There are more cat breeds out there than anyone would ever have thought, and knowing your cat’s breed can go a long way towards understanding their nature.
Each cat breed has its own special habits, and some cat breeds are known for being quiet while others have voices that can stretch over several octaves and command an entire room – and often do.
“Why is my cat yelling?” is a common question that can sometimes be answered just by the type of breed: Yes, some cats just happen to be noisy – and no, you can’t do much about it.
The same way, there are different habits and traits to every breed, and you have to understand the breed of your cat before you’ll understand just why they act the way they do.
Here are 15 smart and affectionate cat breeds that you should know and a little more about the characteristics that make each of them unique.
1. Egyptian Mau
The Egyptian Mau is considered one of the most ancient cat breeds, and pure Mau cats are exceptionally rare – in fact, less than 200 pure Mau’s are registered every year, and there are just under 7, 000 of them currently registered.
They hail from Egypt and the Middle East, though today they can be found in many parts of the world – even intermingled with other breeds. One of what makes this cat breed unique is the spots – and the letter M displayed on the forehead.
Mau’s are sensitive to heat, and prefer hotter climates or direct sunlight and will tend to shy away from colder weather. Their front legs are shorter.
They also have one of the longest gestational periods for any cat, so if your cat has been pregnant for what seems like a week too long, there’s a strong possibility that they could be a Mau.