Wildcats are some of nature’s most beautiful creatures. These
spotted, striped, banded, or tabbied felines can be found
throughout much of the world, living a mostly solitary life and
hunting to survive. Of course, most wildcats such as the
ocelot, serval, margay, and leopard are much too savage to
bring home. However, a history of crossbreeding has resulted in
some domesticated breeds that look exotic but have a tame
temperament -- a perfect combination for cat lovers who want to
take a walk on the wild side.
The Abyssinian is one of the oldest known breeds. These cats
have large ears, almond-shaped eyes, and an elegant, muscular
body that resembles that of their earliest ancestor, the
African wildcat. Abyssinians are very intelligent cats, and
though they usually do not conform to the behaviors of the “lap
cat,” they are faithful, people-oriented pets that like to be
involved in family life.
The American Bobtail has a distinctive wild appearance with a
natural bobtail that resembles that of the bobtailed wildcat. A
sprightly yet easygoing breed, the Bobtail enjoys playing games, walking on a leash, and
cuddling up with their owners at the end of the day. In some of
the Bobtail’s behaviors you will get a glimpse of their wild
hunting instincts -- these cats love to chase insects and stalk
their toys.
The sleek, black Bombay is often mistaken for a miniature
panther. Though bred to resemble this famous wildcat, there is
no wild blood in the breed. The Bombay is an outgoing,
perceptive, and loving breed that likes to play, can be trained to walk on a leash, and
adapts easily to lifestyles that include children, the elderly,
or other pets.
The strikingly exotic Egyptian Mau is a long, spotted breed
that has retained several characteristics of their early wild
ancestors. These include the galloping gate of the Cheetah and
a loose flap of skin that extends from the flank to the hind
leg, allowing the Mau range and agility in jumping and
twisting. The Mau is a spirited and friendly breed, though they
tend to be cautious with strangers and connect most closely
with one “special person” in the family. These are affectionate
cats, but on their terms and with their people.
The Ocicat originates from interbreeding the Abyssinian,
Siamese, and American Shorthair breeds. They are the only
spotted domesticated breed selectively bred to emulate cats of
the wild. This large and active breed has a dog-like
personality, enjoying regular interaction and becoming
dedicated to their owners. Though bred for spots, the Ocicat
can also have one of four other patterns: classic tabby,
ticked, solid, and pointed.
The Somali (pictured above) is best known for their full plume
tail that gives this breed the appearance of a wild fox. The
breed came about as the result of a recessive gene in the
Abyssinian cat. The Somali is a medium-sized cat with a soft
and satiny coat that requires little grooming. With a lively,
intelligent, and genial personality, these cats quickly become
members of the family.
Your Cat Is Wilder Than You Think - Literally
Anyone who has seen their cat stalk a bug or
rodent thought something along the lines of "my fluffy little
pal still has some serious killer instinct!"But how deep do
those instincts go? How wild is my cat?A team of
scientists led by researchers at Washington University School
of Medicine in St. Louis, MO asked the same questions. What
they discovered may surprise you.Recently, these
scientists published research
in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
Early Edition that analyzed data about the feline genome
and helped shed some light on how domesticated cats are."Cats,
unlike dogs, are really only semidomesticated," explained
senior author Wes Warren, Ph.D., associate professor of
genetics at The Genome Institute at Washington University?.
"They only recently split off from wild cats, and some even
still breed with their wild relatives. So we were surprised to
find DNA evidence of their domestication."
An
African wild cat hunting in the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park
The scientists looked at data from the Cat Genome Sequencing
Project, which started in 2007. While the data from the
project may be used for disease research, the researchers
from Washington University School of Medicine compared the
information to wild cat DNA to determine what was different
between the two.The biggest changes they observed were in the
cats' memory, fear and reward-seeking areas. These changes
likely have to do with interacting with humans and being
fed.Cats and humans have only lived together for about 9,000
years, compared to 30,000 with dogs, but the changes in
domestication may be similar between the two. The
researchers hypothesized that cats were beneficial to humans
because they kept away pests like rats and mice that would eat
harvested foods and grain. As a reward, humans may have given
these cats food to keep them around. In addition , humans would
have favored more docile, obedient cats, so this trait would
have become preferable.
What genetics says about
your cat's diet
Aside from just looking at the traits that make your kitty
different than a puma, the researchers also analyzed what
the genes said about cats' abilities to hunt and eat meat. They
found that a fat-metabolizing gene that changed, possibly to
allow a "digestive advantage" for animals, like felines, who
only consume animal protein.Help your furry feline get the food
he needs by providing him with quality cat food like
the Fancy Feast Savory Salmon Cat
Food which are full of the meat and fats that help his
digestive system operate well and coat look nice. Use
your PetPlus membership to save on
quality cat foods like the meat-packed Wellness Beef and
Salmon Formula Canned Cat Food or the specialty Royal
Canin Veterinary Diets.
More on Cat Breeds
Where Do Different Cat Breeds Come
From? - Infographic
Hypoallergenic Cats for People with
Allergies
Easiest Cats to Care
For
