Felines are unarguably one of the most widespread human favorite companions. It has been estimated that more than 370 million cats are kept as pets worldwide.
The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) reported that felines constitute 25.4% of companion animals in the country. This is only a place behind dogs which make up 38.4%.
How felines became domesticated
Cats (Felis cactus) are the only domesticated species in the Felidae family. Felidae, also called cats, is a family of mammals, including cheetahs, tigers, lions, leopards, and caracals.
There is no definite documentation of how cats became domesticated by humans. However, some records showed there are two lineages of the Felis cactus, the Felis silvestris silvestris and another. The Felis silvestris silvestris appeared in Asia more than 6,000 years ago and dispersed into Europe. The other lineage appeared in Egypt around the same time and spread throughout the Mediterranean. The two lineages were reported to breed with the African wild cat Felis silvestris lybica during their dispersals.
The Felis silvestris lybica is presumed to have preyed on rodents on farms, after which they decided to stick around the agricultural community. Over the years, they evolved to become Felis cactus, a good companion of humans and also a killer of rodents.
Today, there are about 60 cat breeds across the world.
Most popular feline breeds worldwide
There are about 60 cat breeds across the world. Here are the most popular.
Sphynx
The sphynx is a distinct cat breed well-known for its hairless skin. They hailed from Canada in the 1960s and were initially called Canadian hairless.
They are medium-sized, weigh 6 to 12 pounds, and have an average lifespan of 8 to 14 years.
Sphynx is very social and active, with a dog-like appearance.
Siamese
Siamese cats are known for being highly intelligent. They are most often cream-colored and also bred in other colors and patterns.
This breed is originally from Thailand and is originally known as Siam.
Male Siamese can weigh up to 14 pounds and are about 12 inches tall. They can live up to 15 years.
Persian
Persian cats are considered one of the oldest feline breeds. Although yet to be proven, their ancestors are presumed to have been imported into Italy from Khorasan in the 1600s.
They are medium-sized cats that can grow as much as 15 inches tall and weigh 7 to 12 pounds.
This breed is known for being snuggly and can be aggressive when feeling territorial.
Himalayan
There are debates in the feline community about whether Himalayans are sub-breed or should be classified as a breed on their own.
They are a breed from the crossing of Persians and Siamese. These long-haired cats look more like Persian but differ in color as they instead have blue eyes and color points derived from the crossing with Siamese.
Himalayan adults can weigh up to 12 pounds with an average lifespan of 9 to 15 years.
Maine Coon
The Maine Coon breed has a distinctive large stature and wild appearance. It is one of the oldest natural breeds in North America. It originated from Maine and is the official state cat.
The males can grow up to 40 inches in height and weigh as large as 18 pounds. Maine Coon lifespan is about 12 to 15 years.
American Shorthair
American Shorthair is an all-American breed with superb rat-catching skills. This intelligent cat breed has a round face with short ears.
Despite their powerful builds, they are playful and have a gentle nature. They are generally medium-sized and can grow 10 inches tall.
The breed is healthy but also prone to heart disease. Their life span is between 15 to 20 years.
Russian Blue
Russian Blues are gentle and may hide when you have a large gathering. They are, however, friendlier and more playful with the family.
The breed originated from Arkhangelsk, Russia. They can grow up to 10 inches in height and weigh between 7 to 15 pounds.
A Russian Blue can be expected to live up to 15 to 20 years.
Bengal
Almost everything about Bengals screams wild! From their looks to their markings which may have rosettes like the markings on leopards, jaguars, and ocelots.
These felines are talkative. Nevertheless, they are bred with different personalities. Their height is between 8 to 10 inches, and they can weigh between 8 to 15 pounds.
Bengal lifespan is between 9 to 15 years.