In analysing the differences between the cat breeds using DNA testing, I am compelled to come to the conclusion that it’s all a mashup. Nothing is what it seems. Everything is blurred and grey without clean distinctions. The breeds, themselves, have a different and distinct appearance – they have to, to be a cat breed – but at a DNA level there are some strange groupings and overlaps, but not much in the way of distinctive traits. I have written about the Persian which has no connection with Persia. This page goes a bit further.
I am using information from Sarah Hartwell’s site which in turn is based on scientific studies – all good sources. Ms Hartwell summarises information from the studies. When you read her article everything becomes a blur. If you try to find a handle on the subject, a pattern or some sense, you fail.
So, other than the Persian, what examples of a “cat breed mashup” are there? Below is a selection. I’ll start with a breed that is more or less how I like it.
Sokoke
One cat breed at least makes a bit of sense: the Sokoke. This is a rare cat breed that breeders say comes from the region of the Sokoke Forest in Kenya, Africa. Well, surprise, surprise, this breed is closely related to moggies (random bred cats) from the Kenyan islands of “Lamu and Pate group”. Where are these? Well Lamu is an island that is about 150 kilometers north of the Arabuko Sokoke Forest. I find that interesting because at least it is somewhere near the forest but why isn’t it the Sokoke Forest itself? At least we are near Kenya. That is a result. Another scientist, Kurushima et al (2012), says the Sokoke cat is associated with the region around the Indian/Arabian Sea. That would include Kenya, it seems to me, but it also includes many other countries and places. It is vague.
Egyptian Mau
There is a lot of folklore surrounding this cat breed. It is said to be related to ancient Egypt.
The Egyptian Mau was worshipped by pharaohs and kings.. (CFA breed profile)
Yet DNA testing concludes that the Egyptian Mau is related to Turkish and Tunisian random-bred cats, with European influences. It is a bit like a recipe from the kitchen. This breed has been grouped with the Russian Blue, Siamese, Korat and Abyssinian cats and “clustered” with American Turkish Angoras and Turkish Vans, but not a sign of anything ancient or Egyptian. Where is that ancient, exotic blood; the connection with the pharaohs that we crave? If you want to see an Egyptian Mau go to Cairo and look at a grubby, spotted, persecuted street cat instead.
Birman
This cat breed has a tenuous connection with Burma. I doubt whether you’ll find a Birman in Burma. We are told that the Birman was imported into France in 1920 or thereabouts, in the form of one male and one female, but after than things become grey, very grey. The male cat died, which left things up in the air. The surviving female and her daughter were mated with other cat breeds such as the Siamese. Then along came WWII which meant the breed had to be recreated again. In America, a couple of “Tibetan temple cats” were imported into the country. We’re told they were Birmans. They were crossed with other breeds. It’s another mashup. The Birman is meant to be a Burmese cat but is no longer.
Japanese Bobtail
I’ll end on the famous Japanese Bobtail. This is another cat with a long history, supposedly, of evolution within Japan and a long standing connection with the country. We are told that it has been in Japan for over a thousand years, being imported from China in the 6th century.
Well, put your preconceptions aside, the modern Japanese Bobtail is more closely related to European and American cats than the cats of Southeast Asia. This is because of that wonderful process called “selective breeding“.
Conclusions?
These are personal views and I could be wrong. The desire to create new cat breeds – there are too many, in my opinion – from a domestic cat that looks pretty much the same throughout the world has resulted in losing what distinctions there were between cats of certain regions.
However, what has happened is to be expected. Little attention and respect has been paid to the origins of the modern cat breeds. It has all been about what breeders fancied. There are many other examples in addition to the ones I have selected.
The overwhelming conclusion, for me, is that the cat breeds are a mashup, to use modern parlance; modern breeding and modern concepts coming together to erase what history and distinctions there were amongst the “natural cat breeds”. I think it is a shame from a purely commercial standpoint. The cat fancy would have done better financially and gained more respect, if it had been more honest and respectful of the domestic cat.
Note: if someone wants me to address some more breeds just ask.
Hi Valley Girl. Yes it is often very unpleasant to learn what other people get up to, and pets are considered disposable items without importance or feelings. Yes, a person in ill health must first take care of him or herself, but don’t they say having a pet is healthy? I have heard that excuse before and it goes down very well in most cases. I have 30 cats to look after so i am not much impressed by people who can’t take care of just one or two despite some health problems. This is a natural “breed’ conservation effort on my part. I keep them away from mad spaying societies who have no understanding of rare cat conservation, or the difference between a Turkish Van and a furniture van.
p.s. Sorry, I wasn’t clear- what I meant was I don’t know why she was put up for adoption, rather than being returned to the local cattery.
But, “cats as furniture” and get rid of them if they behave like cats has been a frequent topic of discussion at PoC.
Hi Valley Girl. Ha Ha. That genetic difference is nothing to do with just memory. It means that we share 97% of our genes with chimps but we have 3% that they don’t have. That 3% covers a wide range of differences from reasoning ability and general IQ to muscular strength, etc.
The genetic difference between cats certainly must be very small but it is detectable and very useful in determining in which geographic area(s) a certain cat originated. Genetics can detect the difference between children from the same mother but different fathers. This is used with 100% certainty to settle paternity cases.
In fairness to the person who put my girl up for adoption, I gather that she was in ill health, and could no longer care for her two MCs.
What really shocked me was my interaction with the rescue agency. Ms. Cat had been stated to be FIV FeLV negative on the petfinder ad. At the very end of the adoption process the rescue person (actually the person who was in charge of the rescue place) said, ~ “oh, and we said she was FIV FeLV negative because she’s always been an indoor cat, but we actually haven’t had her tested. When you take her to the vet, if you find out she is FIV or FeLV positive, you can return her.”
You cannot image (or probably you can) how pissed off I was, although I didn’t confront the person. I just wanted to get Tootsie home asap. Like I would return her, like she was a faulty lampshade or something? She was not FIV or FeLV positive, but the whole episode still makes me very angry. As a result, I concluded that there is a dark side to the “cat rescue business” as well.
Hi Michael. Yes theory are all sub-species of certain small wildcats, but due to geographic isolation genetic differences have crept in and any genetic analysis will show clear difference. This enable cats from Turkey to be identified as such and other cats that may be registered as Turkish to be of non-Turkish origin. The fake Turkish Angoras are identified in the Kurushima study as being predominantly W European, and in the Ascent of Cat breeds as an Egyptian Mau and Tunisian street cat mix. The problem is that E Maus are not Egyptian, they are W European and the Tunisian cats are probably from France, so both studies coincide. Turkish cats have a distinct genetic marker which coincides with random bred cats in that specific geographic area. The science of genetics has caught up with those frauds. They can kick and squeal for all they want but they will not be let off the hook.
Hi Valley Girl. Yes they have been recognised as natural breeds for many years but what I meant was that the cat fancy will soon or has already started to work on them and change then into non-natural breeds. I have seen Maine Coons with close -set erect ears rather like the fake American Angora. Sadly the cat registries don’t seem to give a damn about any manipulation or even check that breeding is as stated. Who knows what they will end up like. probably the same will happen to them like the TA, so changed that the original genuine ones are no longer accepted as representative of the breed. Your rescued Coonie finally had a lucky break. Too many people want everything too easy and looking after a cat would take them away from more important things like watching soap operas and eating doughnuts.