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Expert: - 3/21/2010


Question
Hello-I got a kitten from a local shop, She was 3-4 months old when we got her. She is probably about months now.
She Gray,white,Light browns, some blacks, Similar to a tabby in markings. She has tufts coming out of her ears. They are very long! She also has long hairs coming from between her "toes". She has a "double" layer of fur. Very long, she has a large full neck, and long full tail as well, it is the length of her body. I have lots of pictures of her that I can send to you for further Identification. What do you think?

Answer
Simone,

Without pictures, it is really hard to identify the breed.  I would love to see a couple of pictures and hazard a guess about what may be behind your kitty.  In the USA and Canada, the indigenous long haired breed is the Maine Coon, which has many of the traits you are pointing out. However, many long haired cats have these identical traits, so it would help for me to see the body and head structure of this cat.  Also, some idea of her age and size would be helpful.  (I know you meant to put her probable age in, but it is missing from the question.)

Best regards... Norm.

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Norman Auspitz

Expertise

I can answer most non-veterinary questions about cats. My particular expertise is pedigree cats, breeding and showing. However, I am versed in feline behavior, cat breeds and their characteristics, general feline husbandry, and the like.

Experience

I judged for the Canadian Cat Association from 1975 until 1982. I am currently an approved allbreed judge for the Cat Fanciers'' Association (the world''s largets cat registry), and have been judging for them since 1991. I have been breeding pedigreed cats since 1971 and have been exhibiting pedigreed cats in shows since 1970. I obtained my first pedigreed cat in 1970 and have never looked back. In 1971, I obtained my first Abyssinian which has become my primary breed. In addition, I have bred Manx and Persians. Currently, besides the Abyssinians, I am also breeding Maine Coons.


Organizations
Cat Fanciers'' Association, inc. (CFA) and the Manx, Maine Coon, and Abyssinian breed councils. I am currently Abyssinian breed council secretary.

Publications
Cat Fancy Magazine, The Abyssinian Chapter in The Cat Fanciers'' Association Complete Cat Book, and Articles for various editions of The Cat Fanciers'' Association Yearbook

Education/Credentials
I received a B.S. from Drexel University in 1968, a M.Math from University of Waterloo, in 1970, a Ph.D. from University of Waterloo in 1975, and a MBA from McMaster University in 1980. I received my approved allbreed judging status in the Cat Fanciers'' Association in 1999.

Awards and Honors
We have produced a number of Cat Fanciers'' Association (CFA) National winning Abyssinian and Maine Coons. We have produced a number of Abyssinian and Maine Coon Distinguished Merit females (an award for a top producing cat), including the first Distinguished Merit Abyssinian in the red (sorrel) color. I am the CFA Abyssinian breed council secretary and belong and/or hold office in a number of cat clubs. I am also a member of the CFA Judges Association.

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