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What is a breed? The definition, what a breed in pedigreed
cats is, is not self-evident and easy, as one is used to read in
zoology.
When searching in the documents of various organization, it is
quite surprising that some do not give a definition, what a breed is
in their organization.
CFA gives the following definition:
"A breed is a group of domestic cats (subspecies felis catus)
that the governing body of CFA has agreed to recognize as such. A
breed must have distinguishing features that set it apart from all
other breeds."
From the website
http://www.cfa.org/breeds/breed-definition.html.
TICA gives the following definition:
"31.1 The word "cat" as used in these rules governing registration
shall be
understood as referring to any domestic feline (Felis domesticus)
regardless of age or gender. Non-domestic felines will be specifically
designated when appropriate.
31.2 The word "breed" shall be defined as a sub-population of cats
which differ from other cats with respect to certain genetically
determined characteristics which all members of the defined
sub-population share in common. These characteristics are described in
the written "standard" for the breed."
From Registration Rules Revised 05/01/05:
http://www.tica.org/binary/pdf/publications/registration_rules.pdf.
A breed or a color group?
When looking, which "breeds" are recognized in various
organizations, one can see that also color groups are called a breed
and given its own breed code, although they share the same standard.
Some examples:
Persians with Siamese points
These are often called Colorpoint or Himalayan.
But, be careful, the term 'Colorpoint' cannot be attributed
unambiguously to a certain group.
In some organizations Persians with Siamese points are a color
group within the Persians:
 | In CFA this group is called Himalayan Division. |
| In FIFe and in GCCF the group is called Colourpoint. |
| In LOOF the group is called Catégorie colourpoint. |
In other organizations Persians with Siamese points are a separate
breed with its own breed code:
| In TICA the breed is called Himalayan in the Persian Breed Group. |
| In AACE and in ACFA the breed is also called Himalayan. |
Siamese = Siamese?
This is an interesting breed. One could believe that all Siamese
are called Siamese, because they share the same standard. But, that is
not the case.
| In CFA Siamese are only the Siamese in the four basic colors, seal,
blue, chocolate and lilac.
| All other Siamese, whose points have a different color, have
the breed name
Colorpoint Shorthair. But be careful: Colorpoint Shorthair are
without white. |
| Pointed and White is a color group, it is the
Bi-Color Color Class in the Orientals (= Oriental Shorthair!). |
| It is confusing, that the pointed color group is called
Himalayan Division in Persians, but in Orientals a Division
is the Shorthair Division and the Longhair Division, and the color
group is called a Color Class. |
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| In TICA all Siamese are called Siamese.
Siamese and Orientals are in the so called Siamese Breed
Group, because they share the same standard. And this system is
logic in any way. |
| In FIFe Siamese are only those Siamese having no white.
| Siamese with white are their own breed, called Seychellois.
Confusing! |
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| In LOOF Siamese are called Siamese. If the have white or not, if
only the four basic colors or not, if tabby point or not, they all
are called Siamese. |
This confusion does also exist in Balinese, of course, where
Balinese is not equal with Balinese.
Burmese = Burmese?
Not at all!
This breed is an example, which effects political reasons and
reasons based on show politics may have on breeds. One might believe,
a cat breed is a cat breed, regardless in which organization or in
which region it is registered or exhibited.
| In CFA there are two breeds of Burmese, one called Burmese, the
other one called European Burmese. |
| In CCA there are two breeds of Burmese, one called Burmese, the
other one called Foreign Burmese. |
| In LOOF there is the breed Burmese Americain and the breed
Burmese Anglais, where the English Burmese also may have a tabby
pattern or may be a smoke Burmese.
| It is confusing, that the Burmese Anglais as well as the Asian
are called 'variété de Burmese Européen'. The difference is not
evident for the non-expert. The difference is based on genetic
reasons: Burmese Anglais have cbcb, Asian
have C-, that means, Burmese Anglais have Points (= Burmese points), Asian
do not have points. |
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| In FIFe there exist only Burmese, but many American Burmese have
been imported, which had been registered as Burmese.
If someone from FIFe exports a Burmese, which also has American
Burmese in its pedigree, to a CFA-breeder, it might become
difficult. Or, may be, not? |
Result: The question, what a breed is, remains unanswered.
| A breed is not a breed within the same organization, although
the standard is the same. |
| A color group is sometimes called a breed, depending, in which
organization the group is registered. |
| Logical reasons based on genetics or based on any logical
reasons according to of Kant's logic, cannot be deducted in various
organizations. |
| What is called a breed in zoology, is not valid for cat
organizations. |
| Breeds with long coat and breeds with short coat are often
differently named and have different breed codes, although they
share the same standard, except their coat length (and eventually
their coat texture). |
| What is called a breed in one organization, might be named with
a different name in another organization or even might be only a
color group there. |
| One might get the impression, that political reasons, which are
often also an indicator for a certain conservativism, are important,
what is called a breed and what not. And also show politics seem to
have an influence, how a breed is called or if a color group has got
its own breed name. |
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