Introduction People and cats go way back Judging by the paintings sculptures and even mummies left behind we know that ancient Egyptian people were fond of cats But some archaeologists have found evidence dating back 9500 years indicating cats may have become domesticated in Cyprus long before There are some scientists who believe that this human cat relationship may have an even longer history These scientists did genetic testing that indicated domestication of cats might have begun closer to 12000 years ago Scientists and historians have different theories about how cats became domesticated A popular theory is that people captured cats to help control rodent populations in their homes and on their farms The warmth food and shelter they were given in return encouraged cats to stick around The history of breeding is also complex Humans probably bred these rodent killing cats to be tamer than cats in the wild People also might have begun breeding cats to produce new species with clear physical and behavioral traits This kind of cat breeding is thought to date back as far as 4000 years in ancient Egypt
Today there are 42 distinct cat breeds recognized by the Cat Fanciers Association CFA These cat breeds each have a breed standard defined by the organization which indicates the physical features of each breed that a judge looks for in a cat show The CFA which was founded in 1906 is currently the largest registry of pedigreed cats Get ready to discover twelve of the most popular cat breeds including Abyssinian American Shorthair Birman Exotic Maine Coon Manx Ocicat Oriental Persian Ragdoll Siamese and Sphynx Discover each breed's size and appearance personality and behaviors breed history and care tips You'll learn which cat might be best suited for you and your family and you'll be equipped with everything you need to know to become a successful cat owner
Abyssinian When people see Abyssinian AB uh SIN ee uhn cats for the first time they often say how much the cats look like small wildcats Abyssinians soft sleek fur has an agouti pattern This coat pattern has bands of light and dark color on each hair Agouti coats are sometimes called ticked coats They are also seen in wildcats such as cougars and lions Abyssinians are active intelligent and friendly People often call them Abys for short These cats seem to enjoy being around people They usually stay close to their owners trying to be involved in whatever the owner is doing In 2016 the CFA ranked the Abyssinian as the ninth most popular breed
FUN FACT Abys agouti coats set them apart from other cat breeds Abyssinian History The Abyssinian is one of the oldest cat breeds No one knows exactly where or when the Abyssinian breed began Some people think that these cats lived in the palaces of the ancient Egyptian pharaohs These kings ruled Egypt thousands of years ago Mummified cats have been discovered in ancient Egyptian tombs Statues and drawings of cats found in Egyptian tombs look much like today's Abyssinians The cats in this artwork also have slender bodies heads shaped like wedges and large eyes But these features are also found in the Siamese and Oriental breeds No one can prove exactly what kind of cat lived in ancient Egypt 800022 Ancient Egyptian cat statues look much like Abyssinians today's
