 | This articleneeds additional citations forverification. Please helpimprove this article byadding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Find sources: "List of experimental cat breeds" – news ·newspapers ·books ·scholar ·JSTOR(September 2019) (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
_Hugo_by_TAnthony.jpg)
The following is a list ofexperimental cat breeds and crossbreeds[1] that do not have the recognition of any major national or internationalcat registries, such asThe International Cat Association (TICA) in the US, Europe, and Australasia; theGoverning Council of the Cat Fancy (GCCF) in the UK, theFédération Internationale Féline (FiFE) in continental Europe, theCat Fanciers' Association (CFA) in North America, or the more recentWorld Cat Federation based in Germany. Such a breed may be recognized by one of the smaller cat registries. Smaller registries include the Rare and Exotic Feline Registry (REFR), and others.This list only includes breeds recognized by at least one extant, national or international,multi-breed registry.
Breeders of some minority breeds actively seek major recognition for them, but have yet to receive it. For example, in regions where the formalcat fancy is in its infancy, naturally occurring native varieties –landraces – can be classified as minority breeds when attempts atselective breeding have begun to produce a formalnatural breed with consistent traits, as is ongoing with theAegean andVan cats. Other minority breeds are bred for private reasons and inadvertently attract an informal following. Minority breeds may be recognized by some registries, or none at all; recognition can be refused for a variety of reasons (including over-similarity to an existing breed, medical problems being statistically linked to the breed, and others). Some may have "preliminary" status in one or more registries, with experimental conformation standards already in place, but turn out to be non-viable over the longer term.
Discrepancies between breed names can often cause confusion; occasionally the name adopted by one registry is used elsewhere for an entirely different breed; for example, the breed known in Australia as "Burmilla Longhair" is analogous to the "Asian Semi-longhair" in Britain (also called the "Tiffanie"), but Australia already has a quite different breed known as the "Australian Tiffanie" and both are different from the American "Tiffany" (also known as theChantilly-Tiffany). Such conflicts are decreasing due to better communication between registries, largely facilitated by the Internet and by theWorld Cat Congress.
The Aegean is a cat ofGreek origin that has been developed since the 1990s by the Feline Federation of Greece, using cats from theCyclades.[citation needed] The name comes from the fact that the cats were originally found around theAegean Sea.[2] They are considered a national treasure of Greece.[2] Aegean cats are alandrace, and are one of the oldest distinct populations of the domestic cat.[2] They have an affinity for fishing and water, and are numerous in Greek fishing ports.[2] It is a medium-sized, muscular cat[2] with a lighter European or Continental type body,[citation needed] medium-sized round paws, and green almond-shaped eyes.[2] The coat is always two or three colors, one of which is always white.[2] The breed is mostly free from common feline diseases.[2]
The Alpine Lynx is a white, short-tailed cat breed that can have either curled or straight ears.[3] They may be either short- or long-haired, and may have tufted toes.[3] They are a medium-sized breed whose back legs are longer than their front legs.[3] It was developed from a cross between aHighlander and a white barn cat.[3] It is recognized by the Rare and Exotic Feline Registry.[3]
The American Lynx is a short-haired cat breed with a spotted coat. This breed isbob-tailed or short-tailed. The coat pattern bears some resemblance to that of thebobcat. This breed is recognized by the Rare and Exotic Feline Registry.[4]
The American Polydactyl is apolydactyl cat, meaning that it has more than the usual number of toes. This breed is currently in development. As of 2018,[update] it is recognized (since 2004) only by the Rare and Exotic Feline Registry.[5]
The American Ringtail, also known as the Ringtail Sing-a-Ling, is a cat breed with the ability to hold their tail in a ring-like shape.[6] It is recognized as registration only byThe International Cat Association.[7]
The Cyprus cat is alandrace of cats native toCyprus; it is a localized variant of theAegean cat. As with the latter, attempts are underway totrue-breed certain traits and establish a standardized breed, under a variety of names by different breeder groups. Recognition so far, under the name Aphrodite, is limited to theWorld Cat Federation/World Cat Congress since 2012,[8] provisionally byThe International Cat Association since 2017,[9] and various more localized bodies such as the Cyprus Cats National Breed Association and the Cyprus Feline Society.
