. The head is a gently curved wedge with a squared muzzle and broad nose, much like the ocelot it mimics. The coat is short, with a satin sheen that shows off the pattern. Spots on the body are shaped like a thumbprint and ideally scattered randomly over the body. Classic, or marble, patterns occur in Ocicat litters but are not showable. Like any other tabby, there are stripes on the legs, rings on the tail and vest buttons on the belly, as well as dramatic facial markings. All markings should be clearly defined against the lighter background color.
Color: Most associations accept all colors and patterns except those derived from Siamese (color points), although some recognize these as well.
Grooming: Double coat of the shorthair does best with occasional brushing. Longhair needs weekly combing and benefits from regular bathing.
Best Home: Sometimes cautious of strangers, Manx like to interact with their family. They do well with dogs and children if introduced at an early age.
National Breed Club: International Manx & Cymric Society
Personality: Lively, entertaining and inquisitive. Will often collect small objects. Soft voices with quiet trill. Appreciate tall scratch posts.
Appearance: Powerfully built cat with deep, broad chest. Back rises in arc to round, tailless rump. Broad head with firm, round muzzle and prominent cheeks. When viewed from behind, shape of the inner edges of ears resembles a rocker on a cradle. Longhaired (Cymric) and shorthaired varieties.
Grooming: Double coat of the shorthair does best with occasional brushing. Longhair needs weekly combing and benefits from regular bathing.Best Home: Sometimes cautious of strangers, Manx like to interact with their family. They do well with dogs and children if introduced at an early age.
National Breed Club: International Manx & Cymric Society
Personality: Lively, entertaining and inquisitive. Will often collect small objects. Soft voices with quiet trill. Appreciate tall scratch posts.
Appearance: Powerfully built cat with deep, broad chest. Back rises in arc to round, tailless rump. Broad head with firm, round muzzle and prominent cheeks. When viewed from behind, shape of the inner edges of ears resembles a rocker on a cradle. Longhaired (Cymric) and shorthaired varieties.
Color: The short, close-lying coat is "rain-cloud gray" tipped in silver for a shimmering effect.
Grooming: Like most shorthaired cats, the Korat requires very little grooming other than petting and occasional brushing to remove loose hair.
Best Home: Korats are an excellent choice for people who live alone, although they will bond strongly to other cats and even dogs. Korats love to be physically close to their chosen people.
Personality: This moderately active cat has strong likes and dislikes. It can be very territorial and will make a faithful, if demanding, companion. A heightened sense of hearing makes the Korat very sensitive to surrounding activities. Owners say Korats have a sense of humor and love to play with almost any toy.
Appearance: The muscular, compact Korat weighs from 4 to 10 pounds and has a broad chest. Inside the heart-shaped outline of the head, a second heart can be traced from the chin, over the ridges of the eyebrows, dipping back down to the bridge of the nose. The nose should have a lion-like downward slope in profile. Oversized eyes are a luminous peridot green.
Grooming: Like most shorthaired cats, the Korat requires very little grooming other than petting and occasional brushing to remove loose hair.Best Home: Korats are an excellent choice for people who live alone, although they will bond strongly to other cats and even dogs. Korats love to be physically close to their chosen people.
Personality: This moderately active cat has strong likes and dislikes. It can be very territorial and will make a faithful, if demanding, companion. A heightened sense of hearing makes the Korat very sensitive to surrounding activities. Owners say Korats have a sense of humor and love to play with almost any toy.
Appearance: The muscular, compact Korat weighs from 4 to 10 pounds and has a broad chest. Inside the heart-shaped outline of the head, a second heart can be traced from the chin, over the ridges of the eyebrows, dipping back down to the bridge of the nose. The nose should have a lion-like downward slope in profile. Oversized eyes are a luminous peridot green.
Country of Origin: Japan
Color: A wide variety of colors and patterns are accepted, but the most popular are the dramatic markings of the calico (mi-ke) and black/white.
Grooming: Shorthaired Japanese Bobtails require very little grooming other than petting. They shed very little, mostly in the spring. Longhairs may benefit from an occasional brushing to keep the ruff and leg britches looking good when in full coat.
