Here Kitty, Kitty! Trivia Quiz

Answer: Turkish Van

Although to most people's eyes this is a white cat with distinctive patterning on its head and tail, the breed is technically considered a colored cat with large patches of white. Because the breed has an unusual fascination with water, they have earned the nickname 'Swimming Cat'; they also have a fairly unique habit of holding their long tails straight up in the air when they run. According to standard, males weigh 9-20lbs (4.08-9.07kgs), with females weighing 7-12lbs (3.17-5.44kgs).

Answer: Korat

Korats were first shown in Britain in 1889, but since they were being shown as variations of the Siamese - to which standard they didn't conform very well - the breed had all but vanished outside Thailand by 1901. Korats are a natural breed, and is considered one of the oldest stable cat breeds. In Thailand, they are often regarded as good-luck cats.

Answer: Japanese bobtail

Japanese bobtails are, as the name suggests, bobtailed cats. However, the exact length of said bob varies greatly, with the standard stating that the tail must be "clearly visible and is composed of one or more curves, angles, or kinks, or any combination", but can not exceed three inches.

Their coat should more closely resemble rabbit fur than other cats', and the back legs should be slightly longer than the front. They are also considered one of the more talkative breeds - if you've ever heard one 'sing' though, you know it isn't necessarily an unpleasant thing! Also, if you've ever seen a cat statue with one paw raised, or beckoning, or any of the 'Hello Kitty' merchandise, you've seen an stylization of the breed.

Answer: Chinese li hua

Noted by the CFA to be one of the oldest known breeds of domestic cat, the Chinese li hua (pronounced 'Lee Waah') was only recognized by the group as a breed in 2010 as a 'miscellaneous' breed. However, Zhao Shangzai (1908-1942) had one of these cats, and reportedly trained it to fetch his paper! Such is the personality of the cat - gentle, and able to live quite peacefully with other animals as well as their people.

They come in only one color, a striking brown tabby, and have almond eyes which can come in several colors; green eyes are preferred though!

Answer: Exotic

Aside from the length of the coat, an exotic (also called an exotic shorthair by some) is bred to meet the Persian standard. An exotic's coat is unique to the breed though, and gives them what is described as a teddy-bear look. They have a an overall calm and gentle personality, but get into trouble with their curiosity and playfulness.

Answer: Selkirk Rex

The single female from which all Selkirk Rexes are descended was a rescue cat known as Miss DePesto; she was later bred to a black Persian, with the resulting litter having three curly-coated kittens out of six. The coat is described as 'plush' and having loose curls. Somewhat strangely, while the whiskers curl (as some other curly-coated breeds do) the Selkirk Rex's whiskers are rather brittle, and can break as they grow longer.

Answer: Russian blue

The origins of the Russian blue are now lost to history, although we do know that the first 'Archangel cat' was exhibited in 1875 at the Crystal Palace. They were first introduced to the U.S in the early 1900s, but it wasn't until after World War II that American breeders began, as a whole, to take a serious interest in the breed.

Answer: Ocicat

The ocicat is considered by the CFA to be the only domestic breed specifically to emulate the spotted coats of big cats like the leopard. The result is a large, active breed with a short coat. They are, as mentioned above, a more 'doglike' breed; they easily show affection and love, but aren't a clinging, needy pet.

Answer: True

Siamese cats are an ancient breed originating in Thailand - formerly Siam - and first exported from their native land in the late 1800s. They are a breed of exotic type, with a long body, and wedge-shaped head. Their coat is short but comes in several different colors, including seal point (pale fawn-colored body with dark brown, almost black, extremities), and lilac point (white body with pinkish-gray extremities).

The Siamese is also one of the few breeds of cats that have blue eyes into adulthood.

Answer: Sphynx

Although they are considered a hairless breed of cat, the Sphynx can actually come in various degrees of hairlessness - some are covered in a fine down-like fur that has been likened to peach fuzz. Despite their lack of fur, this breed is not a fragile one; they are a substantial cat with solid bones, abundant energy, and mischievous personality.