cat breeds with pictures

8/2/2019 Cat Breeds With Pictures

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Cat breeds with pictures

Someone who doesnt know about them, will says that all cats areequal. However, there are over 50 different cat breeds. Some of them are theresult of chance or natural evolution, while others have been created bycrossing genetically various breeds. However, the characteristics of all cats inthe world is derived from five origin females, lost in the past evolution.

Abyssinian

History

One example of naturally selected breed is the

Abyssinian cat. Abyssinia is a region of Africa,

now known as Ethiopia. By the year 1860

the first specimens of this breed were taken to

England, a country that historically has been

able to raise the finest specimens of these

animals.

During the first decade of the twentieth

century, the first Abyssinian cat came to the

United States. This is a short-haired animal, in

most cases in shades of brown. Is a extremely

agile and slim cat, that needs space for

intense physical activity. His eyes are almond shape.

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History

Although no one knows positively when orwhere the Abyssinian first appeared, the bestknown tale is that this breed is a direct

descendant of the sacred cats worshiped as thephysical manifestations of the gods in thetemples and palaces of the ancient Egyptianssome 4,000 years ago.

Abyssinians do look remarkably like the catsdepicted in Egyptian murals and sculptures.

An Abyssinian named Zula was transported fromAbyssinia (now Ethiopia) to England at the end

of the Abyssinian War in 1868, but whether thecat was native to that area is subject tospeculation. Recent genetic studies indicate thatthe Abyssinian may have descended from abreed found in Southeast Asia and the coast ofthe Indian Ocean. Abyssinians do resemble the

African wildcat (Felis silvestris lybica), the progenitor of all domestic cats.

Since there is no written evidence linking Zula with this breed, some breedersmaintain that the original lines died out and the Abyssinian was recreated by

British breeders. Undeniably, the breed was established and refined by earlyBritish fanciers until World War II decimated the breed, forcing British breedersto start over from scratch.

Today, the Abyssinian is second only to the Siamese in popularity among theshorthaired breeds.

Appearance

The original color of the Abyssinian was aruddy-brown, but there are now a number

of other colors, including red. Abyssiniankittens may not show the distinctive tickinguntil around two months. The final coatcolor can take months to show.

The long-haired version of the Abyssinian isthe Somali cat.



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Personality

Abyssinians arent for those who want decorative cats to match the rust-colored carpet, or for those who want cats that enjoy being picked up andcuddled.

Courageous, curious, and high-spirited, when restrained Abys tend to becomestruggling bundles of fur with more than the usual number of elbows; however,thats not to say that Abyssinians are aloof or standoffish.

While Abyssinians will cheerfully entertain themselves, they are most happywhen involved in every aspect of your life. They are particularly involved atdinner time. In fact, youll know its dinner time when small, furry, food-seeking missiles attach themselves to your legs!

Abyssinians regularly perform antics for youramusement, earning them the reputation of being theclowns of the cat kingdom. They will often perch onshoulders, crawl under covers, and sit on laps purringmadly before racing off to bat imaginary butterflies andmake flying leaps at the tallest bookcases.

Natural athletes, no closed room or cupboard is safefrom their agile paws and inquiring minds.

Tips:

The maintenance of this cat is very simple, like most short-haired, because youcan just brush or comb every once in a while. At the time of change isnecessary to regularly remove dead hairs that emerge.



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Bengal

History

The Bengal breed originated as a human-made

hybrid of the Asian leopard cat and thedomestic cat. The leopard cat (Felisbengalensis ) is a cat-sized inhabitant ofsouthern Asia and is thought to be one of theclosest of the modern undomesticated catspecies to the ancient common ancestor of thecat family.

The leopard cat looks very muchlike a domestic cat, except for thelarger, snapping eyes, pronouncedwhisker pads, longer legs, andbrilliant leopard markings. It looks,in fact, like a miniature leopard.

The Bengal began its journeytoward becoming a recognizedbreed in 1963 when breeder JeanMill of Covina, California, bought afemale leopard cat from a petstore. At that time, leopard catscould be purchased in the UnitedStates, although today it`s illegal

to sell them. She wasn`t trying to create a new breed of cat. She just wanted aunique pet.

After several years, Mill thought the cat looked lonely, so she put a maledomestic cat in the cat`s cage to keep her company. She wasn`t expecting a

romantic relationship, but to Mill`s surprise, in 1965 her leopard cat produced alitter.

