this post was submitted on 29 Jun 2023
228 points (99.1% liked)

cats

19351 readers
1916 users here now

typical internet cats. videos, pics, memes welcome!

rule 1) be kind

lemmy.world rules:

other cat communities midwest.social cats

founded 2 years ago
MODERATORS
 
top 12 comments
sorted by: hot top controversial new old
[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

She's gorgeous. So lithe.

[–] Spyral 2 points 1 year ago

So do you call her pee-can or pee-con? I live in a hybrid area and people are split on the pronunciation!

[–] Spacebar 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)
[–] darabo 4 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (2 children)

It's a "domestic short hair", aka cat.

The majority of cats nowadays are a result of massive amounts of breeding between species over multiple, if not hundreds, of generations (keep in mind that cats can and often give birth when they're around a year old and can breed 3x a year), so 15 generations means around 15 years) to the point where it's all giant mush breed wise.

Unless either they've been super isolated or specific bred as a purebred, then they're categorized less based on breed and more on their physical characteristics.

For instance, a "domestic short hair" is a cat that doesn't have long hair and has been bred within in the area/country.

Tabby cats, like the one in OP's picture, means they have a "M" shaped mark on their forehead. A calico cat means they're a tri-coloured cat. A British long hair cat means they're a cat with long hair that was born in, you guessed it, the UK.

Whenever you see cats in shelters that are labeled as specific breeds Russian Blue for instance, unless they're a purebred, it means they look like one by the roll of the genetic dice.

Unless they're specifically a purebred or specifically bred to be something (in both cases it often have health conditions due to inbreeding), anyone who tells you their cat is a specific breed is either misinformed or trying to deceive you.

There are exceptions, like Bengal cats, but even then for domestication and health purposes they've been bred with domesticated breeds for at least two or three generations minimum.

Tl;Dr: She's a domestic short hair tabby, aka a cat ¯\(ツ)

(I've worked with different cat rescue organizations and nonprofits, and I'm also fostering two semi-feral cats at the moment.)

[–] Spacebar 1 points 1 year ago

She looks almost like a Savannah Cat or a Bengal. That's why I asked. Also, thank you for the Ted Talk, it was a good read.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

I think the more important distinction is whether the cat is bred or rescued. Good on op for making a home for any cat. If at all possible, it's always better not to support breeders.

[–] spunky 2 points 1 year ago

aw, she's beautiful. Is she well behaved?

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

A fine pecan indeed

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

She's beautiful! Give 'er some ear scritches for me please 🥰

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

Very cute indeed 🐱

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

Pecan is such a cute name

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

Beautiful kitty! I love her pink nose outlined in black