 | This articleappears to contradict the articleTiffanie cat. Please discuss at thetalk page and do not remove this message until the contradictions are resolved.(January 2024) |
The Australian Tiffanie is a cat breed derived from crosses between the short-hairedBurmilla and the long-hairedChinchilla Persian. These cats resemble the old style of the Chinchilla Longhair. Some name confusion exists with this breed; this Australian cat is not the same as theTiffanie breed in Europe (also known as the Burmilla Longhair) or theTiffany breed in the United States. It is recognized by the Waratah State Cat Alliance.[10]
The Bambino is adwarf cat cross between theMunchkin andSphynx breeds; it has the short legs of the former and the lack of fur of the latter. It is recognised by the Rare and Exotic Feline Registry.[11]
In 2005, two cat breeders, Stephanie and Pat Osborne, started the Bambino breed at their Holy Moly Cattery inArkansas, which later went defunct. They likely named it Bambino (Italian for "baby") because of its properties. One year later,The International Cat Association (TICA) recognized the Bambino as an experimental breed of cat.[12]
It is technically legal to own a Bambino, but owning and breeding of it is discouraged and considered unethical due to health problems. In 2019, theNetherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority ordered a couple to stop breeding the Bambino due to welfare concerns,[13][14] which include painful limited mobility as a result of dwarfism.[15]
The Bambino has also been given the name "XL Bully Cat" due to its similarities to theAmerican Bully (XL Bully Dog).[16]
The Bramble is a large wire-haired cat breed with a spotted coat pattern. It was derived from crossing theBengal with brush-coatedPeterbalds. It originates from the US and is recognized by the Rare and Exotic Feline Registry.[17]
The Classicat is a cat breed originating from New Zealand. It is overall anOcicat-type, but has a coat with the classic swirledtabby pattern. It is recognized by the New Zealand Cat Fancy.[18]
The Desert Lynx is abob-tailed or short-tailed cat breed of US origin. This cat has spotted or marbled markings and resembles thebobcat, and the breed is recognized by the Rare and Exotic Feline Registry.[19][20]
The Dwelf is adwarf cat cross ofSphynx,Munchkin, andAmerican Curl stock, and has the defining traits of all three breeds: hairlessness, shortened legs, and curled ears. The breed is of US origin and was recognized by the now-defunct Dwarf Cat Association (or Designer Cat Association).[21] Later, it became recognized by the Rare and Exotic Feline Registry.[22]
The Elf or Elf Sphynx is a nearly hairless variety with ears that curl backward. Thegene responsible for hairlessness in the Sphynx (and thus in the Elf) produces skin that is not completely hairless; two types of hair formation occur: a few patches of light hairs particularly around the nose, tail, and toes; and a finedowny all-over covering.[23] Care issues areas with Sphynx cats. As of 2022,[update] this in-development variety is not recognized by majorbreed registries andcat-fancier organizations such asThe International Cat Association (TICA) or theCat Fanciers' Association (CFA). Some breeders have published draftbreed standards for the Elf, based on those for the foundation breeds, but these documents are not entirely consistent with each other.[24][25][26][27] Breeders are seeking TICA recognition as a preliminary new breed.[28] The Elf has been included in the Australian National Cats (ANCats) breed list as experimental.[25]
.JPG)
.jpg)
The Foldex cat, also known as the Exotic Fold, is a cat breed developed in theCanadian province ofQuebec by crossbreeding aScottish Fold and anExotic Shorthair. Foldexes are medium-sized cats with a rounded face, short legs, and sometimes folded ears; while the latter are intended to be the defining feature of the breed, only about 50% of them exhibit it. The eyes are rounded, the ears small, and the body stout like that of Scottish Fold, with a short face between those of the two originating breeds. The coat may be of any length, colour, and pattern.[29] The variety is recognized as a breed in its own right by onecat registry, theCanadian Cat Association (CCA),[29][30][non-primary source needed] but not by any of the major international ones.[29] Foldexes have genetic predispositions to multiple medical disorders, primarily inherited from the Scottish Fold, and their breeding has been banned in some countries as a result.
