The most important criteria of classification of cats breeds are the following:
1. By the country of origin
2. With hair or hairless
3. Type of hair
4. Body constitution
5. Head type
Most cats breeds these days have short fur, are medium sized, have medium tail length and a common type of face. However, there are some breeds that have very special characteristics, being considered quite unusual.
1. The Sphynx.
This is, by far, the most unusual cat breed. It is very rare and has a physical appearance that cannot be left unnoticed. The first thing that characterizes these cats is the lack of fur. Even though many believe they have absolutely no fur at all, some may be covered with a very short and fine light colored hair, called vellus hair. This breed originates from Canada and it is very rare these days, which makes it extremely expensive too. Cats belonging to this breed require special care, because of the lack of fur. They should not be exposed to cold temperatures or to strong sun. Because they feel cold most of the times, they seek the company of other animals that can help them get warm and want to sleep in the bed with the owner, under the covers. Even though they do not have hair to groom, they require baths on a regular basis and visits to the veterinarian from time to time.
2. Teacup Persians.
This is one of the most popular cats breeds nowadays. As the name suggests, they are extremely small - they can virtually fit in a teacup. Their weight as adults never goes over 6 lbs. in the case of females, or 7 lbs. in the case of males. If Persian cats are very appreciated for their special look, teacup Persians are loved even more by their owners because of their size. The truth is that they look exactly like the regular Persians and share the same physical characteristics, like the longhair fur and special flat face. The only difference is that they are several times smaller than the regular ones.
3. The Khao Manee.
This breed originates from Thailand and is extremely beautiful, mostly because of the completely white fur. The coat is short and smooth and, because of its beauty, that it has been mentioned on the Cat Book Poems (Tamra Maew book) hundreds of years ago. The Khao Manee usually has blue eyes or gold ones. In some cases, the cat can have one of each color, making it more unique and more valuable.
There are many other rare and beautiful breeds, but these are probably the most special ones. However, in the eyes of cat lovers all cats breeds are beautiful and have to be appreciated equally.
