Cat Breed Books and Encyclopedias

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Date: 7/8/05 7:28 PM

Hello. Are the most current and comprehensive books and encyclopedias on cat breeds around the world? I was a bit surprized to find that at in the classified section of CatFancy, there aren't many listing for cat books. I'm looking for books that contain all the information on breeds, as featured as Jane Hartwell's site, Messybeast.com-all the new breeds, experimental, and hybrids. Please let me know. Thank you.

Sincerely,
Mr. Jason Goldman
JGoldman10@yahoo.com
Answer -
Jason,

I have yet to see a cat book that has as complete a categorization of current breeds, "extinct" breeds, hybrid (domestic X wild), apparently, bogus breeds as Ms. Hartwell's site.

The term "breed" is really ill defined and is normative to each feline registry.  Any cat book put out by a registry will, generally, only cover the breeds that registry recognizes.

Furthermore, it seems, new "breeds" are being developed all the time and, so, it would be difficult for a book to keep up without many new editions, which would not be cost effective, given the normal market for cat books.

So, I would not look for a book to have anything nearly as comprehensive as Ms. Hartwell's site!

Also, in searching other sites that list breeds often take their material from Ms. Hartwell's site.

Best regards... Norm.


Best regards... Norm.

DAte: 7/22/05 12:24 PM

Hello:

Thank you for responding. Is there a cat equivalent of the "Dog Bible"? What are the most current, comprehensive cat breed books/encyclopedias to date?

Sincerely,
Mr. Jason GOldman
JGoldman10@yahoo.com
Answer -
Jason,

Is the Dog Bible sponsored by the AKC?  If so, since the AKC is the largest and, for the most part, the definitive dog registry, a comprehensive Dog Bible makes sense.

On the other hand, the cat fancy is much more fragmented in the USA with three major registries Cat Fanciers' Association (CFA, which is 10 times larger than all the others put together), The International Cat Association (TICA which is next largest), and America Cat Fanciers' Association (ACFA, taking up a distant 3rd). There is a book called the Complete Cat book sponsored by CFA, which is the closest thing you will find in North America to the Dog Bible.  I will admit to being ignorant of any such publications sposored by FiFE, the European collection of country registries.

Best regards... Norm.

Date: 7/30/05 4:02 PM

Hello:

What is the date of publication for the Complete Cat Book, and what is the most current edition available?

Since CatFancy doesn't list many companies that specailize in cat books and other publications, do you know of any off hand? Please let me know> Thank you.

Sincerely,
Mr. Jason Goldman
JGoldman10@yahoo.com

Answer -
Jason,

The Cat Fanciers' Association Complete Cat Book is edited by Mordecai Segal, HarperCollins Publishing, New York, NY, 2004, is in its 1st edition.

The breeds listed are: Abyssinian, American Bobtail, American Curl, American Shorthair, American Wirehair, Balinese, Birman, Bombay, British Shorthair, Burmese, Chartreux, Colorpoint Shorthair, Cornish Rex, Devon Rex, Egyptian Mau, European Burmese, Exotic, Havana Brown, Japanese Bobtail, Javanese, Korat, LaPerm, Maine Coon Cat, Manx, Norwegian Forest Cat, Ocicat, Oriental, Persian, Ragamuffin, Ragdoll, Russian Blue, Scottish Fold, Selkirk Rex, Siamese, Siberian, Sinagpura, Somali, Sphynx, Tonkinese, Turkish Angora, Turkish Van.

No, I do not know of any publication house that specializes in cat books.  I do know that Barrons Educational Series has a number of cat publications.

I would go to a library and see what you can find in cats books and check the references in each of these books to see what you can find.  Many out of print books are available via the Internet.

Best regards... Norm.

Hello:

Thank you for responding. My local library has a copy of a book called "Cat Breeds of the World". It's date of publication is the late 1990's. Is there a more current and updated edition/version out? The version of the book I got from my library mentions and lists new and experimental breeds that were around at the time of publication.  
Does the Complete Cat Book at least make any mention of new and experimental breeds? Please let me know. Thank you.

Sincerley,
Mr. Jason Goldman
JGoldman10@@yahoo.com

Answer
Jason,

I found a number of such books:

"Cat Breeds of the World", Paddy Cutts, Lorenz Books, Feb 2000


"Cat Breeds of the World", Desmond Morris, Penguin Books, May 1999

"New Encyclopedia of the Cat", Bruce Fogle DVM, 2nd Edition, DK Books, SEP 2001  

"Barron's Encyclopedia of Cat Breeds", J. Anne Helgren, BArron's Educational Series, 1997

"Ultimate Encyclopedia of Cats, Cat Breeds, and Cat Care" Alan Edwards, Anness Publishing, May 1999

"THe Illustrated Encyclopedia of Cat Breeds", Angela Rixon, Book Sales, 1995

Also, the Complete Cat Book does not talk about experimental breeds in other than generalities on pages 17-20.

I hope the above is helpful!!!!!

Best regards... Norm.