Here’s a run-down of eight common kitty stereotypes.

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Orange tabby cat by Shutterstock

1. Ginger cats are more friendly than others

Maybe it’s because of Garfield the cat, or maybe it’s because people just seem to know more orange cats (whether they’re straight-up orange or orange tabby) and associate them with good experiences, but lots of people think ginger kitties make the ideal family pet.

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Once Kissy overcame her deepest trauma, she was a sweet and loving companion who loved to curl up with me after a long day.

2. But wait! Ginger cats are also thought of as more aggressive and flighty

I’m guessing this belief is a corollary of the stereotype that red-haired humans are hot-tempered and moody. Those poor ginger females are apparently in a constant state of PMS and ginger males are like the guys that get in huge fights every time they go out to a bar. Totally miserable roommates, right?

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Rosie says she's not arrogant, she's just misunderstood ... and a little shy. Photo by JaneA Kelley

3. White cats are snobs

Blame that cat food commercial with the white Persian eating gourmet food out of a crystal bowl for this one. Some research has revealed that white cats tend to be more timid than cats of other colors, and if you were a shy kid like I was, you probably got called a snob because your fear of approaching people was mistaken for arrogance and condescension.

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Calico cat on a roof by Shutterstock

4. Torties and calicos are stubborn and temperamental

Ah, this myth rears its ugly head again. The truth is that people who think a cat is going to have a certain temperament will approach that cat with the expectation of that behavior. And then there's the classic “Texas Sharpshooter” logical fallacy -- finding a pattern to fit a presumption -- which causes people to chalk up perfectly normal cat behavior to “tortitude."

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Too bad black cats like my Bella are always up to no good. Photo by JaneA Kelley

5. Black cats are untrustworthy

The poor black cat has earned an unjust reputation of being stubborn, suspicious, and even evil. Having grown up with black cats and met many of them in shelters, I’ve seen that they’re loyal to a fault, good-natured, and perhaps a bit shy depending on their early kittenhood experience.

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Woman and Siamese cat by Shutterstock

6. Siamese cats are crazy and demanding

If you’ve ever seen a Siamese cat in heat, you can probably understand where this misguided belief arose. While Meezers usually do stay close to their favorite person, it’s not from a demanding and needy nature, but from a deep connection. They may even pine for their human companions when left alone.

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This guy is the spittin' image of my Purr Bear, who, by the way, was quite intelligent! Tuxedo cat by Shutterstock

7. Tuxedo cats aren’t very smart

While Sylvester the cat of Looney Tunes fame is not exactly the sharpest claw on the paw, there’s no evidence to support the belief that tuxedo kitties are less intelligent than others.

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Tabby cats can get pretty nasty, too! Hissing cat by Shutterstock

8. Tabby cats love everyone

While my tabby boy, Thomas, is a lover and not a fighter, I’ve seen some pretty vicious barn cats and terrified-to-the-point-of-trembling shelter cats with stripy or blotchy fur.

Do your cats fit these stereotypes, or don’t they? Have you seen other kitty “racial profiles"? Share your thoughts (and pictures of your feline family) in the comments!

About JaneA Kelley: Punk-rock cat mom, science nerd, animal shelter volunteer, and all-around geek with a passion for bad puns, intelligent conversation, and role-play adventure games. She gratefully and gracefully accepts her status as chief cat slave for her family of feline bloggers, who have been writing their cat advice column, Paws and Effect, since 2003. JaneA dreams of making a great living out of her love for cats.

More on cats and behavior: 

• Do Tortoiseshell Cats Really Have "Tortitude"?
• 5 Reasons Calico Cats Are Endlessly Interesting to Me
• A New Study Shows People Judge Cats By Coat Color
• I'm SO Over the Myth of Black Cats as Bad Luck. Are You?

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LaPerm kittens by Shutterstock

1. Research the breed

Many people fall in love with the look of a purebred cat without taking into account the cat’s temperament or special needs. Bengal cats, for example, are very high-energy and need lots of exercise, while Persians need daily grooming. If your lifestyle isn’t compatible with the cat’s needs, consider a different breed.

2. Talk to people who own cats of that breed

Once you’ve decided that you’re a good fit for that breed, talk to people who live with them to find out what the experience is like. The Catster forums are a great place to connect with people who love the breed you’re considering.

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Egyptian Mau cat by Shutterstock

3. Research breeders in your area

Get recommendations (or warnings) about breeders from Catster forum users or other venues where purebred cat owners get together. I think it’s best to work with a breeder in your area because you’ll be able to visit the cattery and see if the cats are in good condition and are being well-socialized.

4. Visit cat shows

A cat show can be a great place to learn about breeders in your area and to get more information about the breed from people who live with them every day.

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Giant cat show in Russia by Shutterstock. Anton Gvozdikov / Shutterstock.com

5. Expect to be asked a lot of questions

If you’re interested in buying a cat from a breeder, don’t be surprised if you’re asked for veterinary references. If you rent, you might also need confirmation from your landlord that you are allowed to have cats. Also, you will probably be asked to sign a contract stipulating that if you can’t keep the cat, you promise to return it to the breeder.

6. Consider adult cats

Breeders sometimes have retired toms and queens that they are willing to sell or adopt out for a reduced price. These cats are still wonderful, but since their breeding careers are over, the breeder wants them to be able to live the rest of their lives with a family who will dote on them.

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A mother Siamese cat and her kittens by Shutterstock

7. Look for warning signs

If the breeder doesn’t want you to visit their facility or if they’re willing to sell a cat to you with no reference checks or contract, they’re probably a backyard breeder -- or worse, a kitten mill.

8. Don't buy your cat from a pet store

Reputable breeders never sell their kittens through pet stores. Good breeders want to be personally assured that the people who are buying their cats are doing so for the right reasons and understand what they’re getting into.

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Young Abyssinian cat by Shutterstock

9. Check shelters and purebred rescues

You might be astonished at how easy it can be to find purebred and purebred lookalike cats at animal shelters. There are also organizations that exist specifically to rescue purebred cats. Purebred rescue gives you both the breed you want and the good karma that comes from adopting a homeless cat.

Do you have any other tips for people interested in adopting purebred cats? Please share them in the comments!

Read more about purebred cats:

• If You Bought a Purebred Cat, I Won't Judge You
• The 10 Most Popular Cat Breeds
• Top Hypoallergenic Cat Breeds for People with Allergies
• Meet 5 of the World's Rare Cat Breeds

Cats come in black, white, gray, orange, yellow, buff, and sometimes a combination of all of these colors. Most people, including myself, don’t have a preference to color. In fact, it’s very nice to have a combination of different colors and designs mingling throughout the coat of a cat.

