Animals

The American Staffordshire terrier is a breed of medium-sized, short-coated dog whose early ancestors came from England. In the early part of the twentieth century, the breed gained social stature and was accepted by the American Kennel Club as the American Staffordshire Terrier. They are not to be confused with the Staffordshire Bull Terrier.

The American Staffordshire Terrier’s muscled build and protective instinct should make strangers beware, yet with their own family they are devoted, gentle and loving. A common question regarding the American Staffordshire Terrier is, “How is this breed different from the American Pit Bull Terrier?”. In the eyes of the United Kennel Club, they are the same breed, but many disagree.

Some AKC-registered American Staffordshire Terriers are dual-registered as American Pit Bull Terriers with the UKC; however, this draws criticism from many who point out that the bloodlines have been separate for too long for these to be considered the same breed. The AKC, on the other hand, does not allow a UKC-registered American Pit Bull Terrier to be registered as an American Staffordshire Terrier. To be dual-registered, the dog must first be an AKC-registered American Staffordshire Terrier and then it can be registered with the UKC as an APBT — but not vice versa… They are courageous and a tenacious fighter if provoked. Training can be a challenge because of their pushy yet sensitive character. Their natural temperament towards people is gentle and loving, unfortunately some have been improperly handled giving the American Staffordshire Terrier a bad rap.

The American Temperament Test Society conducts tests every year on thousands of dogs to determine the soundness of their temperament. The American Staffordshire Terrier routinely ranks well above many “popular” breeds such as the Beagle, Collie, Doberman Pinscher and the Cocker Spaniel. Intelligence, human attenuation, energy, and affection are characteristic of the breed.

The Persian is a longhaired cat characterized by its round face and shortened muzzle. One of the oldest cat breeds, it takes its name from its place of origin: Persia (Iran). Recognized by the cat fancy since the late 19th century, it was developed first by the English, and then mainly by American breeders after the Second World War. In Britain, it is called the Longhair or Persian Longhair.

Persian Cats have been the most popular cat breed in the world for quite a long time.
The first documented ancestors of the Persian were imported from Persia into Italy in 1620 by Pietro della Valle, and from Turkey into France by Nicholas-Claude Fabri de Peiresc at around the same time. From France they soon reached Britain. The longhaired cats from Persia were interbred with Turkish Angoras. Their appearance then differed greatly from today’s standard. Hundreds of years of selective breeding made Persians cobbier cats with drastically shorter muzzle.

The Persian Cat is the most represented cat breed in the cat shows and the Persians are the ongoing leaders in annual ratings by CFA and European cat clubs and associations.

Persian Cats are of calm temperament. The Persian cat is an ideal breed for those who are looking for a pleasant, peaceful and loyal companion. The Persians is not a talkative breed – if the Persian wants your attention, it would sit before you and gaze loyaly into your eyes.

The Bengal Cat is a relatively new hybrid variety of cats creating by cross breeding a domestic cat with and Asian Leopard Cat.

Their name is derived from the Latin name of its wild ancestor- Felis Bangalensis, and is not related to the Bengal Tiger. It was created to combine the appearance of the wild feline animals with the temperament of the domestic cat.

There are four different types of Bengal Cats. They can have one of the two separate patterns – spotted or marbled on one of the two different types of coats – brown or white. Bengal Cats can be both short haired or long haired.

Temperament: After three generations from the original crossing, the breed usually acquires a gentle domestic cat temperament; however, for the typical pet owner, a Bengal cat kept as a pet should be at least four generations (F4) removed from the Leopard Cat. The so-called “foundation cats” from the first three filial generations of breeding (F1–F3) are usually reserved for breeding purposes or the specialty pet home environment.
The Bengal Cat is considered to be a self-assured cat, both affectionate and playful. They love to play in water. They can also coo and chirp and love to jump and somersault.

The Sphynx (also known as Canadian Hairless ) is a rare breed of cat known for its lack of a coat.

Sphynx cats came from Toronto, Canada, after a domestic pet cat gave birth to a kitten that was hairless. Eventually the cats were taken to America, Europe and they grew in popularity. This breed of cats is the seventh most popular cat breed based on Cat Fanciers Association.

The Sphynx cat is unique because it has very little or no hair on its body. It is often referred to as the ‘feline alien’ for its strange, small face, large bat-like ears, wrinkled skin, a potbelly and almost no hair. Some types of Sphynx cats have no whiskers or eyebrows as well.
The hairless appearance of this breed of cats is so unusual that people feel the need to touch the cat upon seeing it to see what it feels like to touch them. Touching the body of this cat usually feels similar to touching some warm leather. There is always a soft layer of light down found on its coat. Female Sphynx cats weigh around seven to nine pounds while the males weight around eight to nine pounds.
Sphynx cats have a large amount of energy and love being admired. They are very friendly to all people, new and familiar. When sleeping they will usually find a warm place such as under the bedcovers or near a heater. They have voracious appetites and are known for their high metabolism.
The breed is therefore otherwise known as the “Canadian Hairless”, “Moon Cat” and “Moonstone Cat“. There are, though, well documented instances of the hairless cat mutation occurring many times before 1966 without attracting sufficient attention for a new breed to be formed from the mutation. For example, in 1830 in Latin America and in many other countries including England, Australia, USA and Russia, to name a few.

