What’s in my cat: Ears

One of the joys of picking out a mixed breed cat is figuring out which breeds might have resulted in our unique and wonderful companion. Whether we are able to offer an “open door” policy and take on all comers, or have to carefully match a cat to our needs, knowing what might have gone into our cat offers great insights into their personality and development.

If we know what breeds, we know what needs.

People often go wrong in understanding this vital step because cats have strong genetic coat colors which are the first thing we see… and, often, the last. Look beyond the tabby or the tortie to see what other parts of our cat can tell us. Like: ears.

The classic “oriental ears” are seen on this purebred Siamese example. If we find a long, lanky kitten with oval ears, they will probably be more Alpha than not.

Oval, angled, and large, they are set semi-upright, as we can see from the distance from tip to tip. The oval shape is the thing to look for.

As we see here, Mr. Bond, despite his many Norwegian Forest Cat indicators, actually has an oval ear shape. This explains his tonal voice range, and maybe even the shape of his devoted heart. Knowing there’s some “oriental” lurking in Mr. Bond lets me understand his “one person cat” qualities.

At a very different end of possibilities, look at these purebred Maine Coon ears. They are triangular and upright, with the “lynx tips” at the top we see in all breeds that will probably turn out to be longhaired.

While our Reverend Jim is mostly Maine Coon in his body shape, personality, and voice, at six months his ears were showing signs of some moderating, other breed, influence. So I knew that he wasn’t a purebred show cat (not that we cared.) Still, they are as triangular and upright as many other purebred examples of his dominant breed. And he has the “lynx tips.”

Want a mellow couch potato? A smushy love bunny? Look for these Persian ears; short, broad, widely set. If a kitten looks like their ears are melting down their head like a pat of butter on a hot griddle, we’ve got some Persian going on.

Such a kitten is likely to not be shorthaired, and likely to be more Gamma in their personality and interactions.

We will see a lot of the British or American shorthair ears. That’s because when we split the different between upright and angled, we will get these ears. Whatever went into our kitten or cat, “shorthair ears” indicate a mellow outlook. We can be confident of some Beta traits when we see these ears.

These are Russian Blue ears. They have some oval influence. But they are mostly triangular, are set on the sides of the head, and don’t have any “lynx tips.” We would expect them to belong to an easy-going, affectionate, shorthaired cat. And they do.

Remember the x and y axis of cat breeds, and we have a blueprint for the kitten who does, or does not, cuddle into our hand, the cat who reaches out (or can’t) at the shelter. The longer, lankier, and more oval-eared the cat, the more they will have the Oriental and Alpha influence in their personality. The more stockier, big-headed, and triangular-eared the cat, the more mellow, laidback, and Western/European and Gamma they will grow up to become.

As always, the joy is in the mix.

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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.