However, I find that most people do have a preference in the length of fur that their cats have. Some people love short-haired cats and others are passionate about long-haired cats. So, this got me thinking. Which length of fur do people prefer most? Are you a short-haired or a long-haired cat lover?

In my kitty family, all of my cats have short hair. They all originate from the same lineage of short-haired yellow or grey tabbies. They all came into my life as feral cats at around the same time period. Since they chose me, there was no say in the matter on my part about the color or length of fur they had.

Only one of the cats, Itty Bitty, had a really thick coat. But, I wouldn’t call him a long-haired cat. He was more of a plush kitty with a thick coat and hair that stuck up around his head like the mane on a lion.

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Cute domestic short hair cat by Shutterstock

Though I didn’t have a choice in the matter, I’m very pleased that they’re short-haired. The short-haired cats need far less grooming, and the fur doesn’t get matted easily. Only one of my cats, Momma Kitty, had a mat issue last year. Her mats were mostly on her back, an area she couldn’t easily reach due to her girth.

Also, I find that the short-haired cats seem to shed far less than the long-haired cats. I may be wrong in this statement, but the amount of fur left behind in their cat beds seems to indicate less shedding. I also seem to have fewer issues with my allergies when I’m around short-haired cats. (I know that the dander from a cat causes the allergic reactions and not the length of their fur, but you can’t tell that to my allergies.)

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Cute young domestic short-hair house cat by Shutterstock

Now, I’ll admit that it’s a beautiful site to see a freshly groomed long-haired cat. The fur looks so thick and luxurious, like something you’d see on a shampoo commercial. The fur flows from the cat's body in a wonderful motion, and it feels so very thick and soft when you pet and cuddle the cat. Such flowing hair makes Fabio jealous with envy.

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Closeup of a long haired cat by Shutterstock

If I was forced to pick between a short-haired cat and a long-haired cat, I’d still have to choose the short-haired cat. Maybe it’s just my laziness -- yes, it is just my laziness. Sorry to let down my long-haired kitty friends, but that's the way I am.

What about you? Do you prefer short-haired or long-haired cats? Let me know in the comments!

Make sure to read these other great articles on Catster:

• Do You Know Your Cat's Breed? Does It Matter or Not?
• Do You Have a Favorite Among Your Cats? Don't Lie!
• Does the Type of Litter Box Really Matter to Your Cat?
• What Are the Strangest Places Your Cat Has Climbed to?

When I sing the oldies, she sings along. When I talk to her, she talks back. Every morning, we discuss current events, i.e., the status of the food in her dish and why there is not more of it. "Because the vet says you're too fat," I say, to which she responds by licking my granola bar.

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My calico cat, Phoenix, takes an awesome nap.

Turns out, the beautiful strangeness of calico cats is hardly limited to my little Fifi girl (one of her approximately 800 nicknames). Here are five fun facts about our beloved tricolor kitties.

1. Calico cats are almost always female

Calico is not a breed of cat but a color pattern. To be considered a "true" calico, a cat's coat must display the colors white, black, and orange (or muted versions of these colors). Calicos are almost always female because coat color is linked to genetics, and black and orange fur are each linked to the X chromosome. (White fur is coded by another gene.) Therefore, because female cats have two X chromosomes, they can display both colors at once. Male cats, meanwhile, typically have only one X chromosome, so they tend to be either orange OR black. 

Fifi certainly fits the bill of a calico. She's a lovely lady who proudly wears her true colors.

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In cold weather, Phoenix likes to burrow.

2. They are good luck

According to folklore, calico cats are lucky. Back in the day, Japanese sailors traveled with calicos to ensure a safe voyage and protect their ships from harm. In England and the United States, male calicos are considered especially lucky thanks to their rarity. In the U.S., they are sometimes called "money cats," due to the mistaken belief that they can be sold for top dollar. In actuality, male calicos are almost always sterile, making them of no use to the breeders who might wish to purchase them. 

Also, maneki neko, the Japanese talisman frequently seen in shops and restaurants, is almost always a calico. Maneki neko is sometimes called the fortune cat in English. Pay attention to her paws: A raised left paw is said to bring in customers, while the right paw bestows good luck and wealth. Also, the higher the paw is raised, the luckier you're gonna get.

Fifi is certainly lucky -- at least in my book. She sleeps under the covers and keeps my toes warm in the wintertime. That makes me feel very fortunate indeed.

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Maneki neko is considered lucky -- and is frequently depicted as a calico. Japanese lucky cat figurine by Shutterstock.com

3. What about tortoiseshell cats?

They are similar to calicos, but not the same. Tortoiseshell cats are also predominantly female, having black and orange coloring. But while calicos are often mostly white, torties have a brindled coat coloring and almost no white markings. Like calicos, they can be feistier and more talkative than the average kitty and are often said to possess a personaltiy trait known as "tortitude." Kitties with tortitude are allegedly strong-willed, independent, temperamental, talkative, and demanding.

And, yeah -- that describes my Phoenix. Does it describe your calico or tortie?

Bonus awesome mashups: Tortoiseshell + tabby = torbie; calico + tabby = caliby.

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Phoenix thinks on top of my flowers is a perfectly acceptable place to sleep.

4. Male calicos are almost always sterile

Approximately one in 3,000 calicos is male, and only one in 10,000 of those males is fertile. For a male cat to display the calico colors, he must have two X chromosomes and one Y chromosome (XXY). A similar condition called Klinefelter's syndrome, or XXY syndrome, is found in humans.

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When I talk to Phoenix, she talks back.

5. Calicos are the official state cat of Maryland

Thanks to the similarity of their coloring to the Baltimore oriole, the state bird, and the Baltimore checkerspot butterfly, the state insect, calicos were granted the lofty title of Official Cat of Maryland on Oct. 1, 2001.

During their 11-year stint in power, calico cats have demanded scheduled nap times in the workplace and more access to expansive sun puddles. They have also sought to deregulate the fishing industry. As of this article, they're still working on it.

In total, there were seven cats that graced my presence at that particular time. There were three buff-colored females, an orange-and-white male, one gray tabby, one calico, and one smoky gray-and-white cat. It’s quite a collection of kitties who are now a part of my family. However, it struck me that I don’t really know the specific breed of each of the cats. It got me thinking, does anyone really know the true breed of their cat?

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Blue-eyed Siamese cat by Shutterstock.