Only one kitten from the litter survived,a female hybrid that Mill named Kin-Kin. Mill contacted Cornell UniversityCollege of Veterinary Medicine inIthaca, New York, for advice on how tohandle the hybrid, and was told thatKin-Kin was probably sterile. That, also,

proved false.



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Kin-Kin grew up, mated with her father, and produced two kittens. One was allblack and had inherited the wild leopard cat temperament. It refused to letanyone near it. The other, a spotted male, inherited the sweet disposition of adomestic.

After some consideration, Mill decided that creating a crossbred breed wouldbenefit the plight of the leopard cats. Mill was dismayed by the plight oforphaned leopard cat cubs taken by hunters and sold to American pet stores.The cats generally ended up in zoos when the cubs grew to adulthood andreverted to their wild ways. Mill wanted to provide the American market with anacceptable spotted substitute.

In the first crossings of leopard cat to Domestic Shorthair, the male kittenswere infertile, as is the case with many hybrids. The females were usuallyfertile as were the male kittens in subsequent generations. However, many of

those first hybrid kittens grew up to be nervous cats of uncertain temperament,similar to their wild relatives. It was only after the cats were severalgenerations away from the leopard cat that the Bengal`s temperament becamemore predictable.

The standard for the Bengal, unlike other cat breeds, includes a description ofthe cat`s ideal temperament, describing it as confident, alert, curious, andfriendly. Any sign of definite challenge disqualifies the cat in order to preventtemperament problems from being perpetuated in the breeding stock. TICArequires that show cats be bred Bengal to Bengal for at least four generationsto ensure a docile temperament.



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British shorthair

The British Shorthair is native to Great Britain in the same way that theAmerican Shorthair is native to America`s. Long ago it was transported therefrom somewhere else.

The British`s progenitor was a common street cat once called the European

Shorthair. This breed (whose conformation is much different from the Britsyou`ll see in show halls today) came to Great Britain some 2,000 years ago,courtesy of the Roman Empire. The Romans, who kept cats as pets and forrodent control, transported this shorthaired breed to northern Europe andeventually to their outlying provinces in the British Isles.

For centuries, this rugged cat hungout in Great Britain`s alleys andbarns. In the late 1800s cat fancierHarrison Weir, well known for his

contributions to the emerging catfancy, was instrumental inestablishing the British Shorthair asan officially recognized breed.

Through his efforts, BritishShorthairs were featured inEngland`s first cat show at theCrystal Palace of London, and quicklybecame popular with the British catfancy.



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After the war, breeders dedicated to preserving the British Shorthair gainedpermission from the British Governing Council of the Cat Fancy to interbreedtheir Brits with other cat breeds to rebuild the gene pool. Persians were bredinto the existing bloodlines, and shorthaired breeds such as the Chartreux werealso added. These efforts transformed the Brit into its current form: a large,

powerful mini-teddy bear with a full, round face and a placid disposition.

Early Grey

American cat fanciers took little notice of the British Shorthair until the 1960s,and it wasn`t until 1970 that ACFA recognized the blue British Shorthair underthe now obsolete moniker British Blue. (Blue was, and still is, the most commoncolor due to the large number of Chartreuxes and blue Persians bred into thebloodlines)

The breed slowly earned supporters in the United States, and between 1970and 1980 the remaining associations accepted the Brit into the North Americancat fancy.

Appearance

The coat can be in almost any color and pattern. "It is shown in all colours andall divisions of the traditional category



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Personality

If you`re looking for a cat that will loot yourrefrigerator and swing dizzily from your

chandeliers, then the British Shorthair is not foryou. Brits are quiet, even-tempered, undemandingcats with a bit of typical British reserve, particularlywhen they`re first introduced. When they get overtheir initial shyness, however, they becomeextremely faithful companions.

The British Shorthair is a placid, easy going andcalm cat, which makes this popular cat suited topeople who rush around a lot. Their stable and

balanced character makes them suitable for indoorand apartment living. Nonetheless, like all cats theyare playful and alert when they want to be.

British Shorthairs tend to show their loyalty to the entire family rather thanselect one person with whom to bond. British Shorthair breeders describe Britsas cats that like to keep a low profile, sweet and affectionate but not clingy in-your-face`s type cats. They tend to be independent and if left on their own canusually adapt quite well.