In 1995, a Foldex was first exhibited in acat show by breed Betty-Ann Yaxley inQuebec. It was originally produced by crossbreeding aScottish Fold with anExotic Shorthair,[30] resulting in a cat with a comparatively round head, shortened nose, and (ideally) folded ears.[31] Further breeding and promotion by Jeanne Barrette resulted in theCanadian Cat Association (CCA) accepting the nascent breed in its Experimental category in November 1998. It was promoted to the CCA's New Breed category in August 2006, and granted Championship status in 2010.[31]
The Foldex is known for its signature small, folded ears with round tips. However, only half of all Foldex inherit this trait. Those with non-folded ears are referred to as "straights" (versus "foldeds");[32][unreliable source] their ears grow straight in their adult stage as in most other cat breeds. Folded kittens' ears begin to show a visible fold between 21 and 28 days old. The Foldex's body stature is medium-built with strong muscles, short legs and a short neck. Their ears may resemble those of the Scottish Fold breed, but they only have one crease which folds forward and downwards, while Scottish Folds have multiple creases that result in their ears laying flat. Their coats have variety of colour, patterns, and lengths; the CCA standard permits any coat colour and pattern, and any length, since it also permits outcrossing toExotic Longhair.[29] The Foldex breed has a round face with wide-open eyes.[33][unreliable source] Their nose is longer than an Exotic, but shorter than a Scottish Fold.[34][unreliable source]
Foldex cats are genetically predisposed to a risk of felinepolycystic kidney disease (PKD), which can cause renal failure. This predisposition is inherited from the Exotic ancestry, being a trait ofPersian and related breeds. A Foldex cat can be pre-screened for the genetics that cause PKD.[35] Foldexes are also be genetically predisposed to health conditions inherited from the Scottish Fold, including congenitalosteochondrodysplasia,chondrodystrophy,osteodystrophy, andepiphyseal dysplasia, caused by the folded-ear genetic mutation[36][37] (the Fd[36] or SF[37] gene) which leads to generalized cartilage and bone malformation, not just in the ear. This gene can also be tested for (including in potential breeding stock).[37]
Sources disagree on whether straight-eared specimens of this and related breeds can still carry and pass on the gene for it. A laboratory atUniversity of California, Davis, states that even having one copy of the gene will cause a folded ear and a predisposition to some medical problems, while having two copies of it will produce folded ears and debilitating joint disorders, but that any straight-eared specimen will not have the gene at all.[37] A veterinary experts group empaneled by theGerman Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture, disagreed, finding that straight-eared offspring may also carry the gene and simply not exhibit ear-folding;[36] theAustrian government has also accepted the findings of the German body,[38][39] and the government ofFlanders (Belgium) has taken a similar position.[40]
Several countries and sub-national jurisdictions have enactedanimal welfare laws or regulations that prohibit breeding of fold-ear cats, including: Germany in 2005,[36] theNetherlands in 2014,[41]Austria in 2020,[38] Flanders, Belgium, in 2021,[40]Victoria (Australia) in 2020,[42] and even the birthplace of the Scottish Fold breed,Scotland since 2018.[43][44] Some countries have also banned selling or giving away fold-ear cats,[40] or breeding with any cat that bears the fold-ear gene mutation, including any straight-eared offspring that carry it.[36][41] The Flanders ban makes no straigh-ear allowances and bans entire breeds that carry the gene.[40] Furthermore, some of the majorcat registries, including theGoverning Council of the Cat Fancy (GCCF)[45] andFédération Internationale Féline (FIFé),[46] do not recognise, nor allow for the registry of, Scottish Folds and related breeds due to their health issues.
The Genetta is adwarf cat breed derived from crossbreeding theMunchkin andBengal (sometimes alsoOcicat) breeds[47] to create a spotted, striped, long-bodied, short-legged cat with a spotted, striped, or marbled coat.[48] The breed is named after, and is a cat-breeding attempt to resemble, the Africangenet[48] (which is not afelid). This breed is of US origin.[49] It is recognised by the Rare and Exotic Feline Registry.[22]
Originally developed in 1993 as the Highland Lynx, and accepted by the Rare and Exotic Feline Registry (REFR) under that name, this cat is acrossbreed of theDesert Lynx and theJungle Curl, to add the latter's curled ears to the former.[50] It became known as the Highlander in 2005, and was recognized as a "preliminary new breed" byThe International Cat Association (TICA) in 2008, and an "advanced new breed" in 2018.[51] Though the breed is said to resemble thebobcat and was originally given a name that included the word "lynx", it is a wholly domestic cat without any bobcat (or any other lynx species) ancestry.[52] REFR later split the breed into the original Highland Lynx (Desert Lynx × Jungle Curl)[50] and a separate new Highlander (aback-cross of Highland Lynx with more Desert Lynx),[53] which conflicts with TICA's breed definition.