If you’re a professional cat breeder or show cats as a hobby or career, then you likely know the breed of your cats. Just like dogs, they all have their own breed. They’re not just called long-haired or short-haired cats. It goes beyond calling them Persians, Himalayans, Siamese, calicos, or tabbies. There are somewhere in the neighborhood of 80 different breeds of cats. I’m sure that this is very surprising to most people.

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Manx cat by Shutterstock.

Since I have the benefit of consulting with cats and their human companions on a regular basis, I’ve gotten pretty good at recognizing the breed of most cats. I can tell the difference between a Manx and a Rex. I know the difference between a Maine Coon and an Angora. I can recognize the difference between an Egyptian Mau and a Bengal. But, admittedly, I would be hard-pressed to know the difference between a brown mackerel tabby and a brown spotted tabby.

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Brown tabby Maine Coon by Shutterstock.

I know people are just as passionate about cat breeds as dog lovers are about dog breeds. I’ve seen the window signs and bumper stickers on minivans exclaiming that their cat is smarter than your dog. I see them proudly wearing their T-shirts and hats portraying their favorite breed of kitty. I know they have pillows, blankets, and trinkets in their homes that display their chosen cat breed. I don’t blame them one bit and feel we should all be better informed about cat breeds. I know that I spend a lot of time correcting people when the call my white Schnauzer a Maltese or a Westie. To be exact, my Schnauzer is a white liver parti Schnauzer.

So, after doing a bit of research, I can tell you that my kitty clan consists of three British Shorthair cream cats, one American Shorthair red classic tabby cat, one British Shorthair brown classic tabby cat, one American Wirehair calico cat, and one British Shorthair blue and white cat. Hopefully, I have this correct and they’re pleased that I did my research. Or, it could be that they don’t give a darn as long as their wet food and kibble arrive at the scheduled time.

Do you know the true breed of your cat? How much does it matter to you? What other breeds have you had or loved? Let us know in the comments!

More by Tim Link:

• How Do You Heal After the Loss of a Cat?
• What Are the Strangest Places Your Cat Has Climbed to?
• Do You Have a Favorite Among Your Cats? Don't Lie!

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Photo by xiffy

The distinctly colored cats were given as royal gifts, which is how the breed made its way from Asia to Europe in 1884, when a British consul-general brought a breeding pair of Siamese home to his sister. In 1878, a Siamese cat arrived in the United States as a gift to President Rutherford B. Hayes (which may have started the tradition of presidential Siamese). 

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Photo by charlief

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Photo by tigikrak

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Photo by cookipediachef

As the cats gained popularity, breeders took interest in their features, refining them to different points, so that a wide variety of Siamese exist today.

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Photo by Robert Couse-Baker

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Photo by Jeff's Canon

Despite how many shapes Siamese have taken (they're known as Traditional Siamese, Old Style Siamese, Classic Siamese, and Appleheads) they all have a reputation for being extremely vocal cats who will let you know what's on their minds. They're known for being outgoing cats, who might behave more like canines than felines.

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Photo by anthrovik

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Photo by sam.romilly

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Photo by amy.gizienski

Their distinct markings are a result of partial albinism -- all Siamese are born pure white, and then gradually develop their dark points. Blue eyes are also characteristic of Siamese, though sometimes the cats are cross-eyed. 

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Photo by Mulling it Over

Do you have a Siamese cat at home? Is your Siamese as talkative as the breed's reputation? Let us know in the comments!

Speaking of cat breeds, how do you feel about naked cats? And we're sure you know about breed-specific legislation for dogs, but did you know it exists for cats too? No matter which breed of cat you've got, they're all just like us.

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"Why for U ban me? U gives me a sad!" 4-month old F1 Savannah cat by Jason Douglas, released into the public domain via Wikimedia Commons

Before I saw that story, I had no idea that there were states where it was illegal to own Savannahs. I did a little more research and found out that Georgia is one of about five states and several cities (including New York City) that ban the ownership of Savannahs.

This is nothing more than breed-specific legislation. And I feel the same way about BSL for cats as I do about laws that prohibit owning Pit Bull dogs: It’s crap. Governments have no place banning the ownership of any dog or cat based solely on its breed.

Yes, the Savannah is a hybrid of a domestic cat and an African wildcat known as a serval, and I can understand how people could get bent out of shape over that. But there are very few Savannahs in the U.S. for two reasons: They’re hard to breed, and holy cow-pies, they’re expensive!

Even in most places where it’s legal to own Savannahs, special permits are required. I get that when it comes to, say F1 (half-serval) or F2 (one-quarter serval) Savannahs, but after that, what’s the point? In my totally unscientific opinion, once a cat is three or more generations removed from its wild ancestors, it’s a domestic cat. Period.

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Savannah cat climbing a fence by Shutterstock

But here’s the thing: Even if you can afford a Savannah, you’ve really got to know what you’re doing if you’re going to get one. They are very high-energy cats that need regular exercise, companionship and, probably more than any other breed, a species-appropriate diet.

According to the Savannah Cat Club, early-generation foundational stock (F1 and F2) Savannahs tend to retain a lot of the shyness and intensity of their serval ancestors, so if you want one of these, you'll need to accommodate your life to the cat's and not expect it to be your fluffy little lap cat. If you’re not willing to meet a Savannah's special needs, please don’t get one.

A cat isn't recognized as a legitimate Savannah unless it has three generations of Savannah-to-Savannah breeding in its pedigree -- which means it would have to be several generations removed from the foundational stock -- and would therefore have barely a drop of “wildness” in it.

As with any specialty breed, some people have shockingly bad reasons for wanting to own Savannahs. I once heard a man say that he wanted to get a pair of them because “they’re bad-ass, and they’ll protect my property.”

Yes, he was serious.

One of the people interviewed for the WSB-TV story said she wanted a Savannah “to have the larger animal, to be able to walk on a leash. They have very dog-like personalities. I think it would be awesome to own something like that.”

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Savannah cat walking on a leash by Shutterstock

Wait a minute. You want a Savannah because it’s a cat that acts like a dog and you can walk it on a leash?

I’ve got a better idea: How about if you’re going to own a Savannah, you do it because you love the breed and you have the time, energy, and skills it takes to make that cat’s life wonderful?

No laws can prevent people from being dumb, but blanket bans can and do prevent responsible people who want to have Savannahs in their life from being able to do so.

The breed isn't the problem; stupid people are. Let's get BSL out of the cat world.

I’ll be the first to admit that there is no logic to why I’d be more quick to befriend short-haired cats with stripes. After all, cats are cats, and they all have such unique personalities. But, historically, my best feline friends have been so. Last summer, however, Nora changed everything.

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Nora on the day I brought her home.

