Preserving The Original Cat Breeds

We have a papered Savannah cat. I wont say she is purebred because she has a lot of other types of cats on her pedigree. Mostly Bengals. The Savannah breed standard does not accept Bengals as a permissible outcross. Our cat is a p which means she is all permisable outcrosses for 3 generations. The first Savannah we could not handle. She would not even take a treat from your hand and she was very food aggresive. The one we have now is a full sister to the first one but she has the exact oppisite personality. She can tend to be growley if not getting her own way and can be food aggresive. We could not find a male to breed her to. Savannahs are very expensive to buy. I did a little bit of research. then I found an ad in the paper for Bengal/ragdoll mix kittens. I found out that the Bengal breeder is using the ragdoll breed to make the cats more friendly and handalable. I did have some female Bengals that were not tame and would not get tame. They were not my kittens, as all of my kittens were tame and able to be handled. So we went there and the woman had the most beautiful silver spotted tabby kitten. Both parents were just like him. Well after a few weeks of still trying to find a male we decided to go back and get that kitten. He is being registered with TICA as a DSH. We hope the kittens will be more tameable. He is the most beautiful creature with big green eyes, even if he is a little trouble maker!

Maggie, I guess if we are talking aesthetics, then whatever you prefer is just as valid as what anyone else prefers!

It's partly a philosophical discussion: whether it is worthwhile to preserve the original breed. As organic and heritage farmers are preseving different varieties of plants, so there is, in my opinion, need for preservation of animal breeds as well. There is often a sturdiness about them that is admirable and sought after. They "lasted" as long as they did, as a breed or as a variety (as in the case of plants) because of certain genetic traits and proclivities. However, that is not to say that there can't be unhealthy original types, or very healthy "new" types! I am glad you are pleased with your cat, and that he is a healthy fellow! I would love to see him, so if you have a picture, please upload!

P.S. In my local organic grocery store there is rice (sorry can't remember the brand) that says on the container "genetic identity preserved." It is an issue.

I have one of what is being called a 'modern' Abyssinian. He has no health problems, and he is beautiful. I much prefer him to the short eared, boxy, thick haired Abys. Which are a type that, in my opinion, need to be let go.

I also prefer the modern Siamese to the traditional, but that is simply my opinion. I love their elegant type, face length, and ear shape/placement. I also like how their entire bodies aren't the colour of their points. However, your cat is very beautiful.

Jo, your point about preserving the traditional breeds rings so true!

Our shelter presently has a modern day flat-faced Persian that, although every cat is beautiful in its own right, this cat has health issues, crabby personality, won't eat and cannot be bothered with most people. We've gone so far as to microwave the wet food for 5 seconds and sometimes she'll eat, sometimes not - yes, she's losing weight although she's been checked out by the vet more than once.

The following link has wonderful information on the traditional Persian cat. I love the photos and have come to realize that we had a traditional Persian back in the 1960s! I identified with a photo of a white traditional Persian from the website - we called her Twinkles. She was a source of joy and lived a very long life.

http://www.traditionalpersian.worldofdani.com/

The manner in which designer cats are being produced by the "Cat Breeding industry", seems manny cats common in 2010 might turn extinct in 2050! The original Siameese and Traditional Persian cats are prime examples of a cat breed becoming almost extinct due to production of a new breed totally different from the original breeding stock.As an owner of a pair of "traditional persian Cats' i find this breed suitable for any climatic condition unlike its "Flat faced" descendant, totally inept in hot climates and prone to diseases.Sadly, "Cat Fancier associations" have been indirectly responsible for creation "designer Cat Breeds" by recognizing the new breeds for cat shows while "de-recognizing" the original bloodstock breed.The "Traditional persian Cat' is not recognised in "Cat shows" having been replaced bythe "Flat-Face(Pug faced)' Persian cat, a bizarre concept of "Cat Breed Improvement". Hope the original cat breeds don't die out as a result of human folly and eccentricities of meddling with pet genomes to please their own ego's and exotic pet ownership .

Thanks for your comments. I personally owned one of those sloping hindquarters German Shepherds many years ago, and the poor dog was a wreck, was very shy, and developed lymphoma when she was five years old. So she had both problems, physical and mental. (My next German Shepherd had a flat back/hindquarters and was sound mentally and physically. He lived to be 13.) On the contrary, the Dutch (who seem to breed excellent dogs, horses and tulips) have done just the opposite to their working dogs. They breed for performance and health, instead of what some people view as beauty. So what you get is a sound dog, a sound horse, and not some extreme variation on what was a natural and beautiful animal. I am thrilled that I have a traditional siamese! Some breeders are just over the top!

You have a beautiful baby Jo. It's nice to see a cat look like a cat. I honestly don't know what some breeders these days are thinking. Maybe growing up in the day with That Darn Cat put a pattern into my head about how cats should look. Now we're having to worry about all kinds of health problems caused by spastic breeding. Don't mess with perfection breeders.

Hi Jo, as you say, one day in the future some breeders of extreme cats will look back and realise what a mistake they made.

Even putting aside the health problems the public prefer the more natural, original cat so why breeders have developed the ridiculous "rat face" skinny appearance of the extreme Siamese is beyond me.

Thanks for supporting commonsense and the traditional cat.