97
SHORTHAIRS
THIS TALL, GRACEFUL CAT HAS A STRIKINGLY UNUSUAL APPEARANCE
SAVANNAH
One of the newest cat breeds, the Savannah was officially
recognized only in 2012. It originated from the chance mating
of a male serval, a wild cat of the African plains, with a domestic
female cat. The Savannah has inherited many of the serval’s
physical characteristics—including a spotted coat, long legs,
and huge, upright ears—but is perhaps best known for its
personality. This adventurous and athletic cat is
permanently on the lookout for amusement, which
might include playing with water, exploring the
contents of a cupboard, or opening doors. Since a
Savannah can be quite demanding, the breed
is not best suited to first-time cat owners.
Triangular head
small in proportion
to body
Brown-spotted tabby
coat lies flat and has
slightly coarse texture,
though spots feel softer
Long, slender,
athletic body
Smaller spots on
legs and paws
Brow slightly
hooded
Parallel stripe
markings run from
top of head along
length of body
Very long,
muscular legs
Long neck
Place of origin US
Date of origin 1980s
Breed registries TICA
Weight range 12–22lb
(5.5–10kg)
Grooming
Colors and patterns
Brown spotted tabby,
black silver-spotted tabby,
black, or black smoke.
Ghost-spotting may
be visible in black or
black smoke.
Extremely large,
upright ears set
high on head
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CATALOG OF BREEDS
98
TALL AND ELEGANT, THIS BREED HAS A GENTLE BUT OUTGOING TEMPERAMENT
SERENGETI
Designer-bred to resemble the serval—a small, leggy wild
cat of the African grasslands—the Serengeti was created in
California in the mid-1990s and is now also known in Europe
and Australia. The result of crossing a Bengal (pp.94–95) with
an Oriental (pp.43–51), this breed stands out among others
with its long neck and legs and upright stance. Most
conspicuous are the Serengeti’s exceptionally large ears,
which are the same length as its head. This agile cat
enjoys climbing and exploring high places. It bonds
closely with its owner and is an ideal companion
for someone who spends a lot of time at home.
Dark tail tip
Exceptionally large,
wide-based ears
with rounded tips
Very
long legs
Large,
round eyes
Fine, dense silver
spotted tabby coat
Long, lean,
athletic body
Well-rounded
whisker pads
Long neck
in proportion
to body
Distinct, widely
spaced spots
Place of origin US
Date of origin 1990s
Breed registries TICA
Weight range 8–15 lb (3.5–7 kg)
Grooming
Colors and patterns
Black solid color; spotted
tabby in any shade of brown
or silver (silver ground color
with black spots); and
black smoke.
Head longer
than broad
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99
SHORTHAIRS
THIS SLENDER, SLINKY CAT HAS A CHARISMATIC AIR
CHAUSIE
Although the wild jungle cat and the domestic cat could,
and probably did, interbreed naturally in the past, the Chausie
originated from hybrids created during the 1990s. Initially,
the jungle cat was crossed with a variety of cats, but today, to
maintain consistency of the Chausie’s shape and coat color, only
the Abyssinian (p.83) and certain domestic shorthairs are used.
Like other hybrid cats, the Chausie is very active and enjoys
exploring. It is intelligent and insatiably curious—a Chausie
quickly becomes adept at opening doors to pry into cupboards.
This cat requires an experienced owner who
is able to spend plenty of time at home
to provide companionship.
Round paws small
in proportion to
cat’s size
Long, high
cheekbones
Large, lean, well-
muscled body
Full whisker
pads on
muzzle
Tall ears positioned
on top of head and
fairly close together
Ears have
rounded tips
Long head with
sloping profile
End of tail has
tabby barring
and dark tip
Place of origin US
Date of origin 1990s
Breed registries TICA
Weight range 12–22 lb (5.5–10 kg)
Grooming
Long legs with
faint barring
on outer sides
Colors and patterns
Black solid and ticked tabby
pattern in brown and
grizzled black.
Eyes inclined to
outer edge of ear
Brown-ticked coat
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HEALTHY BREEDING
Outcrosses to domestic shorthaired and
longhaired cats are used in Munchkin
breeding programs. This helps keep the
gene pool healthy but makes it harder to
breed Munchkins true to type.
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101
SHORTHAIRS
FRIENDLY AND SWEET, THIS SHORT–LEGGED CAT IS HIGHLY SOCIABLE
MUNCHKIN
The first Munchkins were bred in Louisiana, and although
they are now achieving some popularity in both shorthaired
and longhaired versions (p.181), they are not accepted by
many international breed organizations. The exceptionally
short legs of the Munchkin, which arose as a random
mutation, do not appear to affect speed of movement or
longevity. This little cat may not have the jumping ability of
its taller cousins, but it still manages to climb on furniture
and is lively and playful. The Munchkin has been used to
create other short-legged breeds such as the Minskin.
Well-rounded
chest
Broad-based ears
set on top of head
Round paws
Fairly dense, weather-
resistant lilac coat
Flat
forehead
Rounded, wedge-
shaped head
Tail as long
as body
Place of origin US
Date of origin 1980s
Breed registries TICA
Weight range 6–9 lb (2.5–4 kg)
Grooming
Colors and patterns
All colors, shades,
and patterns.
Legs about half the
average length of
other breeds
High, well-defined
cheekbones
Slight
nose
stop
Black coat with
white markings
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