Believe it or not, cats have existed for thousands of years. Amazingly, some of these oldest cat breeds were even worshipped and revered.
Several cat breeds have found their way into the hearts of ardent cat lovers, generation after generation.
This article lists some of the oldest cat breeds you may not have heard about. You’d also find out how long they live, their physical traits, and how they interact with their surroundings.
5 Oldest Cat Breeds That Have Existed Till Date
Below are some of the oldest cat breeds you’d easily find in pet stores. These breeds have been said to keep our ancestors company since the time memorial.
1. The Egyptian Mau
The Egyptian Mau is listed as one of the oldest cat breeds with a stunning appearance.
Their colors include silver, bronze, and smoke, while some are solid black and blue silver. “Mau” originated from the Japanese Bobtail and is an active, loving, and highly intelligent breed.
The Egyptian Mau is a very social creature, and fun for it can seem endless. This feline is intelligent and can quickly learn its name and respond when called. Additionally, it’s one of the few naturally spotted cat breeds worldwide.
This old cat breed is affectionate and quickly forms a strong bond with one special person. It may not quickly warm up to strangers at first, but it might get friendly with time.
People who haven’t seen it before may be surprised by how they wiggle their tails in a show of happiness.
The Egyptian Mau weighs 6–14 pounds, has a height of 8–12 inches, and has a life span of 12–15 years.
Their eyes are distinctively shaped and are also called gooseberry green. This cat breed is also the fastest domestic feline, speeding up to 30 miles per hour.
Maus is an energetic, curious, and fun cat that requires a lot of stimulation in its surroundings.
Like all cats, they will live longer, healthier lives if fed a high-quality diet, are relieved of stress, and receive frequent health treatment.
The Egyptian Mau is a good addition if you are looking for an additional family member.
Leukodystrophy is a brain disease that can show up in kittens as young as seven weeks old. This is one of the few health issues linked to the breed, despite its overall good health.
So, always make sure you purchase from a reputable breeder who can provide a formal guarantee of the animal’s health.
2. The Siamese
The Siamese is one of the oldest domestic cats in existence. Apart from their distinctive and smooth appearance, you’d find these pretty cats with silver-gray fur with blue eyes. Their fur can also come in orange, blue, or brown.
Just so you know, the Siamese is a very curious feline, equally demanding, and very smart. This cat has been loved for its attractive looks and singing abilities.
Siamese kittens are talkative, which many cat owners find pretty amusing. They will communicate their opinions in a raspy and loud voice and still expect you to attend to them and take their suggestions.
The Siamese care deeply for their owners, participate in various activities, and search for new hideouts.
In some cases, you can also find them turning on faucets when their owners are not watching. This cat can weigh around 8–15 pounds, be 8–10 inches in height, and can live up to 15–20 years.
Health issues can arise in any cat, regardless of the breed. In this case, health issues for Siamese include liver disease (amyloidosis), different kinds of cancer, dental complications (be sure to always take care of the teeth), and asthma.
3. The Abyssinian
The Abyssinian is one of the oldest cat breeds that aren’t too shy to express themselves and enjoy the company of people and other animals.
This cat’s coat colors include red, blue, cinnamon, and fawn, with green or gold eyes. This cat is a perfect pet for a dog lover, as they have dog traits.
If you are looking for a cat to hold and cuddle, this breed is not for you. They are fierce and courageous and tend to break out of restraints when they feel inhibited. However, that doesn’t imply that they are not affectionate.
Meanwhile, they like climbing and jumping. Abyssinian kitties are highly active and will dazzle you with their acrobatics.
The cat weighs around 8–12 pounds and can live as long as 9–15 years. Like other felines, the Abyssinian has health issues. They suffer from kidney diseases, asthma, and tooth and gum diseases.
4. The Norwegian Forest Cat
The Norwegian forest cat, also known as wegie, is a sweet cat that makes a good pet and is well-known for its large size and quiet, sensitive humor.
This is one of nature’s oldest cat breeds that is devoted and very easy-going. It makes a great family pet if you can give it much attention, carefully groom it, and provide a safe surface to climb on.
This breed gets along with children and other animals easily, even though they like to spend time with their favorite person.
They bond on their terms and not on the terms of others. These cats can scale walls and other obstacles thanks to their powerful claws.
A Norwegian can weigh about 12–16 pounds, and in some cases, they can weigh up to 18–20 pounds.
These cats are powerful, with an athletic physique and many muscles. Male Norwegian forest cats are usually larger than females, with a lifespan of up to 16 years.
You’d also find that the Norwegian forest cats are well-liked since they might take up to five years to fully mature and produce lovely kittens. Pet owners will undoubtedly enjoy their pet more when it is a kitten.
Their long coats are smooth and water-proof and serve as a shield from the cold. They also need to be brushed and maintained often.
Notwithstanding, this old cat breed loses most of its fur once a year in the spring to prepare for summer.
There are two basic health implications that are well-known with the breed. Despite their rarity, these conditions can affect the heart and the kidneys.
Even though hip dysplasia is a condition that affects the hip joint, which is more common in dogs, it can still affect heavier and larger cats, such as the Norwegian forest cat.
5. The Japanese Bobtail
The Japanese bobtail is on the list of the oldest cat breeds, with a flexible bunny tail. These old cat breeds are lean and athletically built. They love to cuddle, fuss around, and enjoy climbing trees.
Owners should keep this bad boy indoors for its protection and well-being, even though it does well outside.
The Japanese bobtail doesn’t only bond well with humans; it is sociable and easily gets along with other cats and dogs.
This breed of cat is intelligent, sweet, loving, and can be highly hyperactive. Engaging in social interactions and unending games is fun for them; they hear and respond to their names.
This is an authoritative cat, even around dogs or other cat breeds. Its fur is easy to groom, and it only requires attention at most twice a week. You can also take the time out to trim its nails too.
This Japanese breed can live up to 9–13 years, and its coat can be brown, black, blue, white, silver, and more.
They are also sophisticated and healthy; unlike other breeds, their kittens are much bigger and more active.
These cats are immune to sickness as infants, even though regular checkups are good for them as adults.
Conclusion
Having one of the oldest cat breeds in your possession can be both thrilling and warm at the same time.
Nevertheless, you can maintain optimum health by ensuring regular visits to the vet. Also, if you want to get one as a pet, make sure you contact a reputable breeder.
