Unique Cat Breeds: How’d That Happen?

There are many different cat breeds around the world, and several look pretty much alike, basically. They might be a different color, or have longer hair, or have a larger body, but many don’t have a physical characteristic separating it from its cousins. There are a few breeds, however, that really stand out. Even from a distance, folks can tell that these guys aren’t your average alley cat. Through natural occurrences and mutations, helped along by selective breeding, these interesting breeds have evolved.

Scottish Fold cats

Another cat with unusual ears, the Scottish Fold is easily recognized by its ears, which fold forward, towards its face. In 1961, in Scotland, William Ross discovered a litter of barn kittens in Coupar Angus with folded ears. Taking a fancy to the unusual-looking cats, Ross asked the owner for one, and he and his wife, Mary, began breeding the Scottish Fold. The fold is caused by a spontaneous genetic mutation, and unlike the American curl’s strange ears, the Scottish Fold often has abnormalities attached to the mutant gene. Some Folds experience a type of painful joint problem, similar to arthritis. With diligent breeding and cross breeding, conscientious breeders are often able to eliminate the undesirable problem. The cats are owl-like in appearance, sturdy, sweet, and make wonderful companions. In fact, breeders have been hard-pressed to keep up with the growing demand from consumers.

American Curl cats

These cats have curled-back ears, with Lynx-like tufts of hair growing from them. The kittens are born with regular cat ears, but by three to five days after birth, their ears begin to curve backwards. By the age of 16 weeks, the ears reach their permanent curl. The first American Curl was Shulamith, a stray born in California in 1981. Caused by a genetic mutation, the curled ears made the kitten unique. A geneticist confirmed that the ears were caused by a dominant gene, with no associated deformities. When Shulamith had her own litter, two were born with normal ears, and two had the curled ears. Breeders began breeding Shulamith’s descendents in 1983, hoping to get more curled-ear cats. In a typical litter of American Curls, about half of each litter display the unusual ears. American Curls were accepted into the Cat Fanciers’ Association (CFA) in 1986. The breed is medium sized, with a long flowing coat in a wide variety of colors. The shorthaired version is known as the American Curl Shorthair.

Munchkin cats

The Munchkin is the feline equivalent to the Dachshund, a long kitty with short legs. These cats were observed over several years in England during the 1940s but seemed to disappear after World War II. In 1983, Louisiana teacher Sandra Hochenedel discovered two short-legged cats trying to escape a dog. She rescued them, keeping one and giving the other to a friend. Hochenedel named her female Blackberry, and when the cat had a litter of kittens, some had the short legs like the mom. Sandra sent a male named Toulouse to a friend, Kay LaFrance, who fell so in love with the adorable little munchkin cat that she began breeding them. While all registered Munchkins are descendents of Blackberry and Toulouse, other short-legged cats occur naturally from time to time, all around the world. Muchkins are very intelligent, with muscular bodies and sweet temperaments. Their short legs don’t prevent them from doing everything regular cats do. The cats are basically healthy and typically have a lifespan of 15 years.

Sphynx cats

A truly unusual-looking breed, the Sphynx is virtually hairless. Some members of the breed have a fine down or have a small amount of hair on their toes, face, tail, or ears. According to fanciers, stroking a Sphynx is like touching warm suede or peach skin. The first recorded hairless cats were in 1830, in Latin America. Since then, bald kitties have made appearances in North America, Europe and Australia. A 1932 Parisian cat show featured two hairless cats, but they died before they could be bred. In 1966, a hardy hairless cat was born in Ontario, Canada, and the modern breed was begun. Sphynxes are known for their sweet temperaments and their incredible patience. Many owners report the clowning antics of their Sphynx, along with its intelligence. The cats have long, muscular bodies with alert, pixie-like faces. People who are allergic to cats are often able to tolerate the almost-hairless Sphynx. The Sphynx earned full championship status from the CFA in 2002.

Oriental Shorthair cats

The Oriental cat has a long, slim body with large ears. Its elegant lines resemble the cats of ancient Egyptian statues. Bred from Siamese cats that were imported into Britain in the 19th century, the Oriental shorthair is basically a Siamese without the typical color points. The cats have a short, dense coat or fine, silky hair. They adore their humans and can be very demanding, begging for attention with a variety of loud vocal pleas. They’re intelligent, friendly, and curious. Many cat fanciers refer to them as “the dogs of the cat world” due to the strong emotional bonds the breed forms with its human family. The breed was recognized by the CFA in 1977.