Best Home: Active and unafraid of chaos and noise, the Japanese Bobtail makes an ideal cat for a family with busy children. Breeders recommend that Japanese Bobtails always have a companion, whether a cat, dog or some other pet. They can get into trouble if bored.
Personality: This playful, social cat demands interaction. The cat will want to participate in all family activities. They are stable, not high-strung, and will show affection to family and friends. The cat produces quiet chirps, hums and meows. A born retriever, Japanese Bobtails love a good game of fetch.
Appearance: The Japanese Bobtail is a medium-sized cat; females weigh approximately 6 pounds and males approximately 8. The lean and muscular body should never have the tubular look of the Oriental or Siamese. Legs are long and slender with the taller hind legs carried at a deep angle so the back appears level. Every cat has a unique tail, which can have any combination of curves, angles and kinks, but may not exceed 3 inches in length. The tail is movable at the base and can be very expressive. High cheekbones and a distinct slant to the eyes complete the chiseled Oriental look. The coat can be short, soft and silky or semi-long with britches and a neck ruff.
Color: A wide variety of colors and patterns are accepted, but the most popular are the dramatic markings of the calico (mi-ke) and black/white.
Grooming: Shorthaired Japanese Bobtails require very little grooming other than petting. They shed very little, mostly in the spring. Longhairs may benefit from an occasional brushing to keep the ruff and leg britches looking good when in full coat.Best Home: Active and unafraid of chaos and noise, the Japanese Bobtail makes an ideal cat for a family with busy children. Breeders recommend that Japanese Bobtails always have a companion, whether a cat, dog or some other pet. They can get into trouble if bored.
Personality: This playful, social cat demands interaction. The cat will want to participate in all family activities. They are stable, not high-strung, and will show affection to family and friends. The cat produces quiet chirps, hums and meows. A born retriever, Japanese Bobtails love a good game of fetch.
Appearance: The Japanese Bobtail is a medium-sized cat; females weigh approximately 6 pounds and males approximately 8. The lean and muscular body should never have the tubular look of the Oriental or Siamese. Legs are long and slender with the taller hind legs carried at a deep angle so the back appears level. Every cat has a unique tail, which can have any combination of curves, angles and kinks, but may not exceed 3 inches in length. The tail is movable at the base and can be very expressive. High cheekbones and a distinct slant to the eyes complete the chiseled Oriental look. The coat can be short, soft and silky or semi-long with britches and a neck ruff.
Color: Solid colors only. CFA - the Havana Brown is accepted in Brown only. TICA - refers to breed as Havana and accepts both Chocolate and Lilac colors
Grooming: Unless you plan to show your Havana Brown, it will require very little formal grooming. A good diet will keep the coat shiny and the cat will take care of bathing. A weekly grooming with a rubber brush will help prevent hairballs.
Best Home: Havana Browns love to follow their humans wherever they go. A sudden crash that might send other cats diving for cover will bring the Havana to investigate. Outgoing and playful, they enjoy a good game of tag even as adults. They do well as only cats, and they can get rather possessive of their person. Breeders find they fit well into the household of the busy professional.
National Breed Club: International Havana Brown Society; www.havanabrown.org
Personality: This sociable, affectionate and intelligent companion instinctively knows when to give and when to demand attention. It is quiet and gentle with a soft voice (most of the time). The Havana Brown often uses its paws to investigate by touching and feeling, as well as using the "wounded paw" technique to elicit sympathy. Quick, agile and playful, this cat thrives on human companionship.
Appearance: Two features separate the Havana Brown from any other breed. The first, and most obvious is a glistening mahogany-brown coat. Medium short and close lying, it glows with reddish highlights and should be sound to the roots. (TICA accepts lilac Havanas.) The second feature is a distinctive "corn cob" muzzle that appears added to the skull rather than flowing from it. Unlike any other breed of cat, the whiskers are the same brown as the coat. The cat's medium-sized body should be firm and muscular but not tubular like a Siamese. Males tend to be larger, weighing 8 to 10 pounds, while females average 6 to 8. Large, oval green eyes give the cat a sultry look.