The Jungle Curl cat is afelid hybrid cat breed of US origin, primarily a cross between the Africanjungle cat (Felis chaus) species (or a domestic hybrid based on it, such as theChausie), and another domestic breed that has curled ears such as theAmerican Curl,Highlander (Highland Lynx), or Hemmingway Curl, with the addition of several other spotted hybrid breeds, includingBengal,Savannah, andSerengeti. The Rare and Exotic Breed Registry recognizes the breed. The ears are curled,polydactyly is permitted, and the coat may be spotted or tawny, and of varying lengths.[54]
The Kinkalow is adwarf cat cross between theMunchkin and theAmerican Curl. It has short legs and curled ears.[55] It is recognised by the Rare and Exotic Feline Registry.[22]
The Kucing Malaysia, or Piawaian Kucing Malaysia, is the first indigenous Malaysian cat breed. It has a conformation similar to theTonkinese, while its color is similar to theRagdoll. These cats have a white blaze on the face and muzzle and white markings on the colorpoint limbs. It is recognized by the Malaysian Cat Club.[56]
The Lambkin, also known as the Nanus Rex, is a short-leggeddwarf cat breed of US origin with a denselycurled coat. They are derived from crossing theMunchkin and theSelkirk Rex. This breed is recognized by the Rare and Exotic Feline Registry[57] and formerly by the now-defunct Designer Cat Association or Dwarf Cat Association.[21]
The Mandalay is a cat breed originally derived from crosses betweendomestic short-haired cats and theBurmese. Later,Abyssinians were used to introduce the cinnamon and fawn genes. These cats resemble theAsian Shorthair that is bred in Europe. There should be no evidence of sepia-pointing; i.e., contrast between points and body. This breed originated in New Zealand and is recognized by the New Zealand Cat Fancy.[58]
The Minskin is adwarf cat breed developed from theMunchkin,Burmese,Sphynx, andDevon Rex breeds; it has short legs, is mostly hairless or with a very short coat, and haspoint coloration at the extremities. It is recognised by REFR,[22] and recognized in the "preliminary new breed" category byThe International Cat Association (TICA) since 2018.[59][60]
The Minuet, also known as the Napoleon, is adwarf cat breed that crosses theMunchkin andPersian (or sometimes the Persian variantsHimalayan orExotic Shorthair). This results in a cat with a Persian'sbrachycephalic ("peke-face") appearance, but with short legs. Coat length and coloration will depend on the non-Munchking parentage. This breed is of US origin and has been recognized by the Rare and Exotic Feline Registry[61] and formerly by the now-defunct Designer Cat Association or Dwarf Cat Association.[21] It was recognized byThe International Cat Association (TICA) as experimental in 2001,[62] renamed by TICA from Napoleon to Minuet in 2015,[63] and approved for TICA championship show status in 2016.[64] The breed is recognized under the original Napoleon name by the Rare and Exotic Feline Registry.[65] However, like other dwarf-cat breeds, it is banned by many registries.
