They were a ship’s cat who spread to Europe in the 1860′s, and became a recognized cat class in 1912. American breeders developed the cat we know today, after WWII, by crossing what were then separate English and Scandinavian bloodlines, and breeding out the Siamese that had been added to keep the breed healthy in a small gene pool.

But everyone agrees the Russian Blue has always been a class act.

GC, RW VALNIKA’S LONE TSAR OF TYLONA,
Russian Blue Male – Photo: © Larry Johnson

They aren’t really “blue.” (No blue food, no blue roses, and no blue cats.) “Blue” describes a slate-gray cat color, and there’s only a few breeds (such as the Chartreux or the Korat) where there is only one such color appearing in the breed.

The arrowhead shape of their skull and the round, bottle-green eyes join a lush, silver-tipped, double coat for the distinctive Russian Blue look.

Despite a long, lean appearance that suggests Alpha, Russian Blues are more Beta in their personality, which is quiet, gentle, and deeply devoted. One of their traits is to vanish when strangers appear, yet once they know someone, they love cuddling and attention.

One of the special traits of the Russian Blue is their calm, quiet, tranquil personality that nonetheless displays plenty of playful and amusing interests. They have an extraordinary mix of Alpha looks, Beta social skills, and Gamma harmony which helps them settle into diverse situations as needed.

The one non-negotiable, as with all Betas, is close companionship, but with Russian Blues, it should be quiet and dignified, just as they are. While they have a clown side that enjoys play, their most compelling need is inserting themselves into our daily activities, and not letting too much time pass before they get another dose of attention. They seem to choose one person for this important task, though they will make friends with the whole family, regardless of species.

“Brains, not brawn” is their motto. Keenly intelligent and fond of puzzles, they need mental activity far more than physical exercise. They also have a highly intuitive sense of what other beings have to offer, and how they feel. This helps them insinuate themselves into all kinds of shared tasks where we might not have thought a cat could be welcome.

Our Ordell was probably a Russian Blue cross. A clear “tell” is the dense gray fur with silver tips that let me trace patterns with my fingers, and his mauve paw pads. But many gray cats are mistaken for Russian Blues. Pink paw pads and nose leather, and no silver tipping, means their “blue” came from somewhere else.

As a natural breed, Russian Blues are quite hardy and healthy, and routinely get to their teens without much in the way of health problems. Another advantage they bring to the table is their reputation for having less of the glycoprotein Fel d 1 which triggers human allergies.

Want a Russian Blue? Find an ethical breeder who cares about their cats, or reach out to Russian Blue Rescue.

Use Petfinder.com to see if there’s one nearby, just waiting for a home.

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As always, click on any picture for the larger version.

Here’s our beloved Reverend Jim at four and a half months old.

Big paws – big cat. Long hair in his ears (the only place it was long, due to malnutrition) and the very distinctive shape of his face: I had a Mostly Maine Coon. It’s possible to have a long-haired Alpha; it’s just not likely.

These clues let me know Reverend Jim would likely be a Beta with a thoughtful manner, lots of sociability, and a big soft muffiny heart. That’s what we got.

Here is Olwyn’s Petfinder shot. She’s two and a half months old. What can we glean from this? (Aside from the massive cuteness factor, of course.)

Two things leap out at me right away. First, she’s a tortoiseshell. They always have Tortitude.

Long-haired cats means there’s some Northern Breed lurking; they will be a little sturdier, more towards the cobby type, than a similar short-haired cat.

Once I viewed her from different angles, I saw a big resemblance to the Norwegian Forest Cat. Add it all up and she was indicating we’d get a Supervisor par excellence. When I picked her up to see how she’d react, she started purring and tried to wrap herself around my neck. That told me she was glad to be affectionate with people.

Then, there’s Tristan. (Squee!) When we got him, he was three weeks old, and clues are hard to come by.

They can’t do much, so they can’t show much in behavior terms. I pick up a lot about a cat’s type with their visual behavior as kittens… but at this age, their always-blue eyes don’t even focus yet.

What we can see is a short-haired brown tabby; only the world’s most common genotype for domestic cats.

That doesn’t help a bit; from Manx (Manx mixes can have tails) to Scottish Fold (Fold mixes can have unfolded ears) to Shorthair (probably the most common breed in North America) such a clue is no clue at all.

