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    The Cat Encyclopedia for Kids
    The Cat Encyclopedia for Kids
    The Cat Encyclopedia for Kids
    Ebook215 pages2 hours

    The Cat Encyclopedia for Kids

    By Joanne Mattern

    4.5/5

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    About this ebook

    Sink your claws into some cat facts! Learn the history, behaviors, physical traits, and special characteristics of cat breeds including Siamese, Persian, American Shorthair, Abyssinian, Maine Coon, and many more. This guidebook gives cat lovers and owners an in-depth look at some furry feline friends. Charming photographs, fun facts, and hands-on pet care tips make this is the ultimate cat-alogue!
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherCapstone Young Readers
    Release dateMar 1, 2018
    ISBN9781623709396
    The Cat Encyclopedia for Kids
    Author

    Joanne Mattern

    Joanne Mattern is the author of many books for children. She loves writing about sports, animals, and interesting people. Mattern lives in New York State with her family.

    Read more from Joanne Mattern

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    Reviews for The Cat Encyclopedia for Kids

    4.5/5

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    • 5/5
      The Cat Encyclopedia For Kids by Joanne Mattern is book for all ages, not just kids! This has about everything you would ever want to know about cats. The book doesn't go into detail about all 42 distinct cat breeds recognized by Cat Fanciers' Association but it does a fine job of the 12 most popular cat breeds it does cover! It also gives some great fun tips along the way such as cats can see color! What do you call a group of cats that are gathered together? Which cats were called 'mousers'? Which cats are called 'race car cats'? Which cats like to play fetch? Which cats were called British Ticks? These and other fun tidbits are given.Each cat breed has its history told and maybe a myth or two debunked. Then the body traits (such as body, color, shape, size), personality, care needed, and of course then the gorgeous images of the feline friends! I can't express enough how wonderful these images are, they make a person want to snuggle all of these charmers up. If you ever wanted to know about cats, look no further, this is an excellent book to get started. In the end of the book is a brief description of other cat breeds. This may say for kids but adults will love this book as much if not more!I requested this book from Netgalley and the book publishers and the review is voluntary. Thanks.
    • 5/5
      Due out March 1, 2018Thanks to Netgalley and Capstone for providing me with this ARC to read and provide my honest review.DescriptionFor Ages: 9-12Do you have cat-titude? Learn the history, behaviors, physical traits, and special characteristics of cat breeds including Siamese, Persian, American Shorthair, Abyssinian, Maine Coon, and many more. Filled with fun facts and charming photographs, this guidebook gives cat lovers and owners an in-depth look at some furry feline friends. Charming photographs, fun facts, and hands-on pet care tips make this is the ultimate cat-alogue!Author Bio:After working as an editor for several major children’s book publishers, Joanne Mattern became the author of numerous nonfiction books for kids. She especially loves writing about animals, sports, and interesting people and places.Available EditionsEDITION PaperbackISBN 9781623709372PRICE $14.95 (USD)MY BOOK REVIEW:Just the photos alone are adorable. This book shares information on twelve cat breeds. Included is a description of the breed, its origins, care and personality and whether it would be a good choice for you. Accompanying this are fantastic photo. In these photos, you can see the cat’s personality. They are colorful and beautiful.If you love cats, this book is definitely for you.  If you’ve always been curious about them, pick up this book and read it. Although it’s suppose to be for middle-grade readers, I think adults can benefit from it too. My only complaint, is that there should have been more photos.Excellently researched, with additional material at the back of the book.I loved this book, its topic and lay-out!

    Book preview

    The Cat Encyclopedia for Kids - Joanne Mattern

    Cover

    Introduction

    People and cats go way back. Judging by the paintings, sculptures, and even mummies left behind, we know that ancient Egyptian people were fond of cats. But some archaeologists have found evidence dating back 9,500 years, indicating cats may have become domesticated in Cyprus long before. There are some scientists who believe that this human-cat relationship may have an even longer history. These scientists did genetic testing that indicated domestication of cats might have begun closer to 12,000 years ago.

    Scientists and historians have different theories about how cats became domesticated. A popular theory is that people captured cats to help control rodent populations in their homes and on their farms. The warmth, food, and shelter they were given in return encouraged cats to stick around.

    The history of breeding is also complex. Humans probably bred these rodent-killing cats to be tamer than cats in the wild. People also might have begun breeding cats to produce new species with clear physical and behavioral traits. This kind of cat breeding is thought to date back as far as 4,000 years in ancient Egypt.

    Today there are 42 distinct cat breeds recognized by the Cat Fanciers’ Association (CFA). These cat breeds each have a breed standard defined by the organization, which indicates the physical features of each breed that a judge looks for in a cat show. The CFA, which was founded in 1906, is currently the largest registry of pedigreed cats.

    Get ready to discover twelve of the most popular cat breeds, including Abyssinian, American Shorthair, Birman, Exotic, Maine Coon, Manx, Ocicat, Oriental, Persian, Ragdoll, Siamese, and Sphynx. Discover each breed’s size and appearance, personality and behaviors, breed history, and care tips. You’ll learn which cat might be best suited for you and your family, and you’ll be equipped with everything you need to know to become a successful cat owner!