Grooming: Unless you plan to show your Havana Brown, it will require very little formal grooming. A good diet will keep the coat shiny and the cat will take care of bathing. A weekly grooming with a rubber brush will help prevent hairballs.Best Home: Havana Browns love to follow their humans wherever they go. A sudden crash that might send other cats diving for cover will bring the Havana to investigate. Outgoing and playful, they enjoy a good game of tag even as adults. They do well as only cats, and they can get rather possessive of their person. Breeders find they fit well into the household of the busy professional.
National Breed Club: International Havana Brown Society; www.havanabrown.org
Personality: This sociable, affectionate and intelligent companion instinctively knows when to give and when to demand attention. It is quiet and gentle with a soft voice (most of the time). The Havana Brown often uses its paws to investigate by touching and feeling, as well as using the "wounded paw" technique to elicit sympathy. Quick, agile and playful, this cat thrives on human companionship.
Appearance: Two features separate the Havana Brown from any other breed. The first, and most obvious is a glistening mahogany-brown coat. Medium short and close lying, it glows with reddish highlights and should be sound to the roots. (TICA accepts lilac Havanas.) The second feature is a distinctive "corn cob" muzzle that appears added to the skull rather than flowing from it. Unlike any other breed of cat, the whiskers are the same brown as the coat. The cat's medium-sized body should be firm and muscular but not tubular like a Siamese. Males tend to be larger, weighing 8 to 10 pounds, while females average 6 to 8. Large, oval green eyes give the cat a sultry look.
Color: The exotic shorthair exhibits in a variety of coat colors including: white, blue, black, red, cream, lilac, chocolate, chinchilla silver, shaded silver, blue chinchilla silver, blue shaded silver, chinchilla golden, peke-face red, shaded golden, blue chinchilla golden, blue shaded golden, shell cameo, shell cream, shaded cream, shell tortoiseshell, shaded tortoiseshell and several others.Coat: The desired coat is dense, plush and stands away from the body due to the thick undercoat.
Personality: A bit livelier and more inquisitive than the Persian, Exotics share many of the Persian's gentler personality features.
Appearance: The Exotic's body and head-style match that of the Persian.
Color: A loose pouch of skin just before the hind legs allows for extra extension in running and jumping. Accepted colors for show are silver, bronze and smoke, although black and blue do occasionally occur and make lovely pets.
Grooming: The Mau coat is fairly short and nearly maintenance free. Comb to reduce shedding because vigorous brushing can remove the spots on the ticking at the end of the hair shaft. A soft chamois or silk scarf gives a nice polish to the coat.
Best Home: The ideal Mau owner pays attention to the cat and gives it lots of special playtime. These cats usually make excellent travelers and are easily leash-trained. Maus know the names of their toys and fetch them when asked. Make sure children know how to properly handle cats because Maus tend to disappear when faced with uncomfortable situations.
National Breed Club: National Egyptian Mau Club
Personality: Maus demonstrate extreme intelligence and fierce loyalty to their families. While gregarious and interactive, they can express shyness with strangers. They love human companionship, but on their own terms. When happy, Maus often express themselves using little chortling sounds and wiggling their tails. Moderately active, Maus love to play with moving things. They have been known to steal judges' toys and refuse to relinquish them.
Appearance: The Egyptian Mau is the only naturally occurring spotted domestic cat. The spots can appear large or small, but must be randomly placed and distinct from the lighter background color. Dramatic tabby markings include the "M" on the forehead and mascara lines from the eyes to the cheeks. Legs and tail sport multiple bars and rings. At least one necklace adorns the chest area. The cat's body possesses the lean and elegant lines of the cats in Egyptian paintings. Females range from 6 to 8 pounds, while males can weigh up to 12 pounds. Eyes are a gooseberry-green in color.
Grooming: The Mau coat is fairly short and nearly maintenance free. Comb to reduce shedding because vigorous brushing can remove the spots on the ticking at the end of the hair shaft. A soft chamois or silk scarf gives a nice polish to the coat.
