Another descendant of the American Shorthair is the Exotic Shorthair, although this is a man-made breed rather than a natural mutation. Through selective breeding of Persians and American Shorthairs in the 1960s, this new breed was created to carry the dignified character of the Persian but with the shorter, easier-to-care-for coat of the American Shorthair. For brief period Burmese were also used in the breeding, but they soon fell from favor.
The foundation cats are said to have been brought to Great Britain in the 1860s by soldiers returning from Abyssinia, and the popularity of the new breed grew rapidly. However, during the two world wars the breed was almost lost due to lack of adequate food, and in the1960s it was threatened by widespread feline leukaemia. It has recovered from those hard times and again a popular breed, especially in the States.
Abyssinians are intelligent, inquisitive animals and will learn tricks quickly. They do, however, cherish their freedom and will become quite restless if totally confined indoors. They are excellent climbers and, as with any display of their abilities, expect to be praised for it. Even indoors they are happiest when. Involved in some activity. Above all breeds, the Abyssinians need play with their owners as part of their daily routine. If play is neglected they will become sullen and isolate themselves, even to the extent of abandoning their home.
This breed probably originated in the Russian port city of Archangel and was brought into Great Britain in the late 1800s aboard a Russian merchant ship. Similar cats are still found in that region today. But there remains confusion about the Russian Blue because of the many aliases it has traveled under. At first it was known as the Archangel Blue. The current name took hold in the 1940s. At various times the cat has also been known as the Maltese and the Spanish Blue. The Russian Blue is very quiet and shy, and does best when living with people that share these traits. It is ever-eager to show its affection and to please its owners. The indoor life is preferred, and although the cat’s ancestry comes from a cold climate, it will seek warm spots in the house and spend many winter hours there.
In Great Britain the varieties of this breed are officially considered Siamese cats, but in the United States they are classified as a separate breed because of the more recent non-Siamese side of their lineage.
Although its name conjures up a vision of a good smoke from a Cuban city of the same name, the Havana originated in Great Britain, far from its Caribbean namesake. A man-made breed, the Havana is the result of a 1950s selective breeding programmed to maintain the graceful lines of the Siamese without its point pattern.
If there is one breed of cat that is instantly recognize-able by nearly everyone, including no enthusiasts, it must be the Siamese. No other coloring is as universally familiar as the classic Seal-Point Siamese.
A “PERMED” VERSION of the American Shorthair from which it sprang, the American Wirehair has all the same features as its predecessor but with curly or hooked hair. This coat has a rough texture and springs back when touched.
Porpoises are some of the smallest and least known cetaceans as a group. Although the six species are spread throughout the world, they prefer coastal waters and tend to stay close to the shore. Most species of porpoise have declining populations, and some are endangered, as their small size makes them particularly prone to entanglement in the nets human use to catch tuna and other fish.
Some of the most unusual and least known dolphins are found not at sea but in some of the muddy rivers of Asia and South America. There are also some of the most endangered of all cetaceans. There are thought to be fewer than 500 surviving Indus River Dolphins, and only barely more than 150 Baiji, which live in the Yangtze River in China.
There are many other types of dolphins. IOn all, the dolphin dfamily includes 26 recognized oceanic species, not counting the ones which are popularly considered to be whales (the Killer Whale and the Pilot Whale among them). Some, like Risso’s Dolphin, can be fond throughout the world’s oceans, while others are more isolated. Hector’s Dolphin, for instance, is only found in the waters around New Zealand, while Heaviside’s Dolphin limits itself to 1,000 miles (1,600 kilometers) of the western coastline of Namibia and South Africa.