    Abyssinian

    When people see Abyssinian (AB-uh-SIN-ee-uhn) cats for the first time, they often say how much the cats look like small wildcats. Abyssinians’ soft, sleek fur has an agouti pattern. This coat pattern has bands of light and dark color on each hair. Agouti coats are sometimes called ticked coats. They are also seen in wildcats such as cougars and lions.

    Abyssinians are active, intelligent, and friendly. People often call them Abys for short. These cats seem to enjoy being around people. They usually stay close to their owners, trying to be involved in whatever the owner is doing.

    In 2016 the CFA ranked the Abyssinian as the ninth most popular breed.

    FUN FACT

    Abys’ agouti coats set them apart from other cat breeds.

    Abyssinian History

    The Abyssinian is one of the oldest cat breeds. No one knows exactly where or when the Abyssinian breed began. Some people think that these cats lived in the palaces of the ancient Egyptian pharaohs. These kings ruled Egypt thousands of years ago. Mummified cats have been discovered in ancient Egyptian tombs.

    Statues and drawings of cats found in Egyptian tombs look much like today’s Abyssinians. The cats in this artwork also have slender bodies, heads shaped like wedges, and large eyes. But these features are also found in the Siamese and Oriental breeds. No one can prove exactly what kind of cat lived in ancient Egypt.

    Ancient Egyptian cat statues look much like today’s Abyssinians.

    FUN FACT

    Two silver Abys named Aluminum and Salt were the first of their breed to come to the United States.

    Zula

    The Abyssinian gets its name from the African region of Abyssinia. Today this area is part of the country of Ethiopia.

    During the 1860s Great Britain fought a war in Abyssinia. In 1868 a British Army officer brought a cat named Zula from Abyssinia to Britain. Zula had an agouti coat, but otherwise she didn’t look like today’s Abys. Still, some people believe Zula may have been the founder of the Abyssinian breed.

    Others think the breed began in Great Britain. British breeders crossed striped silver and brown tabby cats with bunny cats native to Great Britain. The bunny cats’ fur color was similar to that of rabbit fur. Traders may also have brought Abyssinians from Southeast Asia when they traveled to Britain.

    Great Britain’s National Cat Club registered its first Abyssinians in 1896. British breeders exhibited a few Abyssinians in cat shows during the late 1800s.

    FUN FACT

    Abyssinians were known as British Ticks in the early 1900s.

    Modern Abys

    The early 1900s were difficult for the Abyssinian breed. Great Britain and other European nations were involved in World War I (1914–1918) and World War II (1939–1945). Most people did not have the time or money to breed cats during the war years. The Abyssinian breed almost disappeared in Europe. They didn’t reach large numbers again until the 1960s.

    During the early 1900s, some breeders brought Abyssinian cats to North America from Europe. But the breed developed slowly and did not become popular in North America until the 1930s. At that time, breeders brought several Abyssinians from Great Britain to the United States.

    By the 1950s, many North American breeders were raising Abyssinians. Today the Abyssinian is more popular in North America than it is in Europe.

    Modern Abys’ ticked markings may have come from cats native to Great Britain.

    Abyssinian Traits

    Abyssinians are average in size compared to other cats. Adult Abys weigh 7 to 12 pounds (3.2 to 5.4 kilograms). Females are usually slightly smaller than males.

    Body

    Abys are long, slim, and muscular. Their slender legs are ideal for running and jumping. Their tails are long and thin. Their short, thick fur is soft and shiny.

    An Aby’s head is wedge-shaped. Its ears are large, pointed, and alert. An Aby’s large eyes can be green, gold, copper, or hazel. The eyes have a thin, dark ring around the eyelids.

    Abys have muscular, lean bodies.

    Colors

    The original Abyssinian coat color was ruddy. This coat is dark brown with black ticking. Over the years, breeders have developed other colors. Red Abys have orange-red fur with brown ticking. Blue Abys are light blue-gray with darker blue-gray ticking. Fawn Abys have light pink-beige fur with brown ticking.

    Breeders also have developed silver, chocolate, and lilac Abys. Silver Abys have silver coats with black ticking. Chocolate Abys are a medium brown color with black ticking. Lilac Abys have pink-gray coats with darker pink-gray ticking. These colors are rare. Abyssinians of these colors can’t compete in most cat shows.

    Red Aby

    FUN FACT

    Many Abys seem to enjoy water. They may play with water that drips from faucets or even jump in a filled bathtub!

    Other features can prevent an Abyssinian from being exhibited in cat shows. One is white fur on any part of the body except around the nose, chin, and upper throat. Another is a reverse ticking pattern in the coat. Cats with this ticking pattern have darker coats with lighter ticking. But Abyssinians that are not of show quality still make good pets.

    Personality

    Abyssinians’ wild look and friendly personality makes them great additions to many families.

    Abyssinians are one of the most active, sociable cat breeds. Some people say the Aby’s personality is more like a dog than a cat. Some Abys even learn to walk on leashes, do tricks, and play fetch or other games.

    Abys are always curious about their surroundings. When the doorbell rings, they run to see who is there. If their owners are doing something, they want to be right in the middle of it.

    Abys may be active and playful, but their meows are soft and low.

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