Some people have suggested that there are not as many cats in the world as dogs. Well, this is arguable as there are lots of cats in various parts of the world. For instance, a tourist to Ghana was surprised to see how much people preferred cats to dogs, especially in urban areas.
She explained that “it is very common to see these creatures in almost every compound”. However, it should be noted that there are more breeds of dogs than cats in the world. This is regardless of the yardsticks used to determine what a dog or cat breed is.
Speaking of yardstick used to determine what counts as a feline breed, there are lots of contrary views among associations. For instance, while the TICA (The International Cat Association) has acknowledged 71 feline breeds, the CFA (Cat Fanciers Association) is not so generous in its report, recognizing only 45.
It is therefore important that cat guides used to know the options available indicate which Association’s guideline it uses. This may be the ICA, CFA, or any other as far as feline matters are concerned.
In this article, we will discuss 4 factors considered by breeders when coming up with newer breeds. We advise cat lovers, guardians, and parents hoping to adopt or buy any of these creatures to pay attention. This is because the information shared here will be beneficial to them.
Factors Considered when Creating New Cat Breeds
The process of coming up with new breeds is not as simple as having two different kinds of felines mate; there are certain things to be considered. Some of the things to be considered include the following:
Genetic Goal of the Breeding Process
There must be something a good breeder wants to achieve before s/he decides to crossbreed different feline creatures. The ultimate goal should be to have a new sort of animal that has certain traits.
For instance, this might be to have the impressive hunting skill of one and the beauty of the other in one new line of feline creatures. The whole point is that it is a purpose-driven process. There must be a goal in mind.
A good example is the American Kueda. Speaking of natural mouse-catching abilities, this cat tops the chart for us. However, you should know that it was specifically created for this purpose by crossbreeding just the right sort of cats.
Local and International Regulations
There are local and international regulations binding on the process of crossbreeding or mutating any animal. Breeders who do not want to cut corners or have problems with the law adhere to the local and international regulations binding on the practice.
So, it is a lot more than deciding to have the traits of two felines in one new sort as rules have to be followed. For more on regulations binding on crossbreeding animals especially for livestock, you can read this.
Demand and Financial Prospects
It might interest you to know that there is a business side to breeding new sorts of cats. Here, we are not talking about helpless cats in shelters that are at the mercy of families that will adopt them before the shelter decides to euthanize them.
This is about cats that are in high demand all over the world because of the natural traits and abilities they possess. In short, breeders have to study the market and understand if their new line of cats will be accepted by cat lovers and owners.
They will not carry out the crossbreeding or mutation process until they are certain of this. To come up with a new line of felines that people will appreciate and be willing to buy, they look out critically for two or more distinctive features in cats and see how these features can be instilled in one new breed.
This is why options like the Siamese cat have been used a lot in crossbreeding new cats. Many people love that they are curious and very intelligent, playful and energetic, affectionate and loving, loyal, and some other things.
Breeders, therefore, understand that new sorts of felines that have these traits will be accepted by cat lovers across the country and world at large. This has led to options such as the:
- Himalayan (Siamese and Persian)
- Jungala (Domestic and Ocicat)
- Tonkinese (Burmese and Siamese)
- Snowshoe (American Shorthair and Siamese)
The point is that certain features are critically observed before the process happens.
Health and Physical Fitness
You may have been asking yourself why the TICA recognizes 71 animals and the CFA only recognizes 45 of the 71 recognized by the TICA. As explained above, there are certain yardsticks used by these feline associations before a breed can be recognized.
One of such is health and physical fitness. Aside from looking like a cat and having amazing traits, the new breed should be able to adapt in terms of physical features and health at large. For instance, this is why the CFA has not recognized the Bambino – a product of mating the Sphynx and Munchkin.
This is because they consider the Bambino as lacking physical attributes expected of a cat. For instance, jumping and climbing are difficult for this feline creature. Also, physical adaptation is hard because of the lack of furs for protection – making the body vulnerable to being irritated and dirty.
Conclusion
If you are interested in knowing more about cats recognized by the CFA currently, you can visit: https://cfa.org/breeds/.
We strongly suggest that you get a breed recognized by the CFA if you are looking to buy or adopt. This is because they are more stringent in their recognition of breeds and the ones recognized adapt easily.
We have discussed 4 factors considered by breeders before new feline breeds are introduced. As stated above, we advise that you go for a cat that fits into you and your family’s lifestyle.