Nora was found under a car when she was three months old, covered in fleas and starving. A friend of mine happened to be in the right place at the right time to save her life. When he asked me if I’d take her, I didn’t hesitate to say yes. This tiny kitten needed me. After a flea treatment, physical exam, and disease screening, she was given a clean bill of health, and I brought her home.

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Nora's tufty ears.

When she was tiny, she was the silliest-looking thing I had ever seen in my life. Her ears were enormous and sprouted wild tufts of hair, she had a squirrel-like tail that was always bushy, and when she sat down, her incredibly long whiskers almost touched the ground. I did some research and found that she was a Maine Coon. Most cat lovers could have identified her breed from a mile away, I’m sure -- but hey, until then I only had eyes for tabbies.

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Long long whiskers.

Nora has now lived with us for nine months. And, wow, have they been a trip. She is unlike any other cat I’ve ever met, and that can be attributed mostly to her breed. Notably, she follows me around the house like a puppy, and is at my feet every moment she’s not sleeping. Even now, she is stretched across my desk as I write this, occasionally propping one eye open to make sure I am still here and chirping when she stretches. The chirping (another Maine Coon characteristic) isn’t reserved for stretching -- she chirps when she jumps, plays, and walks, too. She is chirping and chatting through most of her awake time, and sometimes even when she is sleeping.

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Enormous kitty tumbleweed.

In a few weeks, Nora will turn one. Most cats would be fully grown and matured by now, but she is still very much a kitten, both in personality and stature. I’ve been reading that Maine Coons can take anywhere from two to five years to fully grow and mature, which is both endearing and daunting. It’s hard to imagine another four years of this level of spastic energy and kitten antics.

Physically, it’s clear that she still has a lot of growing to do. Even though she already weighs 10 pounds (only a pound less than her 15-year-old sister, Pippi), she still wears a distinctly kittenish face and has enormous paws to grow into. Her 10 pounds are made of lanky muscle, and I have no doubt that she will weigh close to 20 when she’s done. When she uses the door frame to stretch, she reaches halfway up it -- an impressive length for a half-grown cat!

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Kitty tumbleweed forest.

Being a Maine Coon, Nora has a fluffy coat. The upside is that she feels like a bunny; she's so silky and soft. The downside is that she sheds like wild. Before Nora came into my life, I rarely found kitty hair tumbleweeds around my home. Pippi’s short hair just doesn’t form into clumps, or it forms wispy and unassuming ones at best.

Nora, on the other hand, leaves kitty tumbleweeds wherever she goes. For the past month or so, I have been using Mieshelle Nagelschneider’s group-scent technique to ease a bit of tension between Pip and Nora. (It works! Pick up her book The Cat Whisperer and check it out!) An element of the technique involves brushing both of my cats with the same brush a few times per day, just a few strokes per cat per session. After brushing Nora (who squirms through the whole event), the brush is full. I’ve been saving up the fur though, and rolling it between my fingers to create a strand of yarn. By the time winter rolls around again, I anticipate having enough to make a hat.

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After one brushing!

If my friend hadn’t been in that parking lot that day to rescue her, I don’t know if I would have thought to bring a Maine Coon into my life. But now that she’s here, I can’t imagine life without her. Though often frustrating and often painful (she hasn’t yet mastered restraint of her claws and teeth), she is such a loyal, goofy, and fun addition to my life.

Nora runs her own cat advice column too! It's called Dear Nora, and I hope you check it out. 

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Bella, enjoying her last few minutes at the shelter before I took her home.

Two of the three cats who grace my home are black: Siouxsie, now almost 17, and Bella. (The other cat, my big tabby Thomas, doesn’t seem to mind having a harem of house panthers.)

Even when I was a kid, I never understood the ridiculous superstitions about black cats. Bad luck if one crosses your path? Minions of the devil? Seriously? People, this is the 21st century. Can we please get over it?

In the immortal words of Groucho Marx, "A black cat crossing your path signifies that the animal is going somewhere."

As my blogging career continued and I became more and more cat-obsessed, I learned about statistics suggesting that black cats are about half as likely to get adopted as cats of other colors. Some of the reasons cited were that “they don’t photograph well, so they’re hard to advertise” and “they’re so dark, people can’t see them in their cages.” That may be part of it, but I think a larger part is the hangover from this medieval belief that black cats are bad news.

So, when I see a cartoon like the one below, which I found on the Nothing but Kitty CATS Facebook page, I get a tear in my eye. Well, OK, more than one tear.

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This cartoon appeared on the Facebook page Nothing but Kitty CATS, and the only credit given was "by tara-the-wolf." I'd love to know the artist's real name so I can give her/him the proper credit!

Yep, I am that mushy.

I hate to see any cats stay in shelters for a weeks, months, or even years -- or be killed after they run out of time -- and it breaks my heart to think that so many cats are passed over simply because they’re black.

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Bella droops over the cat tree to spy on Thomas and Siouxsie.

Sure, it’s hard to photograph black cats when compared to felines of other colors. But holy bazzoli, people! We've got digital cameras now! You can just keep on clicking away and you’re bound to get at least one or two good shots. I’m constantly taking photos of my black cats. They’re such beautiful and elegant creatures, and if there’s anything I can do that even remotely conveys the beauty of the sunlight shimmering on their ebony coats, or the subtle highlights and shadows of their gorgeous faces, I'm darn well gonna do it!

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This photo of Siouxsie was manipulated by the Android app SketchGuru.

Black cats also lend themselves very well to artistic photographs. I love to experiment with light and dark, and black cats are the perfect subjects for this kind of study. I’m not a professional photographer, but I’m not afraid to try!

Black cats can be as goofy and dopey as any other cats, and being able to capture them in the midst of flagrant silliness could make even the grumpiest person smile.

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Jazz paws!

Yes, black cats really are like all other cats, and we black-cat lovers owe it to their kin languishing in shelters or on the streets to share photos and stories of their perfectly ordinary adventures. Please, plaster the Internet with photos of your gorgeous house panthers. Share your poems, blog posts, stories, and whatever else you can think of, and get the word out about how awesome black cats are. Do your part to help me stop weeping over cartoons!

By the way, while messing around on the Internet -- er, I mean, doing research for this article -- I found some great tips for amateur and professional photographers about how to take good pictures of black cats.

Do you believe black cats get a bad rap? Let's talk in the comments!

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The girls (always supervised!) on my balcony creeping the neighbors.