At first, Mr WayofCats was puzzled about why I was referring to our future foster as a “furry slug.” Then I brought him home, and Mr WayofCats watched him stagger around on his jelly-legs and faceplant onto the bedspread, and said, “Oh, I get it. He is a furry slug.”

As seen here, we don’t have any head or body shape-clues, either. They all have melty little ears and stubby little legs at three weeks.

But if you look closely at those itty bitty paw pads; they have a distinctly purplish cast. Now that’s a clue!

If this were a black kitten, it would be the normal shade of the paw pads. But to see this on a brown tabby means the base skin pigmentation on their feet is not white, (which leads to the common pink paw pads,) but black. What does that tell me?

It can indicate the kitten comes from an Oriental line, such as the points on a Siamese that give them black paws and faces. Add in the tail kink the vet pointed out to be probably congenital and I should have seen the Alpha coming. Tristan grew up to resemble an Ocicat… and they have Siamese in them.

This illustrates how the length and texture of their fur, and the shape of ears and paws can tell us a lot about our cat before we even meet them.

At a casual glance, the cats in the shelter just look like… cats. This is where knowing our cat breeds will come in very handy. When we start paying attention to ears and paws and tails, even coat colors and their qualities, we start to see differences.

We start to learn what these differences might mean to us.

If we are adopting an adult cat from a good shelter, the shelter folks are a treasure chest of information about the right cat for our needs. Ask them!

Use my cat personality match selector to find out which cat type most appeals to us.

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Pictured: Best of Breed GC, BW, RW BURMANIA TAO LEE OF BURMILUV, Champagne Burmese Male
Photo: ©

Burmese are social, talkative, and intelligent. Those lovely coats started out sable, but now offer a variety of colors. They are very muscular for their size and land with thuds that surprise the unprepared. They ask sweetly and open their eyes very wide and soon are running things without their humans being quite sure how they did it.

In the early days of the Cat Fancy, such cats were often designated in cat shows as a Siamese or Oriental before settling into a recognized variety. Despite the different definitions, and the sometime-divisions by geographical location, all Burmese sprang from a lovely walnut-brown female named Wong Mau, acquired from Burma in 1930 by Dr. Joseph Cheesman Thompson. Siamese was part of the outcrossing, but careful breeding brought the special Burmese traits into focus, and no one has looked back.

Burmese fans find themselves saying, Just one more, which is an excellent choice, as these very social cats need companionship; though they will accept it from children and dogs, too. Their social intelligence make them solidly Beta types, with touches of Alpha with their energy and extended kittenhood. Burmese make sure they are never alone by making all humans reluctant to leave the range of their charming antics and insistent cuddling.

Burmese are known for combining the best of both worlds at either end of their life span. They are considered one of the most long-lived of the purebreds, and yet keep their clownish side into maturity, which takes a while to arrive.

When carefully nurtured along, they can become happy travelers and learn to walk on a leash. This is the best way for Burmese to enjoy the outdoors, because their sweet, trusting, nature means they tend to lack “street smarts” and are best enjoyed as indoors-only.

The Burmese popularity has made them a base breed for the Tonkinese and the Bombay, among others. However, their own gene pool has some glitches that breeders have been monitoring; because of this, extra care should be taken when settling on a kitten. Grown cats are generally past the age when these defects crop up.

Want a Burmese? Find an ethical breeder who cares about their cats, or reach out to Burmese Rescue.

Use Petfinder.com to see if there’s one nearby, just waiting for a home.

Love certain breeds?
There’s more about getting the cat you dream of at The Way of Cats than the article you are reading now. See MORE ABOUT CAT BREEDS.

Why is this important?

Because that might have been the final clue that made me realize the significance of all the others. That’s what made me realize the breed that he most strongly resembles is the Ocicat.

I picked him up from the vet this week; he had wound up staying two nights. The first night was so we didn’t have to deal with four cats deprived of food and water after midnight; we don’t have an adequate quarantine space in our little apartment. We’re already short of sleep (Olwyn got upset and clingy about being locked out, so that maneuver only lasted a few nights) and Mr WereBear had just gotten his sleep straightened out again. While Tristan had been very good about understanding what go to sleep meant, a night of us refusing food and treats would probably set him back. So we took him in early.

It was heartbreaking; he must have recognized the scent of the place. Because as soon as I set the parking brake, he threw up and got extremely subdued. Of course we told him we’d be back for him; of course he didn’t know what I was saying. He thought he was being abandoned.

