The Siamese is an easily recognizable cat, originating in Thailand (Siam) at least as early as the 14th century. The British where fascinated when they noticed these cats in their travels to Thailand with their long bodies, distinctive markings, and short, soft coats. They took a number of Siamese home where their wives kept them in heated conservatories surrounded by tropical plants brought back on previous voyages. The first imported Siamese were Seal Points, but breeding produced later colors of Blue Point, Chocolate Point, and Lilac Point. These four colors are the only ones recognized in the USA. Other colors; the result of cross breeding such as the Tabby Point, Tortie Point, Red Point, Cream Point, and the Cinnamon Point are classified as a separate breed under the name Colorpoint Short-Hair. Siamese kittens are all white when they are born - the color points that appear in the face, tail, legs and ears don't fully appear until they are about three years old. The Foreign White is a separate breed which in actuality is a Siamese cat. The white kitten retains its white into adult hood. Many white cats are deaf due to the genes that causes the white hair but not the Foreign White. Its white is due to its Siamese breeding. Source: Encyclopaedia of Cats by Esther J. J. Verhoef - Verhallen  © 1998

 The rare Korat is a short-haired cat originating in Thailand. It is strictly forbidden to breed a Korat with any other kind of cat in order to keep the breed pure. The Korat is named after the province of Cao Nguyen Khorat where the breed originated. Centuries ago in the Cat Book of Poems written in Thailand (then Siam), the Korat is described as having "smooth hairs, with tips like clouds and roots like silver, and eyes that shine like dewdrops on a lotus leaf." The first Korats to leave Thailand were taken to the USA at the end of the 19th century. Nowadays the breed is found all over the world but still remains rare, even in Thailand. The correct shade of blue is highly rated at cat shows, The hair is lighter at the roots, darkening along its length; the tip of each hair has a silvery sheen creating a very unusual effect. The adult cats have clear green eyes which may take two to four years to develop from the kitten's amber eyes. A rare cat breed indeed. Source: Encyclopaedia of Cats by Esther J. J. Verhoef - Verhallen  ⓒ 1998

 The Russian Blue cat originated in an area of the White Sea named Archangel and was brought to England early in the 19th century. It appeared in cat shows as the Archangel Blue. At the end of the 1800's the cat became known as the Russian Blue. After a long history of of being rejected at cat shows because the judges preferred British blue breeds, and the distain for the name Russian due to politics; the breed almost died out. By the end of the Second World War, there were so few individuals left that inbreeding was a fear, so they were bread with Siamese Blue Points which caused them to take on the look of a Blue Oriental Shorthair. In the mid-sixties, a group of breeders succeeded in breeding the original characteristics back into them. The coat on these cats is blue-grey, and the nose and paw leather are also blue-grey. but some are being born with an all black coat or an all white coat. These anomalies are not recognized by most cat associations as pure Russian Blues. All Russian Blues have intense green eyes. These are very agreeable, gentle, and docile cats that love peace and quiet.  Source: Encyclopaedia of Cats by Esther J. J. Verhoef - Verhallen  ⓒ  1998

 The Munchkin Cat was first bread in 1983. In Louisiana, USA, two cats with very short legs for found in the street. One of them was pregnant and gave birth to four kittens. Two of them displayed very short legs. Breeders picked up on this and developed the Munchkin through crosses with domestic cats. The gene that carries the trait for short legs is a dominant gene, so they can be bread with selected domestic cats to get the munchkin characteristics. The Munchkin cat became an official breed in 1995. They are currently bread in the United States and France where some of them were taken. The munchkins can play and climb trees like any other cat, but they have trouble jumping, therefore jumping on a table is a little difficult for them. They can display all eye colors and coat colors and are a very friendly cat.  Info taken from Encyclopaedia of Cats by Esther J. J. Vernhoff - Verhallen  © 1998

 The American Curl has backward pointing ears making it a very distinctive cat. In June of 1981 a half-starved black female cat with strange ears was found in Lakewood California. The kitten was named Shulamith. She became the founder of the American Curl breed. She was nursed to good health and gave birth to four kittens in December of that year. Two of them had curled back ears just like their mother. The American Curl is very friendly with children, other cats, and even dogs. They are very playful, need a climbing post, and lots of toys. They have no undercoat, so their fur is very easy to look after. The cats' ears are their most remarkable feature. They are not flexible like other breeds. They stand upright at the corners of the head and curl smoothly backwards then pointing towards the center of the skull. A person shouldn't try to bend their ears because of their inflexibility. Because the gene that causes this breed's unique ears is not linked to any adverse side-effects, they can be mated with other American curls. They are usually mated with American shorthairs. The gene that produces the curled ears is dominant so most of the litter will have the trait. However, the offspring will also carry the normal gene and pass it on to some of the kittens. Information came from Encyclopaedia of Cats by Esther J. J. Verhoef - Verhaller ⓒ 1998

 The Scottish Fold is called a Fold because of its unique floppy ears that are the result of genetic mutation affecting cartilage. The Scottish Folds originated in Scotland in 1961 when a white kitten named Susie was discovered with floppy ears. They are born with straight ears but after 3-4 weeks develop folded ears. The genetic mutation affects cartilage in their whole body causing arthritis and lameness. Therefore they should not be bread with other Scottish Folds. The are usually crossed with American or British Shorthairs to minimize risks. Scottish Folds have rounded faces and round eyes which causes some people to think that their faces look an owl's. They are known to be gentle, affectionate, and good-natured cats. Despite the mutation, there is nothing wrong with the cat's hearing. They can hear just as well as any other cat. These cats come in any color or pattern and their eyes range in color from blue, green, teal, copper, gold or hazel. It may be of interest to some that Taylor Swift has two Scottish Folds. Info was sourced from all over the internet.

 The Chartreux is a blueish short-haired sturdy cat first named in Paris. It is thought to make its first appearance as early as the sixteenth century. Most interest in this breed is in France and Belgium and not much interest elsewhere. These cats are friendly, placid temperament, good natured. They get along with other cats and even dogs. The Chartreux Has a glossy coat with a slightly wooly undercoat. The coat is soft to the touch and does not lie flat but stands away from the cat's body slightly. This breed comes in every shade of blue from ash-grey to slate-grey, but cats with an ash-grey coat are the most popular. The eye color is a golden copper to amber. There can be no hint of green for a Chartreux. Information came from Encyclopaedia of Cats by Esther J.J. Verhoef - Verhallen  ⓒ 1998