The British Shorthair Cat is relatively quiet, in line with the cat's personality, inthat they prefer to be near and with you rather than on you. This may be dueto overheating when on you as their dense coats provide a high level ofinsulation.

The Brit. SH is thought of as an intelligent breed of cat and has appeared infilms, on TV and on cat food packaging (Whiskas and Sheba). Research(although to be honest it is not great research) indicates in fact that the BritishShorthair is in the mid range of cat breed intelligence. TheSphynx cat is meantto be the most intelligent under informal testing.



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Egyptian Mau

History

The Egyptian Mau is one of the oldest existing breeds of domestic cat, and the

only naturally spotted one. Evidence in the form of depictions, paintings, andsculptures shows that spotted cats existed during the time of the Egyptian catcult, and it is theorized that thepredecessor of the Mau was the verysame cat worshiped by the ancientEgyptians.

Egyptian Maus joined the European catfancy in the early 1900s. Fanciers inItaly, Switzerland, and France worked

to develop the breed; however, as it didmany purebred breeds, World War IIdecimated the Egyptian Mau populationand by the mid-1940s the Mau wasalmost extinct.

The efforts of the exiled RussianPrincess Nathalie Troubetskoy broughtthe Mau back from the brink ofextinction. While in Italy, she rescuedsome of the few remaining specimens.She was also instrumental in importingat least one Mau from Egypt via theSyrian Embassy.

In 1956 Troubetskoy immigrated to the United States, bringing with her threeMaus bred from her original stock. Upon arrival, Troubetskoy began her ownEgyptian Mau cattery (Fatima) and began to promote the breed. The Mau sooncollected a following of fanciers who wanted to preserve the rare andhistorically significant breed.

Because of the small gene pool and because additional Maus were almostimpossible to obtain from Egypt, a certain amount of inbreeding andoutcrossing were required to continue the breed in North America.

Selective breeding for temperament was also a priority, since dispositionproblems were noted in some bloodlines. Finally, in the 1980s breeder CathieRowan brought 13 additional Maus into the United States, paving the way formore imports. In 1991 breeder J. Len Davidson imported four more. Thiswidening of the gene pool was vital to the breed`s health and well-being.



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Personality

While fanciers might at first be attracted to the Egyptian Mau`s beautifulspotted coat, most become enthusiasts because of the breed`s temperamentand personality. Maus, like their ancestors that were invited along on the duckhunts of their Egyptian companions, love to fetch. In fact, they love any play

activity that mimics hunting behavior, and if allowed outside will become verycompetent (some might say savage) hunters.

That`s not to say they are notdevoted to the humans who paythem homage. Fanciers describethem as fiercely loyal cats thatgenerally don`t take to strangers.Once they bond with their human

companions, they choose to beworshiped by their own family,rather than by the entire humanrace.

While not overly talkative, Mauswill let their owners know if something is amiss, particularly if that somethingconcerns their food dishes. Their voices are usually melodious and quiet. Whenengaged in conversation with their human companions, Maus wag their tails,tread with their feet, and make a variety of sounds that fanciers call chortling.



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Maine Coon

History

Maine Coons, like American Shorthairs, are considered native to America

because they`ve been on this continent since the colonial days, and perhapslonger. How they got here in the first place and where their progenitors camefrom, however, is anyone`s guess, since none of the local colonists happenedby with their camcorders to record the event.

A sea captain namedCoon who in the 1700sbrought longhaired

cats with him on hisexcursions toAmerica`snortheastern coast.

Seafarers who usedcats to control rodentpopulations on theirsailing ships probablybrought somelonghaired buccaneerswith them to the New World. Some of the cats went ashore when they reachedthe northeastern coast and established themselves on the farms and in thebarns of the early settlers. Given Maine`s severe climate, those initial yearsmust have been tough on cat and human alike. Only the breed`s strongest andmost adaptable survived. Through natural selection, the Maine Coon developedinto a large, rugged cat with a dense, water-resistant coat and a hardyconstitution.

In the early 1900s, as newand more exotic breeds were

imported into the country,the cat fanciers of the eraabandoned Maine Coons forPersians, Angoras, and otherimports. By 1950 the breedhad all but vanished.

Fortunately, a small group ofbreeders kept this undercatfrom going under.



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Breeders held Maine Coon-only cat shows and in 1968 breeders founded theMaine Coon Breeders and Fanciers Association.

The associations that had snubbed the Maine Coon accepted them forChampionship competition again and today the Maine Coon has regained its

former popularity.