Since adopting my first Sphynx, I’ve come to realize that:

1. They are stunning creatures, but not everyone will agree with me

Sphynx cats allow us to appreciate fascinating feline morphology without all that fur getting in the way. I knew I liked the unique appearance of the Sphynx before getting one, but I didn’t know I’d be so completely captivated by my cats’ big bat ears, runway model cheekbones, and delightful skin folds. I love how Fly’s legs look like she’s wearing sagging pantyhose, and how when Skinny Mini quivers her tail it sends a ripple of wrinkles up her back. I can’t get enough of stroking their soft, warm skin and kissing their adorable pot bellies. Sphynxes often don’t have whiskers or eyelashes, which draws even more attention to their expressive, almond-shaped eyes and chubby whisker pads.

Unfortunately, I also realize now that a lot of people find this breed ugly and unappealing. I don’t know how many times I’ve shown someone a photo of my girls only to be met with a grimace and a comment along the lines of, “Ugh! They are so strange looking! Why would you want a cat like that?” I certainly find this type of remark insulting, and always hope that the same person doesn’t show me a picture of their kid just after.

I understand that this breed is not everyone’s cup of tea, but as my mother used to tell me, "If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all." (Or, just lie to me and tell me my cats are super cute.)

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Skinny Mini being silly.

2. They’ve got big mouths

Sphynx cats are known for being chatterboxes. They “talk” to their owners using a whole repertoire of chirps, squeaks, and whines, and my girls are no exception. Skinny Mini is definitely the more communicative one. She’s got the vocal range of Mariah Carey and a diva personality to match. If you disturb her while she’s resting, she’ll let out a sound not unlike an annoyed teenager’s “Whaaat?” And, like a typical teenager, she’ll talk back to you if you tell her "no." 

And when Sphynxes aren’t using their mouths to (constantly) express themselves, they are shoving food in there. Thanks to an enviable metabolism, these cats have hearty appetites. Keeping them healthy and well-fed means putting aside a certain budget for quality cat food, and since I have two, I feel like I’m always buying cat food -- and bags of litter. Owning a pair of Sphynxes has turned out to be more costly than I thought, but if it means cutting back on my own personal expenses to make sure my cats have what they need, I don’t hesitate.

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Fly got a glamour shot done at the mall (Joke!)

3. They can get a little ... gross

I knew before getting my cats that hairless did not mean maintenance-free. Any Sphynx owner will tell you that these four-legged nudists need a lot of care. I was lucky because I adopted my girls as adults, and the breeder had already accustomed them to getting washed, having their ears cleaned and their nails trimmed; I simply had to keep up the good habits. I was warned that Sphynx cats can leave an oily residue on clothes and linen (and on their owners) if you don’t bathe them weekly, but it was still quite a surprise the first time I saw it for myself.

Just a few days after getting Skinny Mini, she started sleeping under the covers with me. It was October, and still very warm in the southeast of France, and her sweating coupled with a bit of anxiety at being in a new home meant that she was even grimier than what I now know is normal. I woke up one morning to find a greasy, Skinny Mini-sized mark on the white fitted sheet. “Look!” I said to my husband with a certain degree of intrigue and disgust. “The cat is literally coming off on the bed sheets!” 

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That cat bed is the best 10 euros I've ever spent; they love it!

And just like people, some Sphynx cats are better at keeping themselves clean than others. Skinny Mini loves giving herself pedicures to clean out the gunk that gets trapped in her nails beds and between each toe. She’ll park herself in the middle of the living room, usually when we have company over, fan out her webbed feet, and go to town noisily licking and chewing every claw. Fly prefers that I roll her up in a blanket, burrito style, and wipe off each nail for her. She’s more awkward than Skinny Mini, and will often accidentally swipe her long tapered tail through her litter box ... deposits. I won’t notice until she jumps up on my lap and leaves a smelly surprise on my clothes. And she may only be five pounds, but Fly’s flatulence will make your eyes water.

A word to the wise: This breed requires regular grooming in order to keep them healthy and comfortable, so if you are thinking to yourself, “Who's got time for all that?” then a Sphynx is not for you.

4. They really don’t like to be alone

Unlike my (fully clothed) ginger tabby, Noé, who is a typical feline mix of cuddly aloofness, Skinny Mini and Fly border on being creepy little stalkers. You want personal space? Alone time with your significant other? Impossible with a Sphynx in the house. They are all up in your business all of the time. I’ll often be taking a shower, minding my own business, and turn around to find Fly perched on the edge of the tub, her large unblinking eyes boring into mine. “You wanted five minutes alone in the bathroom?” she seems to be asking. “I don’t think so.” (And yes, they can open doors!)

Don’t get me wrong –- I love that they follow me around and solicit my attention constantly. I’m home alone a lot as my husband works long hours, and my cats give me something to focus on and take care of. They are always up for playing or warming my lap, and it’s impossible to feel lonely with them here. Sphynxes don’t like being left alone for long periods of time, so it can be a good idea to have a pair of them if you’re not home much. And even though Skinny Mini is a lot less needy since I adopted Fly, she still loves to sleep tucked in the crook of my arm every single night.

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Skinny Mini hanging out on my shoulder.

5. They’ll completely steal your heart

I am completely in love (read: obsessed) with my Sphynx cats. My life is so much fuller because they are in it, and while I might not have known what to fully expect when I got my first Sphynx (and then a second), I’ve worked to become to the best Sphynx mom I can be. These cats have totally won me over with their exotic look, playful personalities, and affectionate dispositions.

Owning a Sphynx (or any pet, for that matter) is not for those who don’t want a big commitment. I’m ready and willing, though, because if I’ve learned anything in the crazy ex-pat life of mine, it’s to go big or go home!

Got a Cathouse Confessional to share?

We're looking for purrsonal stories from our readers about life with their cats. E-mail confess@catster.com -- we want to hear from you!

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Kurilian Bobtail kitten by Shutterstock

Kurilian Bobtail

This is a natural breed -- it wasn’t created by breeders. It appeared as a spontaneous mutation -- native to the Kuril Islands, an archipelago located between Japan and Russia. This cat is an excellent fisher and hunter, but a gentle companion for humans and known for high intelligence. The breed is not recognized by The Cat Fanciers’ Association -- and nor is it in our list of cat breeds, like the others on this list -- but short-haired and long-haired varieties have championship status in The International Cat Association.

Serengeti

This breed was created by crossing a Bengal cat with an Oriental Shorthair. The Serengeti has no wildcat blood, as the Bengals who were foundation stock for the breed were several generations removed from the original wildcat cross. Although Serengetis can be shy at first, they open up quickly and love to “help” their people. Like Bengals, they are very high-energy and agile, so they need plenty of exercise. The Serengeti has Preliminary New Breed status in TICA and isn’t recognized at all by the CFA.

