Veterinary Science Program Cats Veterinary Science Program

Cat Colors Breeds

Coat Color Variations Cat breeds vs. Cat colors Cat breeds Specific coat colors Domestic shorthair/longhair Array of different colors

Tabby Color Silver Red Brown Patterns Mackerel Classic Spotted Ticked

MACKEREL TABBY

CLASSIC TABBY

SPOTTED TABBY

TICKED TABBY

Tortoiseshell Black, orange, brown Most are female

Calico or Tri-color Patterns Black, orange, brown, and white Most are female

Bicolor Coat Patterns

Coat Colors White This is the only color that is always solid without any underlying tabby markings One genetic variety of solid white can sometimes cause deafness; Not all white cats are deaf

Coat Colors Black Sometimes have underlying tabby markings

Coat Colors Red Otherwise known as orange or ginger The gene for red color is sex- linked, which is why red cats are usually males

Coat Colors Blue The blue color is a dilute version of black and is in fact deep bluish-gray Some breeds are more associated with this color, but it can be seen in many breeds or with mixed-breed cats.

Coat Colors Cream The cream color is a dilute version of the red In combination with the blue, it can create dilute calicos and tortoiseshells.

Coat Colors Brown Solid brown cats are not very common Lavender/Lilac - Lilac or Lavender are interchangeable names for a shade of light gray-brown with pink overtones

Coat Colors Cinnamon A variety of solid light brown with distinct red overtones Fawn - A dilute version of cinnamon.

Points - Seal

Points - Chocolate

Points - Blue

Points - Lilac

Cat Breeds Cat fancier’s association Established in 1906 40 pedigreed cat breeds / 2 miscellaneous breeds CATEGORIES: Natural, hybrid, established, mutant

Abyssinian One of the oldest recognized breeds Egyptian history? Very intelligent Very people-oriented “not a lap cat”

American Bobtail Developed initially through natural selection The foundation stock for this breed were feral domestic cats possessing a natural bobtail. One of the more intriguing phenomena of the breed is the striking resemblance of cats with no known common heritage, from thousands of miles apart, have born to one another.

American Curl “Shulamith” June 1981 A stray longhaired black female cat with funny ears mooched Joe and Grace Ruga Lakewood, California The ear-curling gene is autosomal dominant

American Shorthair Resembles domestic short-haired cats Long life span Established as a breed in the late 1960s Long life span Strong health Great compatibility with dogs and children

American Wirehair A spontaneous mutation in a litter of upstate New York farm cats in 1966 Dominant mutation Approximately half of the kittens will be wirehaired at birth The most readily apparent wiring is that of the whiskers, and ideally, the entire coat will be wired at birth

Birman Semi Longhaired Burma Looks and acts like a Siamese Scared companion animal Looks and acts like a Siamese Comes in many colors Fur silkier but less dense than the Persian Matures early and make excellent caring mothers Inquisitive but with an aloof appearance

Bombay Selective breeding Cousin to the Burmese Lap loving Inquisitive Mini panther Coat color is black only Cousin to the Burmese Lap loving Inquisitive

British Shorthair One of the oldest English breeds Calm, intelligent, readily responds to affection Range in colors but solid colors were preferred in the early days Blue-gray was the most highly prized

Burmese Extremely people-oriented Indoor cats Selective breeding Color Dr. John Thompson Walnut brown female from Burma x Siamese 1930s Color Sable, Champagne, Blue, & Platinum Extremely people-oriented Indoor cats

Bengal Hybrid breed of domestic cat Crossing a domestic feline with an Asian leopard cat After three generations from the original crossing, the breed usually acquires a gentle domestic cat temperament For the typical pet owner, a Bengal cat kept as a pet should be at least four generations (F4) removed from the leopard cat

Devon Rex England Characteristics Personality Curly-hair coat Big ears Poor insulation “heat-seeker” Big ears Pixie-like face Personality Intelligent Very friendly and playful

Egyptian Mau Domesticated subspecies of the African wildcat Only natural spotted breed of domestic cat Fiercely loyal and devoted to both feline and human family

Exotic Resemble a Persian Solidly built and rounded. Fur is shorter and easier to care for Solidly built and rounded. Quite, gentle, and placid “Perfect pet”

Maine Coon Mystery origins One of the largest domestic breeds Very playful and amusing Fondness for water Long and flowing coat but rarely mats Slow to mature