Personality

No breed has a monopoly on love and affection, but there`s got to be somegood reason that the Maine Coon has clawed its way up from near extinction tothe prized place of America`s second most popular breed (according to theCFA`s registration totals). Maine Coon fanciers say that the popularity is due tothe breed`s large size, intelligence, luxuriant coat, hardy disposition, and

devotion to their human family.

While Maine Coonsare devoted, playful,and loving to theirchosen humans, theycan be reservedaround people withwhom they`re notfamiliar. Given time,however, even themost cautious adapt.

As befits a formerseafarer, MaineCoons are fascinatedby water, perhapsbecause their thickcoats are water-repellent and won`tbecome annoyinglysoaked as easily as a thinner coat would.



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Persian

History

Persians have been around for much longer than 125 years. Longhaired cats,including the ancestors of the modern Persian and Angora breeds, were firstseen in Europe in the mid- to late 1500s, introduced by Roman and Phoeniciancaravans from Persia (now Iran) and Turkey, according to documents of theera.

Researchers believe the recessive gene for long hair appeared spontaneously in

the cat population in the cold mountainous areas of Persia. An Italian travelerby the name of Pietro della Valle (1586-1652) is credited with bringing Persiancats to the European world in the 1600s. Both Angora and Persian cats arementioned in the manuscript Voyages de Pietro della Valle.

Other travelers brought Persian and Angora cats into France and then intoEngland, causing them to be called French cats for a number of years. Thesecats quickly became popular in Britain. During this time and for centuries after,the Turkish Angora and Persian varieties (among others) were commonlycrossed.

At first, Angoras were preferred for their silky white coats. Eventually, however,the British fanciers came to favor the stockier Persian conformation. By the timeof Weir`s cat show in 1871, distinct differences between the Persian and the

Angora could be seen, the former being stockier with small, rounded ears, andthe latter being slender and tall-eared. By the early 1900s the Persian hadbecome overwhelmingly popular. Blue Persians were particularly prized,probably because Queen Victoria owned two.

In the early 1900s the British Governing Council of the Cat Fancy decided thatthe Persian, as well as the Angora and Russian Longhairs, should be known

simply as Longhairs, a policy that continues today. Each color is considered aseparate breed in the British cat fancy. In North America, however, thePersian is considered one breed, regardless of color.

In the late 1950s a spontaneous mutation in red and red tabby Persians gave

rise to the "peke-faced" Persian, named after the flat-faced Pekingese dog.


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Traditional blue persian cat

Appearance

Persians are well known for their long, luxurious fur and their distinct, sweetexpressions. Persians have a flat face and round eyes. Their heads are roundand large, and the ears small and round-tipped. The body of the Persian is thickand stocky.

If you want your cats bouncing around like hyperactive popcorn, don`t buy aPersian. Persians are perfect companions, if you like placid, sweet-temperedcats. Don`t count on using your Persian pal as a furry doorstop, however. Theylove to play between periods of

regal lounging on your favoritedavenport.

Persians are devoted to theirhumans, but can be selective inconferring that honor. You mustearn their trust and love.

They crave affection and love tobe petted and fussed over, but

won`t harass you for attentionthe way some breeds will.



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They will, however, let their feelings be known if they are not getting therequisite amount of attention.

Owning a Persian requires a significant time commitment. That beautiful coatrequires daily grooming to keep it in good condition and free of mats. Because

of the long coat and docile temperament, Persians should be considered indoor-only pets. Many Persian fanciers keep at least part of the coat clipped,particularly the hindquarters and around the anus to avoid the accumulation offeces. Persians need a lot of grooming. Their long, thick fur can easily mat ifnot brushed on a weekly basis. Be prepared to spend at least 20 minutes aweek grooming your Persian.

Persians come in a large variety of colors and patterns, including solid, silver,golden, shaded, smoke, tabby, parti-color, bicolor and Himalayan.

Personality

Unlike some other breeds, Persians dont demand attention from their owners,and can be selective about who they prefer within a family. They do craveattention from their favorite humans, and love to curl up in your lap.

They aren't particularlydemanding, but most will wantto sit on your lap and bepetted every day. Somedevelop a particularattachment to oneperson in the family, and willwant much more time andaffection from them thananyone else.

They are good with other pets,and with children. They'revery adaptable, and usuallycope well if changes occursuch as additions to the family,new pets or a house move.