Then, he stayed over a second night, because he was “logy” coming out of the anesthetic. I understood that, but when I heard he was curled in a corner of his cage with his back to the room (classic depression signs) I said that he missed us a lot and that was part of him being so quiet. Still, better safe; so I got him the next morning.

They brought him out in his carrier, and as soon as he caught sight of me it was “mew mew mew” in his distinctive little voice. He was rolling around in his carrier, begging for a belly rub, and when I opened the door a bit and reached in, he grabbed my wrist with all four paws and didn’t want to let go.

Once I got him home and had to get back to work, he let me take a step toward the door; and then demanded some cuddling.

He wriggled to get down, I put him down, took another step towards the door; no, he needed another hug. It took four hugs for me to leave.

The behavior, the voice, the wild look; when I got home I showed Mr WayofCats pictures of ocicat kittens. He agreed. That’s what we’ve been raising.

Why does this matter?

Because when we know the breeds, we know more about our cat.

Labeling Tristan as “mostly Ocicat” lets us know what to expect. I feel much better knowing that I wasn’t mistaken, wavering between Alpha and Beta; he has elements of both cat types.

It’s a great relief knowing how much exercise and stimulation he’s going to need. We can supply what an Ocicat requires; an Abyssinian might ask more than we can provide.

Now I know why Tristan is such a social creature. I know why he needs so much attention, and what kind of exercise is going to work for him.

It explains why he is such great buddies with RJ, and drawing away from his nanny cat, Olwyn. We are researching cat furniture because he will need vertical far more than our other cats. We are tailoring our night-time training more towards wearing him out than any other strategy; because that is what will work.

We can learn a lot by observing our cat or kitten. But I became a student of breeds when I realized how much they could let me anticipate wants, which also improved my communication. In any interpersonal endeavor, anticipating is half the process.

No matter who it is.

We rescued a tiny kitten, not knowing anything about him. See all my posts about Tristan.

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There’s more to choosing a cat with The Way of Cats than the article you are reading now. See my CHOOSING A CAT.

Pictured: Best of Breed GC, BW, RW WILD RAIN VOYAGEUR OF TRIBAL, Chocolate Spotted Ocicat Male
Photo: © Chanan

Ocicat fans love their “wild look.” But Ocicats are not wild at all; they are a blend of three domestic cat breeds. They combine the devotion of the Siamese, the athleticism of the Abyssinian, and the sociability of the Shorthair to create a unique and lively companion.

In 1964 a Michigan CFA breeder, Virginia Daly, attempted to get an Aby-point Siamese by crossing the two. She got something totally unexpected: an ivory colored kitten with golden spots! Tonga was neutered and sold as a pet; but a subsequent news story about him sparked the interest of a geneticist, Dr. Clyde Keeler.

He wanted to see if domestic cats could express the “look” of endangered wild cats. So the program shifted its aim, with a new goal; create a cat with a wild look and a domesticated heart. Ms. Daly’s daughter bestowed the name, Ocicat, because of the appearance as a miniature ocelot. Ocicat fans feel the program succeeded beyond anyone’s “wildest” dreams.

Ocicats have quick minds which need a lot of input and stimulation. They are known to enjoy opening all kinds of latches, doors, and containers with their clever paws. They are one of the most arboreal of breeds, loving to climb and able to leap much higher than their people might expect.

Their fans describe the Ocicat as “dog-like” in their ability to learn tricks and walk on a leash. These are excellent skills for them to learn, because Ocicats love to meet and greet. They are so focused on being social that they shouldn’t be acquired as only cats; the Ocicat believes the more, the merrier. They strike a sweet balance between Alpha intensity and Beta friendliness.

Getting an Ocicat is a companionship commitment; they hate to be alone, and follow their people from room to room while carrying a favorite toy. Their nose needs to be in the middle of whatever we are doing, and they will be quite verbal about their state of mind. They are not shy about asking for attention, and they need it.

Generally, cats dislike large and lively gatherings, but as long as they have a perch and a purpose, an Ocicat will enjoy mingling. They seek out laps when given the slightest encouragement, and will perform athletic feats for treats, or even praise. Because along with all their other traits, an Ocicat is eager to please.

