Within each breed, there can be some significant variations in personality. Indeed, cats from the same litter can have quite different temperaments. This is why it might be more accurate to refer to some traits as widespread characteristics of one breed or as general tendencies. Let us compare two distinctly dissimilar breeds: the British Shorthair and the Siamese.
The Siamese, on the contrary can be very exclusive in the way it bonds with one person in the family. The Siamese is a much more recent breed (first records date back to the 1880ies). It has a dog-like temperament and needs constant attention and company. Today’s Siamese is very intelligent and ready to learn as it follows its master around, eager for more and more interaction. It is also very vocal and a great communicator and can be extremely “chatty”. Unlike the British shorthair, it does not like being left alone and wants to be part of everything. Having been bred for personality as much as for physical features, its original tendencies have been refined and amplified to make the Siamese a perfectly loyal, exclusive but demanding companion. |
The British shorthair, the oldest known cat breed in England, is said to be quite independent with a “dignified” purport. This can be explained by the fact that its ancestors were street cats and farm cats and had to fend for themselves, finding their own sustenance and fighting for territory. In order to survive, it had to be intelligent, strong and also a good hunter, and probably led quite a solitary existence. It is said to be brave, unafraid of rivals, able to defend its own patch. Besides being “streetwise”, the British shorthair also appreciates human contact and makes a good pet, a gentle, quiet presence as it does not often makes itself heard, unless it has an urgent request to make. It is a placid and easy-going cat which is not demanding of its owner’s attention, perfectly capable of amusing itself on its own. It is an ideal household companion, easy to care for, loyal but not exclusive in his affections.
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