Cat Keeping in the US and UK Compared

The plush, curly-coated Selkirk Rex is 'the Cat in Sheep's clothing' while the Cornish Rex is as 'soft as sand-washed silk'. Longhaired Rexes have appeared, but didn't catch on - busy people want easy-care cats, so the 'York Chocolate' (also available in Lavender) boasted a 'silky, easy-care' coat. Cats, as well as owners, need wash-and-wear hair hence the lines of IRCA cats which 'resemble Persians' but with 'plush non-matting fur'.

The 'North American Tiffany (Non-Burmese)' is a 'chocoholic's delight' - do you cuddle it or lick it? The 'earesistable' or 'devilish' American Curl looks permanently windswept with ears that curve gently backwards. The Scottish Fold is 'as colorful as the kilts of Scotland', though I haven't yet seen one in Hunting Stuart or Black Watch pattern.

You just can't judge a breed by its name. The longhaired Scottish Fold is called Highland Fold in America, but Coupari in Britain on the grounds that it didn't come from the Highlands. But then, the Balinese didn't come from Bali and the Nebelung doesn't come from Germany despite its German name, nor is it from Russia despite its claim to 'recreate the turn-of-the-century Russian Blue longhair. I rather doubt that the Chinese Harlequin originated in China where cats tend to appear on the menu rather than on the show bench. The Singapura may or may not have come from Singapore. Its fortunes took a dive when it was reported that its 'discoverer' took some Abyssinian-type cats out to Singapore with her; however, recent imports and the slogan 'The Love Cat of Singapore' could revive interest. In any case, its authenticity got a boost when Singapore adopted it as a tourist mascot. Naturally, the Siberian is 'from Russia with love'.

Compared to the colorful descriptions in the American advertisements, British ads seem positively restrained ... and perhaps a little boring?

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