Want a Ocicat? Find an ethical breeder who cares about their cats, or check out the cats needing homes at Ocicat Rescue. Check North America at Petfinder.com to see if there’s one nearby, just waiting for a home.

I don’t recommend keeping wild animals as pets. Here’s some of the special needs of ocelots who live with humans.

Love certain breeds?
There’s more about getting the cat you dream of at The Way of Cats than the article you are reading now. See MORE ABOUT CAT BREEDS.

But this isn’t always possible. Cat genetics being what they are, we often find clusters of traits together in mixed breeds, to the point where I see, over and over again, “types” of mixed breed cats. One of my favorite such types I call “the softball headed cat.”

Past the kitten stage, they are easy to spot; they have a big round head like a softball.

The Shorthairs, Maine Coon or Siberian, Bobtail or Manx, Chartreux, or Folds are all possible ancestors of a softball headed cat.

When we see that head, we usually know what we’re getting: a stocky, cobby, body, a mellow disposition, an easygoing personality, and an energy level that can explode into action, but is not driven to be that way most of the time. There’s also calm, deep, affection and a dry sense of humor.

Many cat breeds are recessive types; we need two breed ancestors to get a purebred which displays those traits. So these types, and the personality they are known for, can lurk in mixed breeds which might not have the physical characteristics, but can certainly have the mental ones. From this blend can spring the different variations which make each cat unique.

I have a softball headed cat right now; our Reverend Jim.

He’s stoic, slow to get ruffled by events, deeply affectionate, and creates little ways to signal he’s ready for hugging and petting. His biggest signal is simply showing up, but it’s up to us to notice that.

In a movie, softball headed cats are the gruff general with a heart of gold, the quiet mechanic who is the only one to figure out how to fix the engines, or the sensible cook who offers wisdom at the exactly right time.

They are usually Betas, but can spring from Gamma stock which gets diluted, as in Persian mixes. They can even have some Alpha cat traits; Chip was a cream tabby built like The Thing from the Fantastic Four, but had a keen intelligence and experimental interest. He would simply spend days plotting while also lying around… because he was a softball headed cat.

As always, the joy is in the mix.

Got here from a Link or Search?
There’s more to choosing a cat with The Way of Cats than the article you are reading now. See my CHOOSING A CAT.

So I’ve become something of a student of breeds in my quest for cat understanding. Guessing a given cat’s breed can be difficult when we are evaluating kittens, who tend to have similar body structures when they are tiny. With adults, we can be distracted by coat colors and overlook the little clues that tell us a lot.

When I’m trying to figure out a cat, I always check their ears and their paws.

One of the first things we might see are extra toes. This is known as a Polydactyl cat. Any cat with more than five in the front and four in the back qualifies.

The true polydactyly got that way from genetic inheritance, and is not handicapped; on the contrary, such cats literally leverage their “thumbs” into increased dexterity. Don’t hesitate to choose such a cat over health concerns; any paw with a definite thumb is not a defect that will cause the cat trouble down the road. Enjoy!

Polydactyly is such a common cat occurrence it doesn’t really clue us into a specific breed, though it is very common in the Maine Coon gene pool. Click on the picture to see the broad range of these kinds of cats, and this article has some fascinating facts.

Zoey’s picture brings up another important point, which is the color of the paw pads.

A gray cat can have pink or purple (lavender) pads. The silvery sheen on Zoey’s fur, and the color of her pads, indicate she might have some Russian Blue or French Chartreux ancestry. But such lavender pads can also point to Tonkinese, Siamese, or other “pointed” coat backgrounds.

Pink pads on a gray cat can indicate some kind of British or American shorthair genes, where the coat color is known as “blue.” Our dilute tortoiseshell, Olwyn, is also known as a “blue cream.”

As seen here, her variegated color extends to her paw pads; where the fur is dark, her pads are too, while the lighter colored toes have pink pads. This is completely normal; pigmentation usually gets picked up from coat color; but not always.

“Pointed” cats (Siamese are pointed coats) tend to bestow dark colored paw pads and nose leathers (the skin on the end of the nose) on their offspring, even if the kittens do not have the Siamese points in their coats. So dark colors on pads, especially if they do not match the fur, might point to an Oriental influence.

There’s another Oriental influence in this picture; the paw itself, which is more oval and pointed than average. A broad, large, paw is more likely to belong to the stocky “cobby type” cat.

