Table of Contents History of Domesticated Cats 4 Japanese Bobtail 82 Abyssinian 6 Korat 86 American Bobtail 10 Kurilian Bobtail 90 American Curl 14 Maine Coon 94 American Wirehair 18 Manx 98 Balinese 22 Norwegian Forest 102 Bengal 26 Ocicat 106 Birman 30 Oriental Shorthair 110 Bombay 34 Persian 114 British Shorthair 38 Pixiebob 118 Burmese and European Burmese 42 RagaMuffin 122 Burmilla 46 Ragdoll 126 Calico 50 Russian Blue 130 Chartreux 54 Safari 134 Chausie 58 Savannah 138 Cornish Rex 62 Scottish Fold 142 Devon Rex 66 Selkirk Rex 146 Egyptian Mau 70 Siamese 150 Exotic Shorthair 72 Siberian 154 Havana Brown 74 Singapura 158 Himalayan 78 Somali 162
Tabby 166 Toyger 170 Turkish Angora 174 Turkish Van 178 Other Breeds American Shorthair 182 Khao Manee 182 LaPerm 182 Lykoi 183 Minskin 183 Munchkin 183 Nebelung 184 Peterbald 184 Snowshoe 184 Sphynx 185 Tonkinese 185 Cat Care 186 Glossary 188 To Learn More 189 Index 190 Photo Credits 191
History of Domesticated Cats Scientists believe that around 8,000 or even 12,000 years ago wildcats made their ways to farms in what was known as the Fertile Crescent Today that area is called the Middle East These wildcats hunted rodents at the farms The farmers liked this so they allowed the cats to stay This was the start of cats becoming domesticated Over time humans gave the cats food and shelter The cats changed to fit this environment and became tame Eventually cat populations spread across the world Cats were very useful on ships where they hunted mice And cats in Ancient Egypt were deeply respected Later people around the world started keeping cats as pets In the 1800s people started developing different cat breeds Today there are more than 100 different breeds of domestic cats Cats make loveable companions for many people
Some cats such as the toyger have been bred to look like wild tigers
