Show cat

From ArticleWorld

Also known as a pedigreed cat or purebred cat, a show cat is a cat that has been recognized, at a cat show, as being very close to the ideal for its’ breed. Many pedigreed cats are just house pets, do not compete, therefore are not considered show cats. To be considered a pedigreed cat, a registration must illustrate the cat’s pedigree back at least four generations. In some cases, show cats are worth large sums of money and are implanted with identifying microchips. Organizations that hold cat shows include the Cat Fanciers’ Association and The International Cat Association.

Misconceptions

In the past, some breeds were excessively inbred, leading to the misconception that pedigreed cats tend to be less healthy than their randomly bred counterparts. With increasing knowledge in the field of genetics, this is no longer the case. Breeders have successfully reduced the number of health issues in many breeds. PKD (Polycystic kidney disease, formerly found in Persians), and HCM (Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, formerly found in Maine Coon Cats), were two of the worst and have been all but eliminated.

Over the years, as breeders have continually worked to find the ideal of each breed, the characteristics of many breeds have changed. Some have been to change or improve the look and health of the breed, and some have worked to preserve the original appearance, as in the cases of the Maine Coon and the Turkish Van.

Origins

Some breeds are found in nature, while others are manmade or the result of mutation. Some breeds, like the Cornish Rex, originated with one unique cat that had a curly coat, due to a genetic mutation. When the mutation breeds true, an entirely new breed is created. In rare cases, such as the Burmese and Tonkinese, two breeds were created from the same unique cat.