What is not a breed of cat? - briefly
"Bengal" and "Siamese" are well-known breeds of cats, while "calico" refers to a coat color pattern that can be found across various breeds.
What is not a breed of cat? - in detail
The term "breed" in relation to cats refers to a specific population within a species that has been selectively bred for particular traits, resulting in predictable and uniform characteristics. While there are numerous recognized cat breeds worldwide, it is essential to distinguish between actual breeds and other categories of felines.
Firstly, it is crucial to understand the difference between a breed and a species. A species is a broader category that encompasses all individuals capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. For example, the domestic cat (Felis catus) is a species that includes various breeds such as Siamese, Persian, and Maine Coon. Therefore, when considering what is not a breed of cat, it is important to note that the term "domestic cat" itself is not a breed but rather a species encompassing multiple breeds.
Secondly, feral cats or strays are not considered breeds. Feral cats are domestic cats that have returned to a wild state and no longer depend on human care. They lack the selective breeding processes that define a breed. Similarly, random-bred cats, which are the offspring of unrelated parents with no distinct lineage or selective breeding history, do not constitute a breed.
Thirdly, hybrid cats resulting from crossbreeding between domestic cats and other species, such as the Savannah cat (a cross between an African Serval and a domestic cat), are also not considered breeds in the traditional sense. While they may exhibit unique physical characteristics, their genetic makeup does not conform to the standardized traits associated with recognized breeds.
Lastly, it is important to clarify that mixed-breed cats, often referred to as "domestic shorthair" or "domestic longhair," are not considered a single breed either. These cats have ancestry from multiple breeds but do not possess the uniform genetic traits required for breed recognition.
In conclusion, understanding what is not a breed of cat involves recognizing the differences between species, feral or stray populations, hybrid crosses, and mixed-breed individuals. Each of these categories lacks the specific genetic lineage and selective breeding processes that define a recognized cat breed.