Best Home: The ideal Mau owner pays attention to the cat and gives it lots of special playtime. These cats usually make excellent travelers and are easily leash-trained. Maus know the names of their toys and fetch them when asked. Make sure children know how to properly handle cats because Maus tend to disappear when faced with uncomfortable situations.National Breed Club: National Egyptian Mau Club
Personality: Maus demonstrate extreme intelligence and fierce loyalty to their families. While gregarious and interactive, they can express shyness with strangers. They love human companionship, but on their own terms. When happy, Maus often express themselves using little chortling sounds and wiggling their tails. Moderately active, Maus love to play with moving things. They have been known to steal judges' toys and refuse to relinquish them.
Appearance: The Egyptian Mau is the only naturally occurring spotted domestic cat. The spots can appear large or small, but must be randomly placed and distinct from the lighter background color. Dramatic tabby markings include the "M" on the forehead and mascara lines from the eyes to the cheeks. Legs and tail sport multiple bars and rings. At least one necklace adorns the chest area. The cat's body possesses the lean and elegant lines of the cats in Egyptian paintings. Females range from 6 to 8 pounds, while males can weigh up to 12 pounds. Eyes are a gooseberry-green in color.
Color: Chausies' shorthaired coats are recognized in the three colors of the Jungle Cat: brown ticked tabby, called "golden" by breeders, which can range from light tan through tawny and mouse gray to a deep yellow brown; solid black; and silver-tipped black, a striking and unique color found on no other exotic or domestic cat. Markings, seen only on the ticked cats, are limited to a bit of black leg barring and tail rings.
Grooming: The Chausie's short coat requires little more attention than an occasional bath and brushing. Regularly trim the claws.
Best Home: In general, Chausies manage fine with other cats, and dogs as well, but they aren't an ideal choice for people with very young children, lots of precious breakables or a low tolerance for mischief.
Personality: Highly affectionate and active. Chausies demand attention and reward it with obvious affection. Highly intelligent with feral grace and agility. Their antics can be enormously entertaining, but their high energy level can be exhausting.
Appearance: The Chausie, which has also been called the Nile Cat because of its ancient Egyptian heritage, retains the tall, leggy, long-bodied look of its Jungle Cat ancestor; the lean, agile physique of an athlete. The medium-size, gently wedge-shaped head features a long, square muzzle and strong chin. Prominent ears set upright and are wide at the base, tapering to slightly rounded points, which ideally are topped with longer hair tufts, giving the Chausie a wild lynx look. Chausies have long-muscled legs built for running, and their large, powerful hindquarters attest to their tremendous leaping ability. Tails can range from the preferred three-quarter length of the Jungle Cat, which has fewer vertebrae, to full length. Chausies are large cats, typically weighing 16 to 20 pounds and sometimes reaching 16'' at the shoulder. Females generally run one-third smaller.
Grooming: The Chausie's short coat requires little more attention than an occasional bath and brushing. Regularly trim the claws.Best Home: In general, Chausies manage fine with other cats, and dogs as well, but they aren't an ideal choice for people with very young children, lots of precious breakables or a low tolerance for mischief.
Personality: Highly affectionate and active. Chausies demand attention and reward it with obvious affection. Highly intelligent with feral grace and agility. Their antics can be enormously entertaining, but their high energy level can be exhausting.
Appearance: The Chausie, which has also been called the Nile Cat because of its ancient Egyptian heritage, retains the tall, leggy, long-bodied look of its Jungle Cat ancestor; the lean, agile physique of an athlete. The medium-size, gently wedge-shaped head features a long, square muzzle and strong chin. Prominent ears set upright and are wide at the base, tapering to slightly rounded points, which ideally are topped with longer hair tufts, giving the Chausie a wild lynx look. Chausies have long-muscled legs built for running, and their large, powerful hindquarters attest to their tremendous leaping ability. Tails can range from the preferred three-quarter length of the Jungle Cat, which has fewer vertebrae, to full length. Chausies are large cats, typically weighing 16 to 20 pounds and sometimes reaching 16'' at the shoulder. Females generally run one-third smaller.
Color: All colors and patterns, as well as both longhaired and shorthaired varieties, are accepted for competition.
