Domestic cats: breeds. Large domestic cats: breeds

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

All domestic cats are representatives of the same species of animals. This group of animals in Latin is called Feliscatus, which literally translates as "agile and dexterous cats." They have a long history of developing human relationships. It all started, according to scientists, about four thousand years ago in ancient Egypt, it was there that relations with people began. A huge number of small rodents living close to people beckoned cats. The ability to catch the animal and destroy it was appreciated by the inhabitants of the Nile Valley, and from that moment they begin to domesticate wild animals.

The highest honor, as we know from the history of Ancient Egypt, is mummification, and cats were honored with it. The inhabitants even worshiped the goddess personifying this animal. Later, other old civilizations followed suit and began to worship animals, like the inhabitants of Egypt, and make them not only and not so much as pets, but as friends and part of the family living side by side with man.

When did they enter our lives?

Genetics believe that both small and large domestic cats, whose breeds are classified as felines, come from the wild Libyan(steppe cat) - a predatory animal of small size.

According to some reports, cats began to be domesticated nine and a half thousand years ago in Mesopotamia, Jordan, and Anatolia, that is, in the place where human civilizations were born. It began with the era of agriculture, the consequence of which was the appearance of surplus food. They were attacked by rodents, and people defended themselves with the help of domesticated animals.

Since the tenth century, cats have conquered Europe, then Asia, then Australia and the rest of the world. Over time, more than two hundred breeds of cats have been bred. For many centuries, these animals have been valued by man for their magnificent qualities.

Features of cats

The skills and unique abilities of cats in catching rodents made people want to domesticate the beast. Just like their wild counterparts, large domestic cats are born to be true hunters, able to pursue their prey in a variety of conditions and situations, doing this with the help of fangs and claws. Their special effectiveness in this matter is manifested at night, because their eyes reflect light, they are able to catch the slightest movement. All cats also have perfect hearing and amazing flexibility of the body. They are quite agile, and the long tail (with the exception of domestic cats, whose breeds are tailless, like the bobtail) acts as a balance.

Animals communicate with each other in a language unfamiliar to people, and also mark their territory with smells, letting their relatives know about their own borders.

Despite the fact that cats are domesticated, the systemTheir digestion is designed to digest raw meat. They are carnivores. A rough and rough tongue is used to separate meat from bone. In addition, cats lick their fur. The diet of such an animal depends entirely on the person, but it does not affect the desire to hunt at all. Even if you feed your cat raw meat on a regular basis, she will still tend to hunt for rodents and some insects.

Domestic cats today

At the moment, these animals are not only a friend of man, but also an object of trade, especially large breeds. Due to its exclusivity, this product is expensive, but, despite the price, it is in demand in many countries. Rare breeds are purchased to show off.

Since the second half of the twentieth century, the process of breeding new domestic cats has not stopped. However, now this is done mostly for profit, and not at all for the study of this species. Now we figured out who are domestic cats. The breeds of these creatures are very interesting and unique in their own way.

Popular domestic cats: breeds and their characteristics

You can meet both long-haired and hairless animals, such as the sphinx or rex. Here is a list of cat breeds that we think can make great friends for everyone.

Maine Coon

Got its name from its resemblance to a raccoon (translated as Manx raccoon). This breed of large domestic cat with an interesting color has won the love of many people. Males can weigh from five to eleven kilograms, females -up to six. This breed has a semi-long coat, but it does not need to be combed out, and care for it is not difficult. The nature of the representatives of this breed is friendly, and the appetite is excellent - the cat eats food several times more than its normal relative, and prefers freshly prepared food, rather than canned food and dry food.

Savannah

What other breed of big cats are domestic? Savannah. This is a hybrid of a domestic cat and an African serval. Other representatives of this species also participated in the breeding of the breed. The cat has a spotted color, its height reaches sixty centimeters at the withers, and its weight is fifteen kilograms. It has an elongated body and long legs, as well as thick hair. This is a very smart cat. She gets along well with other pets.

Persian

This is the most domestic cat breed, because it is the oldest. These representatives cannot exist outside the home, they have an affectionate character. Very strongly attached to the owner. Calm and rarely give voice, often lazy on the couch. Often accompany family members from room to room, get along well with children. They are very curious and also enjoy hunting for insects. The colors of the "Persian" are different, there are more than a hundred shades. A distinctive feature of the breed is a small flat nose.

Norwegian Forest Breed

The domestic cat of this species is a descendant of the wild cat from the forests of the same name. Distinctive features of the breed are endurance, resistance to cold temperatures, excellenthunter qualities. Large domestic cats of the Norwegian Forest breed have very thick and long fur. The weight of the male reaches more than seven kilograms, the female - a little less (about five). The undercoat is most often white, but the color can be completely diverse. The cat's body is strong and flexible. She loves to climb trees and walk freely.

Ragdoll

Another breed of big domestic cats is the ragdoll. This is a very interesting look. The name literally translates as "rag doll". Outwardly, the cat is similar to the Burmese, but has a wider chest. Cats weigh up to nine kilograms, cats - about six. They are phlegmatic, and very attached to their owners. Their intelligence is highly developed - they can be taught to walk not only in the tray, but also in the toilet. Animals understand human speech and follow commands. This is such an amazing breed. A domestic cat of this species will suit every person, as it easily gets along with people.

Burmese

Burmese (sacred Burmese) is a semi-longhaired cat with interesting colors. With a pointy coat color, they are characterized by white “gloves”. These are beautiful and calm animals with a gentle character. Guests are loved and welcomed without fear. They like to sit on their knees and hands. Large domestic cats of the Sacred Burma breed are active, they love to play with people, get along well with small children. When the owners are busy, such pets do not distract them, as soon as the owner has a free minute - they are happy to be with himhave fun. Not very talkative, but purring with pleasure.

Conclusion

Now you know who domestic cats are, we have listed the breeds of popular representatives of this species. We hope that the information will be useful to you.