Ocicat Selective breeding Abyssinians, American Shorthair, and Siamese cats Loving, gentle, inquisitive and playful The hair is banded except at the tip of the tail Within the markings each hair is tipped with darker color Coat is easily groomed by gentle brushing - combing on a regular basis

Oriental Intelligent and very affectionate Active and playful and hates being alone Naturally very clean cats Short, fine coats needing daily hand grooming

Persian Longhaired Breed The most popular breed of cat in American since 1871 Generally placid and gentle Undesirable traits Indoors Daily grooming Routine bathing Periodic face cleanings

Ragdoll Large, pointed breed Blue eyes Slow to mature 15 – 20 pounds male 10 – 15 pounds female Blue eyes Slow to mature Affectionate, loving, and relaxed Loves to play and be petted Thick coat does not form mats and is quite easy to groom

Russian Blue Russia – Isles of Archangel Delightful temperament, quite-voiced, and very affectionate Does not like to be left alone and needs human or pet company Short, thick double fur needing regular combing Ears need constant cleaning

Scottish Fold Scotland Ears fold forward and downward Loves humans and other pets Excellent mothers and kittens are quite precocious Fur color comes in a variety of patterns Short, dense coat requires minimum brushing Cleaning inside the ear folds is necessary

Siamese Thialand One of the oldest breeds Can be vocal to get attention and express their many moods. Lively and intelligent Short coat is easy to keep Large ears need regular cleaning The don’t like being left alone and do better in pairs or groups

Sphynx Cat Canada – 1966 Natural hairless breed Rare and unique breed that never needs brushing Fine covering of hair on the ears, muzzle, feet, tail, and scrotum People-orientated but not fond of other cats Does not like being held or strongly petted “Heat seeker”

Tonkinese Hybrid of the Burmese and Siamese breeds Friendly, affectionate, and a strong sense of mischief Good with other cats, dogs, and children Requires very little grooming but the removal of dead hair and buffing imparts a healthy sheen

Cat Diseases the top 10 Reasons Cats were brought to the veterinary clinic in 2011 (Veterinary Pet Insurance Co. (VPI))

1. Bladder infections Feline lower urinary tract disease (FLUTD) Characterized by Small amounts of urine being produced Frequent urination in small amounts Blood in the urine Straining to urinate Causes Urinary tract infections Presence of stones or crystals Male cats

2. Chronic kidney disease Chronic renal failure Commonly seen in older cats Related to Infections Urinary stones Toxins Thyroid disease Breeds Maine Coons, Abyssinians, Siamese, Russian Blues, Burmese Clinical Signs Increased water consumption Decreased food intake Loss of weight Lethargic behavior Constipation Diarrhea Vomiting

3. Overactive thyroid Hyperthyroidism Middle-aged to older cats Clinical signs Weight loss Increased appetite Vomiting

4. Upset stomach Vomiting Inflammation of the stomach (gastritis) Common causes: Hairballs Eating foreign material Consumption of non-feline foods Bacteria Parasites Viral infections

5. Dental Disease Multiple conditions of the oral cavity Periodontal disease Gingivitis Loss of teeth Cause of gingivitis Build up of tartar Bacteria

6. Diabetes Overweight cats increased risk Non-insulin dependent (Type II) Clinical signs: Increased water consumption Increased urination Weight loss Dehydration

7. Intestinal upset Acute diarrhea Clinical signs Causes Lethargy Diet change Foreign bodies Drug therapy Stress Bacterial imbalance Presence of parasites, bacteria or virus Clinical signs Lethargy Lack of appetite Dehydration Bloody or non-bloody stools Abdominal discomfort or pain

8. Ear infections Yeast, bacteria, ear mites Clinical signs: Itchy ears Red or inflamed ears Wax accumulation Head tilt Painful ears Bad odor

9. Skin allergies Allergies to substances found in the environment Clinical signs: Itchy skin, ears, eyes Runny eyes Ear infections Vomiting and diarrhea Swollen paws Coughing Sneezing or wheezing Causes Food Grass Weeds Mold Mildew Dust pollens Prescription drugs Perfumes Cleaning products Cigarette smoke Fabrics Rubber and plastic Fleas

10. Lymph node cancer Lymphosarcoma Poor prognosis Classified based on location Some locations are influenced by FeLV (Feline Leukemia Virus) status