Big Cat, Little Cat Trivia Quiz

Answer: A tail kink

In the 21st century, a tail kink is considered a flaw. You will, however, still find tail kinks in the street cats in Thailand.

Answer: Jaguar

This spotted cat resembles a leopard but physically there are some significant differences. They have extremely strong jaws and are considered even stronger than a lion or a tiger. They kill by biting their prey in the head and deliver a killing bite directly to the brain.

The few who are left live in rainforests but they have also been known to live in other areas. There is evidence of jaguars in Asia and Africa but genetics show differences there as well.

Answer: Scottish fold

When Susie, the barn cat, was found in Perthshire, Scotland she had these funny folded ears. When she was bred, she passed the trait onto only a few of her offspring. Scottish fold cats are born with straight, unfolded ears and the fold will show up after a few weeks.

This breed of cat was registered with Cat Fanciers registration in 1966. The breed wasn't well accepted in Europe due to concerns of infection of the folded ears but since coming to the Americas, they have been bred with heartier breeds such as the American shorthair and they are well accepted in current decades.

Answer: Calico

Calico coloring isn't really that unusual. What is unusual is that calico cats are nearly always female. The genetic trait that causes a cat to be calico is connected to the X chromosome. In many cultures, the calico cat is thought to be good luck. In the US, they are just pretty.

Answer: Persian

The name refers to Persia, where similar cats have been found but this breed didn't come into popularity until the British developed them in the 19th century. In Britain, this breed is called longhair or Persian longhair. The enhanced breeding to try to attain other colors has also led to problems with the nasal passages.

They have become too flat and cause problems. This breed is also known for kidney disease but most often in the British variety.

Answer: Ocelot

The ocelot is a leopard-spotted cat who looks similar to a large house cat. They can be found from the Amazon rainforest all the way to Mexico and even into Texas, USA. From the 1970s to the 1990s this cat was endangered due to hunters wanting the fur, since 1996 they are less endangered. There are 12 subspecies of ocelot, named by where they are geographically located.

Answer: Devon rex

The Devon rex isn't actually related to the Cornish or German rex breeds. They are considered very smart and easily trainable. They are very playful and full of energy. They are slightly built and have long limbs. They are very people oriented and have even been referred to as "a monkey in a cat suit".

Answer: Tiger

Tigers used to range all across Asia, from Turkey to Russia. Their habitat has shrunk over 40% since the 1900s. There are six remaining subspecies of tiger left but all are considered endangered. The stripe patterns are individual to each animal, similar to zebras.

Answer: Manx

This breed has a naturally occurring genetic mutation that shortens the tail. The Manx is a very popular breed of cat all over the world. They are descended from African wild cats. A cute story says: there are various fanciful Lamarckian folktales that seek to explain why the Manx has a short to no tail.

In one of them, the biblical Noah closed the door of the Ark when it began to rain, and accidentally cut off the tail of the Manx cat who had almost been left behind.

Answer: Lion

The lion is actually the second largest cat in the wild kingdom after the tiger. At one time in history, lions had the second largest population after humans and were found in grasslands across the globe. Since the second half of the 20th century, their numbers have declined everywhere and are no longer found in the Americas or parts of Asia. By far, the majority of lions are now found in African wildlife sanctuaries and zoos.