How to Tell if Your own Cat is a Purebred

We need to recognize the type of cat that we have,Many cat lovers seem to overly focus on breeds, and are unhappy right up until their cat is classified neatly within a specific breed. For years I've received emailed photos using the question "what breed is my cat?" I finally published Feline Breeds, Domestic Cats, and Color Patterns, to offer a handy reference guide to help readers recognize the difference.

What is a Purebred Cat?

The Cat Fanciers Glossary defines purebred as, "purebred: A cat whose ancestors are all of the identical breed, or whose ancestry consists of crossbreeding that's allowed inside the breed common. As an example, a purebred Bombay may also have Burmese cats in its background." Usually a cat's pedigree (list of ancestry) must be certified by the registry, just before it can rightfully be known as a "purebred."

"If it Walks Like a Maine Coon..."
"Purebred" is sort of a lazy lay term used by those of us outside the cat fancy to describe a cat of a given breed. Much more frequently nevertheless, people will subscribe to the "if it walks like a duck and talks like a duck, it need to be a duck" theory. A extremely common example may be the Maine Coon cat, with its distinctive ear tufts, ruff, bushy tail, and sweet voice. I've received a lot of pictures over the years for my Maine Coon gallery, of lovely Maine Coon look-alikes. Then, upon reading the story behind the cat, we discover that the cat was adopted from a shelter, or discovered wandering on the street. It rightfully might be claimed as a Maine Coon mix since it lacks the required documentation for a full-fledged Maine Coon. The first two photos illustrating this write-up show a registered, pedigreed Maine Coon, and my Billy, a achievable Maine Coon mix, but far more effectively identified as a DLH (Domestic Longhair cat).

Exactly the same goes for the American Shorthair breed, which, like the Maine Coon, is indigenous to North America. Practically each DSH (Domestic Shorthair cat) tabby cat could possibly be known as an "American Shorthair," had been it not for that essential documentation. I'm positive ASH breeders could readily tell the distinction, but most of us lay men and women could not.

Breed Rescue Groups

Most with the significant cat breeds have breed rescue groups, dedicated to saving and protecting their breeds. They usually have two techniques of rescuing cats:

From Shelters

Most of the cats breed rescue groups take in are breed "look-alikes," and will likely be subsequently be supplied for adoption as mixed-breed cats, e.g. "Maine Coon mix." Occasionally they will be named in when animal control has shut down a breeder for overcrowding, unhealthy conditions, or upon the death of a breeder with no recognized family members.
Directly From Breeders
At times a reputable breeder could contact a breed rescue group due to illness, to ensure that excellent homes will be located for his or her cats. The same will also apply upon the death of a breeder, whose heirs have either no indicates or intentions or carrying on with the cattery.

Breed rescue groups supply a beneficial service to the breeds they represent, and are an integral component with the cat fancy.

So -- What Breed is my Cat?
Do your homework. Familiarize yourself with the different cat breeds. Then ask oneself two questions:

What breed does he most resemble?
Do I've a registry and pedigree for this cat?

If your answer to question number 2 is "no," then you'll be able to only legitimately call him a "mixed (decide on your breed)" Or, you could save oneself a good deal of time and trouble by calling him your domestic cat (or "Moggie", as I usually call mine.)

The most crucial factor, obviously, that no matter what you call him, you love him unconditionally, regardless of his breed or heritage.