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Cats/long tailed cats in Arkansas

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Expert: - 9/24/2010


Question
Hi!  I recently moved from Illinois to Arkansas.  The cats (short hair mixed breeds) I have encountered in Arkansas have longer bodies and longer tails than I have seen up north. Do you know any genetic info about this?  Do they have the same number of vertebrae in their tails as northern breeds?  I find this phenomenon very interesting!

Thanks for your time,  Wendy

Answer
Wendy,

Yes, they would have the same number of vertebrae.

On the other hand, different areas have some unique genetic traits, including tail length. If you look closely, you will find that the cats with longer tails also have longer more narrow bodies, longer legs and longer heads.  All of these traits are linked, in cats. For example Siamese have about the longest bodies and tails of all of our breeds, whereas Persians have relatively short bodies and tails. So, depending on what makes up the feral population, also determines the body length, head length, and tail length.

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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