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Serengeti cat, (PD) by Wikimedia user Shandris

Napoleon

This Napoleon has long fur and short legs, which are the hallmarks of the breed predecessors: a cross between a Munchkin and Persian. They are round-headed and thick-bodied cats, and while the round features give an air of innocence, they are just as capable of mischief as any other cat. They are described as gentle, affectionate, and outgoing. The breed has Preliminary New Breed status in TICA and is not recognized by CFA.

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Black German Rex cat, (CC-BY-SA) by Wikimedia user Bebopscrx

German Rex

The German Rex gets its famous wavy coat from a mutation on the same gene as the one that causes the Cornish Rex’s unique texture, and these cats have many of the same personality traits of their English cousin, as well. The breed originated as a natural mutation, too, and people didn’t start deliberately breeding for the Rex trait until the late 1950s. The German Rex almost died out in 1970s, but they are experiencing a renaissance these days thanks to a group of breeders in Germany and other European countries.

And the rarest breed of all is ...

Ojos Azules

In 1984, a family discovered a very unusual feral cat colony in New Mexico: Some of its members had piercing, dark-blue eyes. One of these cats, a tortoiseshell kitten, was bred to unrelated males, and all the kittens had blue eyes. TICA recognized the breed in 1991, but even at that time there were only 10 of these cats known to exist. Because of its rarity, little is known about the breed’s personality, although these cats have been reported to be friendly and affectionate. The few Ojos Azules breeders are working with geneticists to see if the breed is even viable.

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Peterbald cat by Shutterstock

In case you’re curious which breeds round out the top 10 rarest cats, they are Peterbald, Burmilla, Sokoke, Minskin, and California Spangled Cat.

Do you have any of these rare-breed kitties? What are they like? Please share your cat’s story in the comments.

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Kim Kardashian gives Mercy a smooch.

It turns out I was half-right: Kardashian did give the kitten, Mercy, to her sister Khloe’s assistant, Sydney Hitchcock, just a month after the world found out about the new cat. In her blog, Kardashian said she gave Mercy away only because she had allergies. She’d never had a cat before, she wrote, so she had no idea that she had an allergy to cats. Apparently Hitchcock had recently lost her 17-year-old cat, and because of Hitchcock's track record of solid, responsible pet ownership, Kardashian figured that if she was going to give Mercy to anyone, Hitchcock was a good choice.

Unfortunately, Mercy became ill a couple of weeks ago. Hitchcock rushed her to the vet, only to be told that the kitten suffered from a cancer-like stomach virus, and nothing could be done to help her. Hitchcock made the humane decision to release Mercy from her suffering. According to one source, the virus is “associated with breeding.”

“Mercy was a gentle and loving kitten, and we are all going to miss her so much,” Kardashian wrote in her blog. “Thanks to Sydney for making Mercy’s short life one filled with love.”

Whatever I think of Kim Kardashian as a celebrity, and whatever I thought of the way she treated Mercy in her early days, I do have to applaud her for giving Mercy away to an excellent cat parent who provided the best possible care and a safe, loving home.

May the lessons of Mercy’s short life, however painful they are, raise the consciousness of Kardashian, her fans, and anyone considering rushing out to buy (or adopt) a kitten. Those lessons include the responsibility inherent in being a cat caretaker, along with the importance of making thoughtful choices, being realistic about your lifestyle and how a pet will fit into that lifestyle, and doing your research on the breed -- and the breeder -- before laying down your money.

After losing two beloved cats of my own in less than a year, my heart is filled with compassion for those who knew and loved Mercy, including Kardashian herself. I just can’t find it in myself to be snarky about people who are already hurting, even if the odds are good that they'll never see this article.

Let's remember the importance of treating others the way we'd want to be treated if we were in the same situation. Let's have some sympathy for those who are grieving Mercy's death.

Sources: Examiner.com, Kim Kardashian’s blog. Images from Kardashian’s Instagram account

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I've seen quite a few polydactyl Maine Coon cats in my time. Maine Coon cat by Shutterstock

1. Polydactyl cats

Also known as mitten cats, Hemingway cats, and six-toed cats, this mutation is most commonly found in eastern North America and southwestern United Kingdom, but polydactyl cats can be found all over the world. This is probably due to the fact that sailors carried cats on their ships to control rodents, and polydactyls were thought to be better mousers. The exact history of the polydactyl trait is not known, but it was first scientifically described in the mid-19th century.

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Manx cat by Shutterstock

2. Tailless cats

Taillessness has its origin in a spontaneous mutation, which has cropped up in many places around the world, but it became most widely known through the development of the Manx breed. When the tailless mutation occurred on Britain’s Isle of Man, it spread quickly because of the island’s limited cat population and limited genetic diversity. Taillessness is a dominant gene, which means only one copy of the gene is needed to express the trait. Two tailless cats should never be bred together, though, because it can result in severe birth defects or spontaneous abortion.

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Sphynx cat by Shutterstock

3. Hairless cats

Hairless cats like the Sphynx really aren’t hairless at all -- they have a type of hair that gives them a smooth, velvety texture but doesn’t protect them against the cold or sun. This trait has been reported all over the world, and the first written record of a hairless cat came from Paraguay in the 1830s. The Sphynx breed we know today was derived from a hairless cat born in Toronto, Canada, in 1966. In 2010, DNA analysis confirmed that the Sphynx hairless gene was an allele of the same gene that produces the Devon Rex’s unique curly fur.

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Scottish Fold cat by Shutterstock

4. Folded ears

The characteristic forward-flopped ears of the Scottish Fold are caused by a gene that causes the cartilage of the ears to fold downward rather than stand up straight. This gene is dominant, meaning a cat only needs one copy of the gene to express the trait. The trouble with breeding for this gene is that it also causes osteochondrodysplasia (say that three times fast!), a developmental abnormality that affects cartilage and bone development throughout the body. All cats with folded ears have this issue, but cats with two folded-ear genes get a severe case that leads to malformed bones and degenerative joint diseases, which can cause severe chronic pain at an early age. For this reason, Scottish Fold breeders will only breed folded-ear cats with straight-eared cats.

Are there any other interesting cat mutations you’d like me to tell you about? Please share them in the comments!

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Woman hugging a Sphynx cat by Shutterstock

I suppose that if I were an ordinary domestic cat cat, I’d be feeling pretty darn grumpy if I found out a bunch of scientists thought my proletarian breeding made me naturally less friendly and outgoing than my purebred kin.

The study was published in the November 2012 issue of the Journal of Veterinary Behavior, but the author and the researchers, who hail from the French École nationale vétérinaire d’Alfort, seem to be more focused on dissing moggies than on doing real behavior research.

