Domestic Cat Breeds

Cats are almost certainly the most popular of pets these days. Initially appreciated for their inbred capability to hunt different house pests such as mice and roaches, cats also offer a warm and loving companionship to their owners. In 1987, cats left behind dogs as the number one pet in America (about 50 million cats resided in 24 million homes in 1986) and about 37% of American homes nowadays have at least one cat. Domestication of cats were earliest believed to have originated in ancient Egypt in about 3000 BC, where cats were also valued as sacred animals. Domestic cat breeds come in different sizes. Some pet owners prefer little kitten-siz
ed ones, while some prefer big-size domestic cat breeds. When choosing pet cats, one should consider the breeds' characteristics additionally to its size. Here are just some of the big domestic cat breeds that are popular with cat-lovers.

The Maine Coon

The Maine Coon is a local of the state of Maine in the USA where it is alsothe official state cat. It is one of the biggest domestic cat breeds where the males can weigh any where between 13 and 18 pounds (5.9 and 8.2 kg) on average, and females between 8 and 12 pounds (3.6 and 5.4 kg). In 2006, the Guinness World Records named a male purebred Maine Coon the "Longest Cat". It measured 48 inches (120 cm) in length,

from the tip of his nose to the tip of his tail, and weighs 35 pounds (16 kg).

The Ragamuffin

The Ragamuffin is a long-haired domestic cat breeds. Ragamuffins are practically

y big cats - females weigh between 10 to 15 pounds (4.54 to 6.80 kg), and males weigh between 15 to 20 pounds (6.80 to 9.07 kg). Ragamuffins arenotable for their sweet, gracious personalities and plush, rabbit-like fur. They are adoptable as untimely as four months of age, but do not reach full maturity until around four years of age. The Ragamuffin is an costly breed and costs can range from $900 - $1200 per kitten.

The Ocicat

The Ocicat is an all-domestic cat breeds that are similar to a 'w
ild' cat but has no wild blood. It is named for its similarity to the ocelot that is a wild cat. Ocicats are a very friendly breed. They are generally considered to have the spirit of a dog in a cat's body. Most can simply be trained to fetch, walk on a leash and harness, come when called, speak, sit, and lie down on command. On average ocicats weigh about 12.1 pounds or 5.5 kilograms.

The Turkish Van

The Turkish Van is a big, semi-long-haired cat with a swimmer's body. The cat is reasonably long and its back legs are a little longer than its front legs.

The coat is the most fascinat ing trait on this cat. The semi-long haired, water resistant single coat is thick in winter but very soft, like rabbit fur or cashmere. During the spring and summer months when it becomes really hot, the long hair on the body is shed for a shorter coat that retains the cashmere feel. Male Vans grow to about 16 pounds (7.3 kg) while females tend to be a bit lighter in

weight, 12 to 14 pounds (5.4 to 6.4 kg). Vans, because of their excellent fur, are hypo-allergenic cats. They are considered exceptional pets for those with allergies.

Pixie-Bobs

Pixie-Bobs are a completely domestic cat breed bred to resemble the North American Bobcat.

Pixie-Bobs are a big breed, with males reaching 18 pounds (8 kg) and females reaching 14 pounds (6 kg). The Pixie-Bob's body is chunky and solid. Pixie-Bobs are also the only polydactyl breed recognized by The International Cat Association (TICA). These cats may have anywhere from six to seven toes on every foot.

These big-size domestic cat breeds are only some of the ones available for pet purposes. It is vital to take note of the character of the breed of cat before we make a decision which ones to adopt, as this would extraordinarily affect the way we take care of them. Knowing such could help make things easier for us pet owners as we go about our endeavor in raising our pets