As we can see here, in the prize winning paws of this purebred Maine Coon, big paws usually go with a big bone structure, like Persians or British Shorthairs. It’s not just that these paws are broad; they are also thick.

As RJ grew, his “Chunky chocolate bar” paws became even more apparent. This was a clue to his Maine Coon heritage.

In kittens, we can guess they will grow up to be longhaired if we notice tufts of long fur between their paws. These tufts can let us know there’s a longhaired heritage, even if the kitten is too young, or has been too compromised, to show the lush, long coat they will acquire when they mature.

It’s fun to see if our cat’s paws match their other parts. James Bond has oval ear shapes, but broad thick paws. Though he looks like a Norwegian Forest Cat, he’s not really a laid back type, as they tend to be; his focus shows more of an Oriental influence.

As always, the joy is in the mix.

Got here from a Link or Search?
There’s more to choosing a cat with The Way of Cats than the article you are reading now. See my CHOOSING A CAT.

Kallibunker was not like the British Shorthair kittens in the rest of the litter. He had a long slender build, large ears, and the most extraordinary soft and curly coat; like a lamb. A geneticist was consulted, and this kitten was bred back to his mother to get two more kittens, and a name: Cornish for their birthplace, and Rex for the curly-coated rex gene in mice. One of those kittens was outbred to a Siamese, adding length to the tail and size to the ears, and the cat world had a new, and very unusual, cat breed.

Pictured: Best of Breed GC, BW, RW QUAILS NEST MY PETOOTIE PIE, Black Smoke Cornish Rex Male Photo: © Chanan

Part of why that wavy coat is so short, and so soft, is that it is only the “down,” or underfur, that is grown by these cats. So they love heat sources, (including us,) and have minimal shedding.

Though this does not make them hypoallergenic, since it is the dander and saliva which creates the allergic reaction. If allergy problems are what interests people in the Cornish Rex, they should meet and greet some of these cats first.

Because they are very Alpha; high energy, high metabolism, high interest in everything, and high activity at all times. Fans laugh about their “bottomless appetites” which can be somewhat indulged since a Cornish Rex doesn’t have to be urged to exercise. They like to use their paws like hands, and are quite clever with latches and toys.

This “greyhound of the cats” is not only distinguished by their lovely coats. They have a lot of intelligence, which they bend towards being a part of whatever we do, leading to another nickname, “velcro kitties.” Their clown side is very endearing, but all Cornish Rex breeders agree that prospective appreciators must understand that moderation is not part of the Cornish Rex vocabulary.

If they want to do something, and are thwarted in some way, they will bend all their considerable will and intelligence into accomplishing their goal. People who are used to cats who spend a lot of time sleeping and thinking about where to sleep next will find a Cornish Rex to be a perpetual motion machine. Fans regard them as having only two speeds; full on and full off.

Give them plenty of running room, (both horizontal and vertical,) and lots of cuddling and craft projects, and the Cornish Rex will offer kitten levels of amusing antics well into their teen years. They are healthy and long lived cats; seeing them reach fifteen is not unusual.

The Rex gene is recessive, so mixes will look like other kinds of cats. When a purebred does turn up in rescue, it’s easy to mark them as such. While we might not get the Cornish Rex looks, it’s likely we could get the personality, wherein “Mischief” is their middle name. Such long, slender, big-eared cats can provide a reasonable facsimile, since outcrossing established the breed in the first place.

Want a Cornish Rex? Find an ethical breeder who cares about their cats, or check out the cats needing homes at Cornish Rex Friends. Check North America at Petfinder.com to see if there’s one nearby, just waiting for a home.

Love certain breeds?
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As exhibition rules changed, the Tonkinese met opposition; this breed highlighted the very traits bred out of the modern forms of Siamese and Burmese. Their bodies are midway between the stocky cobby types and the elongated Oriental types. They offer twelve different color patterns. They have adaptable Beta personalities instead of the driven Alpha temperament.

“Tonk” fans (who have steadily grown in numbers) don’t see this as a controversy. They see this as the point.

Pictured: Best of Breed GC, BW, NW PURRTEK’S MOSCATO, Platinum Point Tonkinese Male
Photo: © Chanan

While Tonks are gorgeous cats with a short, sleek, thick coat that is lovely to view and touch, it’s the unique Tonk personality which continues to win hearts and minds.

These are social creatures, who must have interaction with others.