Grooming: The Shorthair Munchkin coat has a medium-texture, "all-weather" coat requiring little grooming. Longhairs have a silky, semilong coat with a medium undercoat and can have substantial ruff at the neck and breeches on the hind legs. Like any other semilonghair cat, they benefit from a bath.
Best Home: These fun and funny cats get along well with other cats, dogs and people.
National Breed Club: Get Down Munchkin Breed Club; www.ticastephens.org/munchkin.htm
Personality: Friendly and self-assured, this "regular cat" is more affectionate and people-oriented than the average domestic.
Appearance: While short of leg, the Munchkin must be a normal size cat in all other respects, with its body approximately 40 percent longer than its legs are tall. The head is a broad wedge with a slight stop in the profile from nose to forehead. Medium- large ears flare to complete the moderate wedge. The legs are muscled and not bowed.
Grooming: The Shorthair Munchkin coat has a medium-texture, "all-weather" coat requiring little grooming. Longhairs have a silky, semilong coat with a medium undercoat and can have substantial ruff at the neck and breeches on the hind legs. Like any other semilonghair cat, they benefit from a bath.Best Home: These fun and funny cats get along well with other cats, dogs and people.
National Breed Club: Get Down Munchkin Breed Club; www.ticastephens.org/munchkin.htm
Personality: Friendly and self-assured, this "regular cat" is more affectionate and people-oriented than the average domestic.
Appearance: While short of leg, the Munchkin must be a normal size cat in all other respects, with its body approximately 40 percent longer than its legs are tall. The head is a broad wedge with a slight stop in the profile from nose to forehead. Medium- large ears flare to complete the moderate wedge. The legs are muscled and not bowed.
Country of Origin: France
Color: Any shade of blue-gray, from ash to slate, with the tips lightly brushed with silver.
Grooming: Despite the coat's thickness, it requires little maintenance. Running your fingers through the fur removes loose hair from the thick undercoat. Owners often comb the cat more for interaction than grooming.
Best Home: Chartreux generally adapt to any lifestyle. Their days combine short energy spurts and mellow relaxation. "I often find my cats laid out on the floor sound asleep," says Mary Ann Sweeters, CFA Breed Council secretary for the Chartreux. "They have a tendency to play at full speed for 15 minutes and then they just crash." While they can be "couch potatoes," they are not necessarily lap cats. They enjoy interaction with people and develop favorite games such as "fetch."
Personality: Owners often find themselves negotiating an agreement with these intelligent cats about behavior. These friendly and devoted cats tend to pick a favorite person and form strong bonds with the family dog. Although Chartreux communicate in squeaks and chirps, they can create a large, rumbling purr.
Appearance: The robust body features a broad chest and relatively fine-boned legs. The broad head, with powerful jaws and pronounced cheeks, terminates with a small, tapered muzzle. Blue remains the only acceptable color for this cat, although it may vary from light ash to deep slate. The mature adult should have a silver-tipped, woolly, dense coat. The eyes should be brilliant orange.
Color: Any shade of blue-gray, from ash to slate, with the tips lightly brushed with silver.
Grooming: Despite the coat's thickness, it requires little maintenance. Running your fingers through the fur removes loose hair from the thick undercoat. Owners often comb the cat more for interaction than grooming.
Best Home: Chartreux generally adapt to any lifestyle. Their days combine short energy spurts and mellow relaxation. "I often find my cats laid out on the floor sound asleep," says Mary Ann Sweeters, CFA Breed Council secretary for the Chartreux. "They have a tendency to play at full speed for 15 minutes and then they just crash." While they can be "couch potatoes," they are not necessarily lap cats. They enjoy interaction with people and develop favorite games such as "fetch."
Personality: Owners often find themselves negotiating an agreement with these intelligent cats about behavior. These friendly and devoted cats tend to pick a favorite person and form strong bonds with the family dog. Although Chartreux communicate in squeaks and chirps, they can create a large, rumbling purr.
Appearance: The robust body features a broad chest and relatively fine-boned legs. The broad head, with powerful jaws and pronounced cheeks, terminates with a small, tapered muzzle. Blue remains the only acceptable color for this cat, although it may vary from light ash to deep slate. The mature adult should have a silver-tipped, woolly, dense coat. The eyes should be brilliant orange.