Hello there, how are you doing? I hope that you are well. Time for another quiz!
The relationship between cats and humans stretches back centuries and even millenniums. Each cat breed has some unique traits, and then each cat also has its distinctive personality – just like us, humans! Have you ever wondered what kind of cat matches your personality? You can find out the answer to this question today if you take our quiz. Keep reading if you want to explore some of the most interesting cat breeds! Perhaps it will help you narrow down your score? Let’s go!
One of the most popular cat breeds is the Persian cat. He is one of the oldest, too; the Persian originated in the cradle of civilization – Mesopotamia, later known as Persia and in modern days known as the country of Iran. The breed was first seen in Europe around the mid-to-late 1500s, introduced by the Romans and the Phoenicians. An Italian traveler and nobleman, Pietro Della Valle, is credited with bringing the first longhaired to Europe in the 1600s. Researchers believe the recessive gene for long hair appeared spontaneously via mutation in the cat population in the cold mountainous areas of Persia.
Other travelers introduced Persian and Angora cats into France and then England, giving rise to the term “French cats” for many years. These cats quickly gained popularity in the United Kingdom. Queen Victoria had an apparent fondness for the breed. Turkish Angora and Persian varieties (among others) were commonly mixed during this time and for centuries after. Angoras were once prized for their silky white coats. However, the British eventually preferred the stockier version. By 1871, there were clear distinctions between the Persian and the Angora, with the former being stockier with small, rounded ears and the latter being slender and tall-eared.
The Persians were first imported into the United States in the 19th century and quickly became a beloved pet, pushing other breeds – such as a lovely Main Coon cat – aside. The American Persian developed a unique style and evolved into the type we see today. Nowadays this breed is one of the most valued in the world for its beautiful appearance and sweet, docile personality. They are gentle kitties who dislike chaos and noise and value their comfort. If you are a bit of a couch potato, and your favorite activity is taking naps, you might have more in common with the Persian than you previously thought.
The Ragdoll cat breed was first developed in the 1960s by breeder Ann Baker in California, United States. Baker’s foundation stock consisted of Josephine, a domestic longhair whose white coat concealed the genes for either a seal mitted or black tuxedo pattern and various other longhaired cats of unknown ancestry that she owned or found in her neighborhood. Baker selected cats that had gentle personalities, large sizes, and beautiful long coats characterized by a Himalayan pattern, the name for the “points” seen on Siamese-type cats. The result was a Ragdoll, a pleasant, mild-mannered cat with a tendency to flop into the arms of anyone willing to pet it. Are you an affectionate, loving, and kind person? Do you thrive when you have someone to love on you? You must be a Ragdoll kitty then!
The sophisticated-looking Siamese cats have a history as long and as colorful as the cat itself. They originated in the country of Siam, now Thailand, where they lived in palaces and temples. For generations, they were treasured companions of royalty and religious leaders, and they guarded precious documents and valuables in Buddhist temples.
The Cat-Book Poems, a manuscript of verses and paintings written in the city of Ayutthaya, Siam, between 1350, when the kingdom was founded, and 1767, when the city was destroyed by invaders, clearly show cats with slim bodies and legs, pale-colored coats, and dark coloring on the ears, faces, tails, and feet. Because these manuscripts were handwritten on palm-leaf or bark parchment, it is impossible to know when the book was written. When the original and subsequent copies of a manuscript became too old and fragile to be usable, it was meticulously copied by hand. This makes dating difficult. Even so, it is most likely the oldest document on cats in existence.
The Siamese were not seen in the West until the late 19th century when they were shown at the Crystal Palace Cat Show in London. While not everyone appreciated their unusual appearance, they quickly became fashionable pets. They were also popular in the United States by the turn of the century, if not earlier. The Siamese are cats with a big personality, impish nature, and a talent for conversation. Does that sound about right for you? If so, your personality will suit that of a Siamese cat!
Time for the quiz! What kind of cat matches your personality the best? Do you think you can guess your result? Get down to the questions and discover your answer!