They don't like to be left alone for long periods of time, so if you're out duringthe day, it's better to keep them with another pet for company, because theydo enjoy playing with interactive toys as well as other cats and dogs they grow

up with.



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Although they are not demanding, Persian cats enjoy spending time with their

families and like to sleep curled up on a lap, they are not very active cats,

Persian cats are not very independent and need the companionship of a human

family, if not, they often prefer another pet for company.

Ragdoll

History

The Ragdoll is a breed whose origins are surrounded by controversy and talltales. According to various stories, the foundation cat, Josephine, producedunremarkable kittens until she was struck by a car in the early 1960s. After her

recovery, all of her subsequent litters produced kittens that displayed Ragdollcharacteristics: large size, non-matting fur, the tendency to relax in a person`sarms like a child`s rag doll (hence the name), and serene dispositions.

Also rumored was the kittens`sinsensitivity to pain (which,according to breeders, is nottrue).

The Ragdolls of America Group(a group formed to gainacceptance for the Ragdoll inthe Cat Fanciers Association)says that Josephine was a feralwhite Turkish Angora-type catthat resided on the propertyof a Mrs. Pennels in Riverside,

California.

After her car accident,Josephine mated with aferal black and whitemitted longhaired tom andproduced a solid blackmale kitten named DaddyWarbucks and a sealpointed bicolor femalenamed Fugianna.



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Another litter followed, sired by a solid brown longhaired tom. This trystproduced a seal point female named Tiki and a black- and white-mitted malenamed Buckwheat.

The breed`s founder, the late Ann Baker, came into possession of these cats,

and all subsequent generations can be traced back to them. After years ofselective breeding, the Ragdoll developed into the breed we know today.

Ann Baker created her own registry for Ragdolls in 1971 called the InternationalRagdoll Cat Association (IRCA). She also franchised and trademarked theRagdoll name.

The RagaMuffin is thenewest development onthe Ragdoll scene. The

RagaMuffin is similar, butnot identical, inconformation andtemperament to theRagdoll.

While the Ragdoll isaccepted in only four colors and three patterns, the RagaMuffin also comes inred point, lynx point, and tortie point, as well as the spectrum of Persian colorsand patterns, plus mitted and mitted with blaze. Breeders say that theRagaMuffin is not a new breed.

Although all Ragdolls are descendants from the original Ragdoll lines that AnnBaker developed, RagaMuffin breeders split from IRCA much more recentlythan the RFC breeders, in 1993, in fact. To avoid breaking their contracts withBaker and violating Baker`s trademark on the Ragdoll name, they renamedtheir breed the RagaMuffin. Currently, the RagaMuffin is only accepted for

Championship in the recently formed UFO, although they are accepted forregistration in ACFA.



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Personality

Docile, mild-mannered, and congenial, Rag-dolls make ideal indoor companions.One of the nicest features of these cats is their laid-back, sweet personality.

They are playful but are not overactive.

Known to adapt easily totheir environment,Ragdolls get along wellwith children and adults,as well as cats and dogs.They are easily trained to

stay off the counter andare affectionate withoutbeing overly demanding.They have soft, politevoices, even atdinnertime, even thoughthey are renowned fortheir enthusiasm for food.

Russian blue

History

The most commonly heldtheory regarding thisbreed`s origin is thatRussian Blues were broughtto Great Britain in 1860 byBritish sailors from the White

Sea port town of Archangel(Arkhangelsk) in northernRussia.

Their thick coats givecredence to the theory thatthey developed in a coldclimate, and, according to accounts, blue shorthairs still exist in Russia.

The Russian Blue is not known to be related to the other three shorthaired solid

blue breeds: Thailand`s Korat, France`s Chartreux, and Britain`s British Blue(now called the British Shorthair). The four breeds have distinct differences incoat, type, and personality, although the Korat, Chartreux, and Russian Blueshare a similar silver-blue sheen. Since all four of these breeds have been


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around for so long that their ancestries are shrouded in legend and conjecture,a common origin is certainly possible.

In 1871 a Russian Blue was shown at the first cat show at the Crystal Palace inLondon, under the name Archangel Cat. At this point, Russian Blues were

shorthaired, solid blue felines with foreign body types. From photos andpublished sources of the time the original coat was thick, dense, glossy, andcolored a light silver-blue.