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I feel so much love emanating from this purebred cat ... or not. Grumpy cat by Shutterstock

How did the study work? The scientists selected 129 cats from 14 breeds (including mixed-breeds) of a variety of ages and lifestyles. They then asked the cats’ caretakers to rate them on their reactions to family, friends, strangers, and vets, and each cat got a “friendliness score” based on the caretakers’ feedback. Purebreds came out on top, with owners who described their feline companions as “clingy” or “friendly,” with the Sphynx being the crème de la crème. Alas, our standard-issue moggies, despite also being described as friendly, took last place in the friendliness test, because their caretakers also called them “independent.”

Oh, dear! An independent cat? Well, I never! Excuse me while I stagger to the fainting couch.

Maybe it’s just me, but I don’t see independence as the antithesis of friendliness. Just because I like somebody doesn’t mean I need to be joined at the hip with them, and I think independence produces a more fulfilling life. I imagine cats feel the same way.

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Girl and cat playing by Shutterstock

The researchers suggested that the purebred cats’ friendliness could originate from the fact that that they have been bred for generations to create a mellow and easygoing disposition. Also, purebred kittens are generally kept with their mothers for at least 12 weeks, while most mixed-breed kittens are lucky if they get to stay with their mothers and littermates for the minimum weaning time of eight weeks.

So, am I going to go off on a tear and start dissing purebred cats? No! I have no problem with purebred cats raised by responsible breeders and adopted by responsible caretakers.

I’ve met several Sphynxes, and they certainly are among the most endearing and affectionate kitties I’ve ever met -- but I’ve known plenty of grumpy purebreds, too. Tardar Sauce, the world’s grumpiest cat, clearly has at least some Ragdoll blood. Not only that, but almost every non-pedigree cat I’ve met has been friendly and affectionate.

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Cat and dog playing together by Shutterstock

Ultimately, it all comes down to environment. Any cat raised in a situation where she feels safe, has enough to eat, and has the opportunity to experience a lot of different stimuli will naturally be calmer and friendlier -- that applies as much to plain-old domestic cats as it does to pampered purebreds. And if a Russian Blue or a Siamese found himself on the streets, he’d become just as bad-ass a feral cat as any mixed-breed would -- and probably become just as fearful of humans, too.

What do you think? Are purebred cats really friendlier than their mixed-breed cousins? Who was the friendliest cat you’ve ever met? How about the least friendly? What do you think contributed to their attitudes? Join the conversation in the comments!

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Bengals have a bit of a reputation. As a cross between a domestic cat and an Asian leopard, they are more energetic, active, and fearless than the average couch-commandeering kitty. Kelsey Wiese, founder of Spots and Stripes Bengal Rescue in Palm Beach County, FL, has a four-year-old Bengal named Cinderella, who is 50 percent Asian leopard (or F1), the most a Bengal can be without a license. Wiese rescued and socialized Cinderella last year.

“It’s like having a small dog mixed with an energetic four-year-old child,” Wiese says. “I’ve seen people who have taught their Bengals to sit, stay and roll over. A lot of people have the perception that they are wild because of how they look. But they’re not.”

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Gorgeous Bengal Cinderella is 50 percent Asian leopard.

Spots and Stripes will celebrate its first anniversary on Nov. 21. The organization is comprised of approximately 12 volunteer foster parents, who have helped find forever homes for more than 76 Bengals and taken in more than 100, which is three times more than the national Bengal Rescue Network. Check out Spots and Stripes' web site to get to know their current residents.

Wiese suspects that Florida has such a high population of wayward Bengals because of the state’s lax breeding laws, which allow people to apply for licenses online and do not require yearly inspections. Many breeders have been unable to sell their cats since the economy tanked, which has left a lot of Bengals either homeless or stuck in hoarding situations. According to Wiese, if Bengals end up in shelters, they will be euthanized fairly quickly, so Spots and Stripes has been very much in demand.

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Spots and Stripes rescued Elizabeth, pictured here in a cast before her fractured front leg was amputated.

“Last November we had two Bengals in rescue, and within a month we were getting calls every other day,” Wiese says. “There’s a huge need for a rescue down here, but nobody wanted to step up and do it, so we decided that we’d be the ones.”

Before Bengals, Wiese started off rescuing dogs, but she realized many people were “in it more for the glory.” She ended up losing her house after putting a great deal of her own financial resources into helping unadoptable dogs no one else wanted to help, which forced her out of the rescue game.

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Former Spots and Stripes resident Puss Puss has quite a mustache!

She didn’t stay away for long, though. She adopted her first Bengal from a breeder she found on Craigslist, and she immediately fell in love with the attractive, energetic cat. Unfortunately, her Bengal had hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), one of the most common forms of heart disease in cats, and she passed away at the age of three. “I was heartbroken,” Wiese says. Shortly after her Bengal’s death she started noticing others from the same breeder popping up for free on Craigslist and in shelters.

“No breeder wants to be caught with HCM, because it looks really bad if they’re knowingly breeding a cat who has it in the line,” Wiese says. “Rather than admitting they had it, they just started getting rid of them. That’s what started the rescue.”

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This beautiful, festive Bengal is currently available for adoption.

Since founding Spots and Stripes, Wiese has encountered many unfortunate situations involving Bengal hoarders who started off as breeders. From one former breeder alone, Spots and Stripes has rescued more than 23 Bengals, 10 of whom were kittens. Wiese took home one who was blind and sick with an upper respiratory infection, and she died nine weeks later. In fact, only one of the kittens survived, and she lost her right eye.

“[The breeder] no longer wants to give any more [Bengals] up, so we’re working with the county to force him to surrender,” Wiese says. “We took video in the house, and I think I was there maybe five minutes before I had cockroaches crawling on my legs.”

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Arctic, a deaf, eight-year-old Bengal, is currently in foster care with Spots and Stripes awaiting adoption.

Wiese’s own Cinderella also had a tough start. She was rescued from a breeder who was scamming people overseas by having them put deposits on Cinderella’s kittens. “And when it came time to adopt the kittens, she’d say, ‘Oh, they died,’” Wiese says.

After the breeder got busted, Cinderella was taken to a high-kill shelter, where someone contacted Wiese. When Wiese first brought her home, Cinderella was extremely under-socialized and fearful of humans, and she wouldn’t let Wiese come near her or even make eye contact. But 10 months later, Wiese’s dedication is starting to pay off.

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Just 10 months ago, Kelsey Wiese couldn't touch Cinderella, but now she can wrangle her into this cute outfit.