The Mojave Spotted (formerly Mojave Desert Cat[66]) is apolydactyl cat with a spotted coat. They are derived from crosses betweenBengal bloodlines and those of naturallypolydactyl cats from theMojave Desert region in the US. This breed is recognized by the Rare and Exotic Feline Registry.[67]
The Owyhee Bob is a cat breed that is a mix of the Siamese and Manx cats,[68] and is of United States origin. The most distinctive feature of this cat is its color and build, and it is slow to mature like the Manx. The Owyhee Bob is a colorpoint breed (like the Siamese), of medium to large size. The body is medium in length, hard and muscular with a broad chest. The head shape is medium to large with full cheekbones and whisker pads, giving a rounded appearance to the muzzle. The strong chin gives a balanced appearance to the head. The ears are medium to large, wide set, full at the base and tapering, standing straight and upright, sometimes feathering to a rounded tip that is often tufted in the longer-haired cats. The large oval eyes are slightly slanted and wide set, and are always Siamese blue. Legs are medium in length and are sturdy and well-muscled. Paws are large and round (and can be polydactyl).[69] Females range from 8 to 12 pounds and males from 12 to 16 pounds, with some getting larger. The tails come in rumpy, stumpy and longy, with some breeders docking the long tails (in countries where this is still legal). They come in all coat lengths except hairless. The coat is soft and plush, like that of a rabbit, and should not be curly or wavy. The Owyhee Bob is sometimes said to have a temperament that is more like that of a dog than a cat; they can be taught to sit, lie down, and play fetch. They are a vocal breed. They are currently recognized only by the Rare and Exotic Feline Registry.[69]
The Pantherette is afelid hybrid cat breed of US origin, in development since the early 2000s,[70][66] and was said to have still been in development in a 2014 book.[71] It is intended to resemble a miniatureblack panther.[71] Pantherette is a crossbreed of black (melanistic)Bengals[71] (a hybrid of the domestic cat and the Asianleopard cat), with full-tailed specimens of thePixie-Bob breed, as well as theMaine Coon and another experimental Bengal crossbreed known as theMojave Spotted);[66] some unsubstantiated claims have suggested also some direct crossing to wild leopard cat subspecies,[72] though this is unlikely given the modern restrictions on international trade in wildlife, and the breeders' own sites do not make this claim.[66][73] Pantherettes are large, muscular, and short-haired, with gold to green eyes.[74] Breed developers Mike and Marie Bloodgood of Kentucky have asserted atrademark over the name.[66] The breed was "recognized" by a small breeder club called the International Progressive Cat Breeders' Alliance (last updated in 2004, and defunct since 2017),[75] and its subsidiary International Pantherette Breeders' Association[76] (which produced a draft breed standard in 2001, no longer permittingoutcrosses to other breeds in 2004, and not updated since then),[74] but these were both operated by the Bloodgoods themselves.[73] Pantherette remains listed by the Rare and Exotic Feline Registry, but with no information about the breed as of 2024.[update][22] The breeders' own websites and other public statements about it date to 2004–2006,[66][77][73] and new information about the breed stopped appearing in other sources around 2012,[78] so the breeding program may have been abandoned.
The Safari is afelid hybrid developed by crossingGeoffroy's cat (Leopardus geoffroyi), a wild South American species, with domestic cats.[79]
The Skookum is adwarf cat breed with curly fur, derived from crossing theMunchkin with theLaPerm, aRex breed.[80] This breed originates in the US and was previously known as the LaMerm. It was recognized by the now-defunct Dwarf Cat Association, and remains recognized by the Rare and Exotic Feline Registry.[22]
The Tasman Manx is a curly-furredManx-type cat breed that arose spontaneously in some Australian and New Zealand Manx crossbreeding lines. All can trace their ancestry to a singlePersian stud that had European ancestry. This same cat may also be responsible for the Bohemian Rex (or Czech Curly Cat). Apart from thecurly fur, these cats have the characteristics and conformation of the Manx.[citation needed]This cat is now recognised by NZCF.[81]
| This articleappears to contradict the articleTiffanie cat. Please discuss at thetalk page and do not remove this message until the contradictions are resolved.(January 2024) |
The Tiffanie is of UK origin and is a variant of the (normally) short-hairedBurmilla, which is itself a cross between theBurmese andChinchilla Persian. In this breed, the recessive gene inherited from the Chinchilla is prominent. These cats are different from the Australian Tiffanie.[citation needed]
TheVan cat is a landrace, native to theLake Van area of Turkey (and not to be confused with the standardizedTurkish Van breed, or theTurkish Angora breed). A state-sponsored breeding program is under way totrue-breed some specimens into a standardized cat breed with fixed traits.
Mike is ... President of ... The International Pantherette Breeders Association (TIPBA) .... He is also the CEO and an All-breed Show Judge of the International Progressive Cat Breeders Alliance (IPCBA). Marie is also an IPCBA All-breed Show Judge, EO, and a sitting Director in ... The International Pantherette Breeders Association (TIPBA). Mike and Marie also founded the new Pantherette breed[self-published source]