The Chartreux is an internationally recognized breed of domestic cat from France. The Chartreux is large and muscular, with relatively short, fine-boned limbs, and very fast reflexes. They are known for their blue (grey) water-resistant short hair double-coats which are often slightly nappy in texture (often showing “breaks” like a sheepskin) and orange- or copper-colored eyes. Chartreux cats are also known for their “smile”; due to the structure of their heads and their tapered muzzle, they often appear to be smiling. Chartreux are exceptional hunters and were highly prized by farmers.

The Chartreux is a natural French breed of great antiquity. It is known for its gray-blue color, wooly double coat, powerful build, and mild temperament. Although it is a massive cat, it has a sweet, smiling expression and a tiny voice. It is always gray-blue in color, with gold to copper eyes. Authors through the centuries have praised the Chartreux as a gentle cat, a quiet cat, an excellent hunter, devoted to its master, easy to keep and a good traveler. These characteristics were prized in a working breed, and are still true of the Chartreux today.
The Chartreux is a sturdy French breed coveted since antiquity for its hunting prowess and its dense, water repellent fur.
Broad, rounded head with powerful jaw and full cheeks. Straight nose with a slight depression between the eyes. Comparatively small, tapered muzzle. Sweet, smiling expression. Medium sized ears set high on the head, with a very erect posture. Rounded, open, expressive eyes.

Robust, medium-long body with broad shoulders and deep chest. Solid and dense. Females are medium in size, males are large. Tapering, moderate length tail. Comparatively short and fine-boned legs. Feet are round and appear almost dainty compared to body mass.

Slightly wooly, medium-short coat (slightly longer than most shorthairs). Dense undercoat; longer, protective topcoat. The coat should clump up like sheepskin (we say the coat “breaks”) at the neck and flanks. Silkier, thinner coat permitted on young cats and females.
Chartreux are less talkative than other breeds. Many Chartreux are completely mute: they purr, but cannot meow. Others have a quiet, high pitched meow or chirp which they use infrequently. This quietness can be a plus, but remember that a silent cat cannot let you know when it is lost or in trouble.
Neither gregarious nor shy, Chartreux are calmly attentive to the world, and will tend to hang back and observe, rather than rushing in. They are tolerant and gentle with strangers, small children, and other animals. They tend to withdraw from conflict rather than becoming fearful or aggressive. They accommodate themselves to most situations without complaint, travel well, and do not mind being left alone for long periods.

They are natural hunters, more interested in chasing and “killing” a toy than in romping around or wrestling in play. Even in play they are efficient, watching until the perfect moment and then letting loose with a fast and accurate pounce. They play in short spurts, sleeping and relaxing the rest of the time. They are creatures of habit and enjoy the same games and rituals day after day.

The Ragdoll breed is believed to have originated around 1965. Anne Baker is reputed to be the original breeder. There are many different stories as to the breed origin of these cats but it is thought to have started with a white Persian and Angora mix cat called “Josephine”. Kittens born from Josephine appeared to have a very gentle disposition and a loving nature, magnificent blue eyes and non matting fur. They have a tendency to hang limply in your arms when picked up. Hence the name Ragdoll.

The Ragdoll comes in the four traditional pointed colors: seal, chocolate, blue and lilac; and three divisions: solid or colorpoint, particolor mitted, and particolor bicolor. Solid division Ragdolls have darker, well-defined points. Body color is a shade lighter than point color, and soft shadings of color are allowed on the body. No white patches are allowed. Mitted Ragdolls possess well-defined points, except on the feet where they have a matched set of white mittens. Hind legs are entirely white, but the white extends no higher than mid-thigh. A white blaze can decorate the nose. Bicolors boast a white mask like an inverted ‘V’, plus white on all four legs, feet, stomach, chest, and ruff. Other white patches and markings can appear, except on the points, which are darker and well-defined.

 Ragdoll Cat Personality: docile, mild-mannered, and congenial, Rag-dolls make ideal indoor companions. One of the nicest features of these cats is their laid-back, sweet personality. They are playful but are not overactive. Known to adapt easily to their environment, Ragdolls get along well with children and adults, as well as cats and dogs. They are easily trained to stay off the counter and are affectionate without being overly demanding. They have soft, polite voices, even at dinnertime, even though they are renowned for their enthusiasm for food.

Ragdolls are extremely docile and love to be held and cuddled. They are usually relaxed in new surroundings and get on well with dogs and cats. Ragdolls are very affectionate and gentle making them an ideal pet for children.

They have a quiet voice and are playful without being noisy or destructive. Ragdolls are a very laid back cat and become devoted to their owners.