“Just last week was the first time we’ve ever been able to pet her,” Wiese says. “I was sitting at the table talking on the phone, and she just came up and headbutted me. We’ve worked with her for a long time, and for her to start coming around is awesome.”

Because Bengals are more energetic and require more exercise than other cats, Wiese recommends fostering one and getting to know their quirks before adopting. Many Bengals enjoy going for walks on a harness, for example, and many male Bengals spray even after being neutered, a problem that can be avoided with proper training. Bonus: Bengals are also hypoallergenic.

“There are some Bengals who would make good lap cats, but for the most part they’re not for somebody who doesn’t want an active cat,” Wiese says. “They’ve very distinct. I love them.”

About a year ago I was running errands on the busy high street near the apartment I share with four cats. A beautiful black cat -- whose job it is to keep mice out of the store where he's the resident feline-in-charge -- took a break from his duties, pausing to sit calmly on the sidewalk and watch the world go by. A young woman and her daughter emerged from a neighboring store. The little girl was enchanted by the cat -- no surprise, for he has a gloriously glossy coat and gorgeous amber eyes.

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Black cat in blue chair by Shutterstock

The child headed toward the animal with her hand sweetly outstretched in greeting, but her mother yanked her back, yelling, "No! It's going to bite you!" The child murmured that it wasn't, but the woman prevailed. That made me very sad.

I sincerely hope the little girl doesn't grow up to fear cats, especially black ones. But if she does, sadly, she won't be alone. An irrational fear of black cats is one of the few socially acceptable prejudices left in the modern age.

This deep-seated prejudice only gets worse as Halloween gets closer. Black cats are often the last to be adopted at animal shelters, because some people believe they are mean, harbingers of bad luck, or familiars of witches. As a result, black cats at shelters are also often among the first to be euthanized. Boo!

In reality, nothing could be further from the truth than the foolish old superstition about black cats being bad. I've lived with many black cats -- in fact, I make a point of adopting the basic-black ones -- and I can honestly report, from first-paw experience, that they are among the sweetest, gentlest, most loving animals I've gotten to know. They are exceptionally sensitive. My solid-black cat, Huey, is extra-affectionate; if I'm feeling low or unwell, I can always count on him to come hither for a convalescent cuddle.

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Black cat in pirate hat by Shutterstock

So it's high time for some black cat appreciation, Catsters. Perhaps black cats are so loving because, after centuries of getting berated by people, they are genuinely grateful for a little positive attention. And they never fail to return those good vibes tenfold.

Laurie Nadel practices Reiki with her beautiful black cat, Bogart.

"Reiki means 'universal life energy,'" the author and educator explains. "It is all around us, and it can be offered to anyone, human or animal, who wants healing."

Nadel says Reiki is powerful, yet calming, gentle, safe, and noninvasive. She says it stimulates our natural healing responses and has been used to relieve pain, swelling, and tenderness.

"I find black cats are even more sensitive than other cats ... to the point of being empathic and intuitive," she says. "As a Reiki master, I am ordained to open another being's channel so he or she can feel Reiki and offer it to others."

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Bogart, it turns out, is a natural-born Reiki master.

"When I had bronchitis a few years ago, Bogart would perch on my chest and put his right front paw where my breathing was tight," Nadel. "When I got better, I asked if he would like me to open up his Reiki channel and he did not object. Since then, he has been an essential part of my Reiki practice."

Bogart is 13 years old, and he is a Reiki healer as well. Nadels says she and Bogart  are members of the National Animal Reiki Practitioners Association, "and we offer free remote Reiki sessions for pets.

"Bogart has helped dozens of dogs, cats, birds, and people I even have testimonial letters from people thanking my black cat."

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Black cat and pumpkin by Shutterstock

Nancy Vogt of Long Island Cat and Kitten Solution -- also called LICKS -- has rescued cats for eight years, and she often finds herself with several black cats and kittens still available for adoption, long after the lighter-coated foundlings have gone to their forever homes.

"Black cats are extremely difficult to place and extremely difficult to photograph, because what you get is two eyes and a shadow, even against a white background," she says.

Vogt says many people have confessed that they fear black cats even though they know in their minds that there's nothing evil about black cats.

"They still just can't warm up to them," she says. "It's sad. I have seven cats, all black or mostly black, and they all have very sweet personalities."

The same can be said for her adoptables. Out of four of Vogt's' adorable adoptables on Petfinder, one is black.

According to his human, Luca -- who is normally an indoor-outdoor cat -- is recovering from a leg injury, which means he's been cooped up for a while. For a Bengal, that's enough to make an energetic kitty go crazy, and we think it's safe to say that Luca is experiencing a bit of cabin fever. Watch him spin across the floor like a breakdancer and leap into the air as if the floor was a trampoline.

When Luca isn't performing cat gymnastics, he's busy being possessive over his favorite toy -- a stuffed fish. Holding the toy in his mouth like a dog, Luca grumbles and growls, letting us know that it's paws off. Don't worry, Luca, we'd never dream of depriving you!

Do you share a home with a frisky Bengal cat?

Photo: Charming Bengal cat lying on his back by Shutterstock.com.

Now, two years later, the Feline Genetics Laboratory at the University of California, Davis, has developed a test that will reveal your cat’s ancestral heritage.

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The test begins with determining the geographic origin of your cat’s ancestors from one of eight regions: Western Europe, Egypt, East Mediterranean, Iran/Iraq, Arabian Sea, India, South Asia, and East Asia. After a cat’s ancestral origin is determined, her DNA will be compared with that of the 29 most popular breeds in the Cat Fanciers’ Association and The International Cat Association registries.

The lab says the lineage profile is more than 90 percent accurate, but it does caution that “a true random-bred cat will not match to specific breeds and low match probabilities will not be reported. If your cat is a true direct cross with a breed, having a true breed parent or grandparent, this test can detect this breed genetic contribution in your cat.”

What that means is that if the genetic test were done on a multiracial human, it could determine whether, say, that individual has East Asian ancestors, but it might not be able to tell whether those ancestors are Korean, Vietnamese, Thai, Chinese, Laotian, Cambodian, or Japanese.

The cat genetic test is done through a cheek swab, a standard method of collecting DNA. It costs around $120, and you’ll get your results within a couple of weeks.

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Cats and kittens of multiple breeds by Shutterstock

The lab is also collecting donations of DNA from breeds not currently in its database. In order to develop a breed in the database, samples from 30 to 50 unrelated cats -- that is, they don’t share parents or grandparents -- are needed.

So, if you want to pay to find out whether your Maine Coon look-alike does in fact have Maine Coon ancestry, now’s your chance.

Sources: Wired, UC Davis Veterinary Genetics Lab