View Full Version : How to tell my cat's breed?
karratsnick
Apr 22, 2010, 04:38 PM
Hello!
Thanks in advance to people who are going to respond to my post.
Just wanted to find out which breed my cat belongs to. Her previous owner is not sure about her breed OR her age. Have attached a couple of pictures of her along with the post.. judging her age could be difficult [although I'd appreciate it if somebody gave it a try]. Main question is, which breed does she belong to? Or if she's a mix or whatever the answer is.. [I'm new to cats]!
Thanks a lot :D
http://img135.imageshack.us/img135/9489/image1fa.jpg
http://img191.imageshack.us/img191/2730/image2ok.jpg
hheath541
Apr 29, 2010, 11:22 AM
It's harder to tell breeds with cats than it is with dogs. Partly because almost all the breeds have the same basic body and head shape. Mostly because, unless they're being bred for show, people rarely try to mate cats just within their breed.
Even when you do breed cats within their breed, you can end up with kittens that look nothing like either parent. I knew two shorthair brown tabbies that produced two black kittens, a silver tabby, and a Maine coon.
You can take her to a vet and get an approximate age. My guess, which is FAR from being exact, would be that she's at least three. A vet would be able to give you a better idea.
Emland
Apr 29, 2010, 12:05 PM
She's a beauty.
I would call her a mixed breed tabby. Unless you are going to show or breed her I don't suppose it really matters.
Sariss
Apr 29, 2010, 03:58 PM
She is a domestic medium hair. Most cats are 'mutts' and either go by DSH, DMH or DLH.
Aurora_Bell
Apr 29, 2010, 05:05 PM
I'm not sure at all, but she is gorgeous. I'd say anywhere from 3-5. But I have no clue, just a guess. Maybe your vet could give you a better idea on the age question.
XOXOlove
Apr 29, 2010, 05:29 PM
She looks like a Maine coon to me.
http://peter.stillhq.com/jasmine/blog/ny-maine-coon3.jpg
http://www.coon.es/fotos/mainecoon4.jpg
hheath541
Apr 29, 2010, 05:35 PM
She looks like a maine coon to me.
http://peter.stillhq.com/jasmine/blog/ny-maine-coon3.jpg
http://www.coon.es/fotos/mainecoon4.jpg
that was my first thought, too. She has at least one other breed in her, though. She's just a gorgeous little feline mutt ^_^
Wondergirl
Apr 29, 2010, 05:47 PM
I rescued a feral cat who is black but otherwise looks like yours. We're guessing our Kuro is mostly Maine Coon -- fur growing between his pads, bushy tail, furry ears, thick ruff around his neck. If your cat is bigger than normal cat-size, Norwegian Forest Cat might be another possibility.
hheath541
Apr 29, 2010, 05:57 PM
I rescued a feral cat who is black but otherwise looks like yours. We're guessing our Kuro is mostly Maine Coon -- fur growing between his pads, bushy tail, furry ears, thick ruff around his neck. If your cat is bigger than normal cat-size, Norwegian Forest Cat might be another possibility.
Maine coons are rather large cats, too. Very solid and muscular bodies.
Wondergirl
Apr 29, 2010, 06:03 PM
Hmmm, Kuro is about the same size (height and length) as our short-haired ones, but looks bigger because of all the fur. Yeah, he IS solid, that's for sure! Like a little kid, he makes himself real heavy when you try to pick him up to move him, especially when he doesn't want to be moved.
A friend has a NFC, and he (the cat) is huge! Wiki says Maine Coons descended from NFCs. (Kuro isn't purebred; his mom was a short-haired feral. We never met the dad.)
hheath541
Apr 29, 2010, 06:08 PM
I knew a Maine coon with two shorthair tabbies as parents. He was bigger then his parents before he reached a year old. Gorgeous cat with a bad habit of pulling his fur out when he itched (from shedding or fleas) or was upset.
XOXOlove
Apr 29, 2010, 06:14 PM
Hmmm, Kuro is about the same size (height and length) as our short-haired ones, but looks bigger because of all the fur. Yeah, he IS solid, that's for sure! Like a little kid, he makes himself real heavy when you try to pick him up to move him, especially when he doesn't want to be moved.
A friend has a NFC, and he (the cat) is huge! Wiki says Maine Coons descended from NFCs. (Kuro isn't purebred; his mom was a short-haired feral. We never met the dad.)
Norweigen Forests are very similar to Maine Coons. They have more fur on their cheeks though so their face looks more triangular like this:
http://static.gotpetsonline.com/pictures-gallery/cat-pictures-breeders-kittens-rescue/norwegian-forest-cat-pictures-breeders-kittens-rescue/pictures/norwegian-forest-cat-0011.jpg
So cute! :)