Purina

Personality:

• Reserved, but become devoted pets after overcoming initial shyness.
• Placid, no-nonsense nature.
• Very hardy, healthy breed.

History:

Breed was originally introduced to England by the Romans.  When Rome fell and trade with Britain ceased, cats on the British Isles bred within a limited gene pool, resulting in cats with unique characteristics.  The breed almost became extinct during World War II, but outcrossing with Persians helped to re-establish the breed.  Considered a rare cat in the United States until 1980 when they were recognized for championship by the Cat Fanciers’ Association (CFA).

Body Type:

• Medium- to large-sized, well-balanced cat with a broad chest and powerful body.
• Head is round with full cheeks and medium-sized, round-tipped ears.
• Eyes are large, round, and correspond to coat color.

Coat:

• Coat is short, dense, and plush.
• Eighteen colors are available including white, black, cream, black smoke, blue smoke, tabby patterns, tortoiseshell, calico, blue-cream and bi-color.

Health and Wellness:

• Genetically linked physical problems have not been reported.

What you should know:

• Dislike being picked up unless body and all four feet are well supported.
• Since blue is the most popular color, there may be a waiting period before a kitten of this color is available.
• Choose a kitten from a reputable breeder who has raised your kitten under foot (not in a cage) to ensure your pet will be easy to handle and people-oriented.