Large domestic house cats that are loved worldwide

There are a number of large domestic cat breeds which make excellent pets - AND... there is a difference between a large cat breed and a fat cat! Cats are wonderful creatures and have become very popular as pets all around the world - especially in the United States.  In fact, most people who keep cats as their pets consider them a part of their family rather than just a pet!  Today, house cats are available in various sizes and many different breeds. Some people prefer small cats while others are drawn to the large-sized, domesticated versions. It is important to know the important characteristics of a particular breed of cat before making it a pet! Here are some of the most loved and adored, large, domesticated cat breeds that are highly popular among various cat lovers around the world.

The Ragamuffin: The Ragamuffin is one of most popular jumbo-sized domesticated cat breeds around the world. In this breed of cat the males weigh between 15 to 20 pounds while the females weigh between 10 to 15 pounds. Ragamuffins have become popular among cat lovers mainly due to their sweet and friendly nature apart from the beautiful rabbit-like fur. These cats take almost a year to mature completely but even a kitten of 4-5 months is quiet adorable.

The Maine Coon: The Maine Coon is originally from the state of Maine in USA. In fact it is the official state cat of Maine. It is another large domesticated cat breed popular among cat lovers as pets. The male Maine Coon can weigh between 13 to 18 pounds while the female can weigh between 8 and 12 pounds.

The Ocicat: The Ocicat is another large domesticated cat breed with great popularity as a pet. The breed looks a lot like a wild cat but has no 'wild' characteristics. Ocicats are highly energetic and lively cats and are popular for being one of the most active and agile cat breeds around the world.  The average weight of an Ocicat is about 12 pounds.

The Turkish Van: The Turkish Van is a large domestic cat breed with semi-long hair and big and slim body. A typical Turkish Van is a reasonably long cat with its back legs longer and stronger compared to its front legs. This cat has a haired and water-resistant coat which is reasonably thick in winter and soft like the fur of rabbit. During the summer months the cat sheds off most of its thick coat. The female Turkish Van weighs between 12 to 14 pounds while the male weighs between 14-16 pounds.

Pixie Bobs: Pixie Bobs is another wonderful domestic cat which is preferred as a pet. It has striking similarities with the North American Bobcat but has also its own unique characteristics. The male Pixie Bobs weighs about 18 pounds while the female weighs about 14 pounds. This cat has a strong and stocky body and is the only cat recognized by The International Cat Association (TICA). This cat has six to seven toes on each of its foot.

These are the most popular domestic cat breeds for cat lovers. It is vital that we gain crucial knowledge about a particular cat breed before we decide on taking it as a pet. This will make things a lot easier both for us and our cat and help us care for our pet in a loving and efficient manner.

After 5 years on the run, Willow (the mystery cat) finally cashes in her chip

A now-famous calico cat named Willow, who disappeared from a home near the Rocky Mountains five years ago, was found on Wednesday on a Manhattan street and will soon be returned to her family, where two of the three children and one of the two dogs may remember her.  How she got to New York, more than 1,800 miles away, and the kind of life she lived in the city are mysteries.  But thanks to a microchip that was implanted when she was a kitten, Willow will be reunited in Boulder, Colo., with her owners, the Squireses, who had long ago given up hope.

“There are tons of coyotes around here, and owls,” Jamie Squires said. “We put out the ‘lost cat’ posters and the Craigslist thing, but we actually thought she’d been eaten by coyotes.”

Ms. Squires said she and her husband, Chris, were shocked when they received a call about Willow on Wednesday from Animal Care and Control, which runs New York City’s animal rescue and shelter system. Ms. Squires said that when they saw a picture of the cat, they knew it was Willow.  Willow was found on East 20th Street by a man who took her to a shelter, and Julie Bank, executive director of Animal Care, said the microchip led to the Squires family.

“All our pets are microchipped,” Ms. Squires said. “If I could microchip my kids, I would.”


Ah, but is this tale entirely true? The first story is from the New York Times. But several days later, the New York Post had this to say:  The truth behind Willow the cat’s five-year journey from Colorado to Manhattan may not be quite the furry adventure tale it’s been cracked up to be.  She didn’t walk or hitchhike the 1,800 miles from her Boulder home to the Big Apple, it seems, but may instead have simply been scooped up by a New Yorker on a ski vacation and flown back to his or her home in Brooklyn.

“While in Brooklyn, she was loved and very spoiled ... She’s had quite an adventure, but there’s no great mystery behind her travels,” an anonymous person who once cat-sat the calico told the Web site Gothamist.  According to this account, which city officials are not sure they believe, a Colorado vet turned up no record of her original owners and didn’t scan for her implanted microchip. But when the cat was scanned at the city’s Animal Care and Control shelter, her Colorado owners turned up in the database.  After years with the cat, the new owner chose to turn the pet in to the shelter because he or she traveled a great deal and was “unable to give her all the time and attention she deserves,” the writer said.

At any rate, there was a 'miracle' here - i.e. the miracle of modern science!