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QUESTION: a stray had 3 kittens in our garage on May 21. We kept the mother and the little runt, who had a cleft lip. I am curious of the breed of both. Someone told me a Norwegian Forest Cat for the mother. And American Short hair for the baby. But doesn't look quite right to me but I don't know. I'm attaching a link for a photo. The mom's eyes are bigger, but almond shaped. she was squinting from the flash. Mom has just started to fill out, she was so thin from being a stray and nursing. the kitten has big round eyes. Kittens eyes show up better in the 2nd pic. http://i.imgur.com/xpCj8.jpg http://i.imgur.com/5Msko.jpg
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ANSWER: Shelly,
Although the mama has some aspects of a Norwegian Forest Cat, it would be classified as a domestic semi-longhair. The Longhair genes are recessive, so it is not surprising the kittens are Shorthairs. The breed of the kittens would be a domestic shorthair.
Check out: http://www.cfa.org/Client/breedNorwegianForest.aspx
I hope this helps.
Best regards... Norm.
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: Thanks so much for your answer. One more question. What does it mean when people refer to them as tabbies. Does that refer to the coat more than the breed?
Shelly,
"Tabby" is a collection of patterns that can appear in many breeds of cats. There is the original tabby -- the mackerel tabby or tiger striped pattern. There is the classic tabby or blotched tabby (a very intricate pattern), There is a ticked tabby pattern where each hair has a number of bands of color with stripes on the legs and a necklace. Any of these patterns can break up into spots and be a spotted tabby.
I hope this is helpful.
Best regards... Norm.
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Answers by Expert:
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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