Russian Blues competed in the sameclass with all other shorthaired blues,despite obvious differences in type. Sincethe round-headed, cobby British Blueswere favored in the show halls, thesvelte Russian Blues rarely won. Finally,

the Governing Council of the Cat Fancyacknowledged the breed and in 1912 theRussian Blue was granted a class of itsown. The breed then made progress untilWorld War II when it almost becameextinct, as did many other breeds.

During the 1940s and 1950s two independent groups of breeders worked toresurrect the Russian Blue by crossbreeding the few hardy survivors with otherbreeds. In Britain, breeders crossed the Russian Blue with bluepoint Siamese

and British Blues. Because of the Siamese influence, the British Russian Blue?smoderate foreign body style became more extreme.



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The members of this breed are polite, quiet, and well-behaved. It`s easy totrain them to stay off counters and out of off-limit areas with a simple No, butRussian Blues seem to think politeness should go both ways and take offense atbeing made to look silly. You can trust them to know when you`re laughing atthem and they won`t soon forget it either.

Siamese

History

The Siamese is one of the oldest breeds ofdomestic cat and has a history as long andcolorful as the cat itself.

The Siamese is also (arguably) the mostrecognizable breed on the planet. These sleekcats with the beautiful baby blues andoutspoken nature originated in Thailand(formerly Siam, thus the breed`s name), wherethey were treasured by members of royalty ascompanions and were thought to inherit thetransmigrated souls of royalty en route to thehereafter.

Early stories and myths involving the Siamese are plentiful, including fancifultales that account for the cat`s traits. One such story tells how sacred Siamesetemple cats, charged with guarding a valuable vase, curled their tails aroundthe vase and stared at it with such intensity that their eyes became crossed.

Another story tells of Siamese cats appointed to guard princesses`s rings: Thecats kept the rings on their tails and the tail kinks developed to keep the ringsfrom sliding off.

Due to its popularity, the breed has been used in the matrix of many moderncat breeds, including the Ocicat, Himalayan, Burmese, Tonkinese, Snowshoe,and myriad Oriental breeds (Oriental Shorthair, Oriental Longhair, ColorpointShorthair, Colorpoint Longhair, Balinese, and Javanese).

Personality

Some cats seem to think that a purr or a friendly rub speaks louder than words.Siamese are not of this school of thought and are known for their talent for

communicating their ideas and desires clearly to their chosen humans.



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If you can`t be drawn into dialogue, they`re happy to keep up a runningmonologue for your enlightenment.

No meaningless meows, these, but real attempts at communication, accordingto Siamese fans. To some cat lovers, who prefer their felines to be seen and

not heard, the Siamese rasp (some would say yowl) can be a bit annoying. ButSiamese worshipers wouldn`t have it any other way.

Determinedly social and very dependentupon their humans, Siamese crave activeinvolvement in your life. Like Mary?s littlelamb, they want to follow wherever youmay go.

Siamese can be unpredictable in their

behavior and can appear aloof anddisinterested, but it?s all an act.

Siamese need to be treated with respectand patience and require lots of affectionif they are to develop a close, caringrelationship with their human companions.Siamese will pine if left too often alone.

Appearance

Siamese come in four or more colors, depending upon the cat association towhich you belong. The CFA recognizes four Siamese colors:

Seal Chocolate Blue Lilac point (called frost in some associations).

Solid blues and browns were well documented inthe Cat-Book Poems, so it`s not surprising thatSiamese cats possessing the recessive gene forthe dilute factor, which changes seal to blue andchocolate to lilac, were appearing in Siameselines early on.



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Siamese in red (also called flame) or cream point, tortie point (mottled mixturesof black and red or their dilute colors on the point areas, also calledtortoiseshell), or lynx point (stripes of color on the point areas) are calledColorpoint Shorthair in the CFA, although most of the other cat associationsconsider these color variations of the Siamese.

The red and cream colorswere produced by foundationcrossings between Siamese,

Abyssinians, and redDomestic Shorthairs.

The Himalayan pattern, as

the point-restricted style iscalled, is named after therabbit that exhibits the samecoat pattern.

The color is restricted to the face mask, ears, legs,and tail, while the body remains a lighter color. Theconcentration of color is kept to the point areas by atemperature-controlled enzyme that creates greaterdepth of color at the parts of the body farthest awayfrom the cardiovascular system.

The cooler the environment, the darker the colorbecomes. Siamese kittens are born white, because ofthe warmth of their mother?s body, and develop theirpoint color as they grow.

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