The Cat Encyclopedia - Hardcover

Esther J.J. Verhoef-Verhallen has written several books on animals, and contributes a column to a number of weekly magazines. This encyclopedia is the fruit of her own experience as a pet owner, coupled with her extensive knowledge and expertise.

People have always had the urge to classify their pets into different groups. While the hundreds of breeds of dogs can be classified fairly conveniently on the basis of their original uses, this is not true of cats. Cats have played an important role in the ancient religions of some cultures, and they have been held in high esteem all over the world for their prowess as hunters. While this is still the case in many countries, in the West the cat has increasingly assumed a new role -- that of valued pet. Trying to classify cats according to their country or region of origin is also a fruitless task. The origins of some breeds can be traced back with a fair degree of certainty, but far more often there is little if any information available, and we can only guess at their exact origin on the basis of early writings and logical reasoning. What is more: a great many cat breeds have come about as a result of crosses or hybridization between existing breeds; these are therefore of mixed background. That is why in this encyclopedia of cats we have chosen a straightforward classification based on a physical characteristic that everyone can recognize: the length and type of coat. Because there are breeds that occur in both short- and long-haired varieties, the long-haired types of an originally short-haired breed have been dealt with separately. The principal aim of this encyclopedia is to give the reader the clearest possible idea of the different breeds in all their various guises. It is not possible to describe the breeds without using terms taken from genetics and the specific names given to coat colors and patterns, because these are in general use in cat fancy today. We have therefore tried in this book to describe different colors and coat markings in a way that is clear to everyone. The genetic theory has also been dealt with as simply and accessibly as possible. In describing breeds, we have not taken into account whether or not they are recognized by the numerous cat clubs and associations or the international organizations. Some breeds or varieties are recognized by one organization but not by another, or have been granted provisional recognition. If you are interested in a particular breed or variety, it makes sense to approach one or more associations about the breed or variety of your choice, so that you won't be confronted with any surprises after you have made your purchase.

If the information in this book assists readers in finding out whether the breed of their choice will fit into their home situation, and if they have increased their understanding of the various colors and coat patterns and the genetic background of the breed, this encyclopedia will have more than served its purpose.

Esther J.J. Verhoef-Verhallen