A neglected Tonk will read us chapter and verse of the unfairness and indignity we are showing over the last five minutes. Then they will instantly forgive us when we suspend our other activities for the more important task of playing with them… and hugging them.

Because it’s not just play they crave. Tonks generally make wonderful lap and cuddle cats. This makes them benign rulers with willing subjects. Most Tonk fans have at least two, in addition to other cats, dogs, and children. Tonks are interactive marvels, happy to make suggestions to anyone. And usually getting their way.

Tonk fans feel the “best of both worlds” scenario is played out in their home every day. Sometimes this is a highly active, explosively athletic, cat, who races through the house at warp speed. Other times, this is a teddy bear cat, pulling us back for one more hug.

They are a good strategic choice for the cat fan needing to win over a cat skeptic. Tonk fans have many tales of how their Tonks won over a reluctant romantic partner, who then becomes the first one to suggest… another Tonk! It’s not in a Tonk’s nature to take rejection philosophically.

In fact, Tonks don’t accept rejection at all. It’s second nature for them to mount a charm campaign to win over even the most reluctant of souls. Then they graciously accept the new fan’s humble acknowledgment of their greatness, and bear no grudges.

This “friend I haven’t met yet” aspect of the Tonk personality also makes them a good choice for greeter cats, store cats, and other cats who like meeting the public. Most people feel they “look like a breed, but what kind?” which intrigues the Newbies and moves Tonk fans to share their passion.

When we do all the right things for our Tonks, we will have one of the easiest cats to keep happy. Their recently hybrid nature means a sturdy genotype along with the purebred predictability. Their ready assessment and acceptance of other creatures means few conflicts in the home. And they have been known to win over even the Scroogeiest of hearts.

Tonks need a cat tree or other sturdy piece of cat furniture, access to the couch and beds, lots of friends and lots of toys. So don’t subject a Tonk to being the only cat alone in a home all day.

Due to their popularity, a Tonkinese mix might appear in a shelter near you. Because of their beautifully balanced qualities, the Tonkinese influence is probably strong, and their distinctive appearance makes them reliably recognizable.

Want a Tonkinese? Find an ethical breeder who cares about their cats, or check out the cats needing homes at Purebred Tonkinese Rescue. Check North America at Petfinder.com to see if there’s a mix nearby, just waiting for a home.

Love certain breeds?
There’s more about getting the cat you dream of at The Way of Cats than the article you are reading now. See MORE ABOUT CAT BREEDS.

They are also known as Colorpoint Persians, reflecting the mix of the Siamese “pointed” coats with the Persian’s long hair and stocky body.

They were recognized as a breed in the 1950′s. As seen here, they tend to have the Persian’s flat face, known as a “pansy” face. Yet that wasn’t always true; Himalayans of twenty years ago had longer noses and more oval eyes.

Breeders wanted the Himalayan to return to their Persian roots, and compete in the Persian class. They began outcrossing with purebred Persians to arrive at the cat of today.

This also brought a lot of Gamma to the Himalayan personality. Himalayans are now a breed for those who want a Persian with a Siamese coat.

“Himmys,” as they are known to their fans, love being with their people. They often try to make themselves useful, too, whether we like it or not. But they have sweet melodic voices and sweet charming personalities, so giving in to them is no trouble at all.

They need some extra care. Daily grooming at the least, and help washing their faces. Himalayan fans find those faces so appealing they love to help take care of it. With such an extreme trait, care must be taken to breed the cats for healthy offspring.

Himalayans tend to be friendly, laidback, and on the goofy side. They are happy to get rowdy with a toy, and then equally happy to curl up next to us for quiet time. They like manipulating small objects which react in subtle ways, such as toys which crackle or sparkle. They love to chase a wand toy, but remember they are built like tanks, and wear themselves out quickly.

They are so socially oriented that we should always make sure our Himmy has a companion. Another Himalayan or another cat with shared interests keeps them much more secure than being left alone all day.

Himalayans are a delightful combination of stuffed animal looks and big candy hearts. Their captivating ways keeps them a popular choice.

Want a Himalayan? Find an ethical breeder who cares about their cats, or check out the cats needing homes at Himalayan Rescue. Use Petfinder.com to see if there’s one nearby, just waiting for a home.

Love certain breeds?
There’s more about getting the cat you dream of at The Way of Cats than the article you are reading now. See MORE ABOUT CAT BREEDS.