lmk if you want pics of my cats :3

  • Psythik@lemmy.world
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    5 months ago

    Aren’t there only two cat breeds? Every other variation is a mutation or a coat pattern.

    • pjwestin@lemmy.world
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      5 months ago

      I don’t think, “breed,” is really a term that means anything concrete. There’s some sort of Cat Association that registers new breeds, but I don’t think they have any scientific criteria other than, “kitty look different.”

      • uriel238@lemmy.blahaj.zone
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        5 months ago

        Mandarins and Bombays are both black kitties with different genes. The difference between them is more than just black.

        • pjwestin@lemmy.world
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          5 months ago

          Yeah, I was being a little flippant there, but what I was basically getting at is that I don’t think, “breed,” has any real definition beyond what breeders decide is a breed.

    • uriel238@lemmy.blahaj.zone
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      5 months ago

      Longhairs are bred, and there are some disposition breeds. Also Siamese were bred for coloration.

      But yes since the standard mix are great mousers (and, unfortunately, bird hunters) much more of the cat population is feral shorthair.

      Also cats from feral genetic stock are quite sociable. They’re just hungry.