This is a photo of my sister Julie’s family’s athletic cat Peter Pippin in mid-air chasing the ever-elusive orange fuzzy worm. Amazing how far he is off the floor, right!?! I have known people with cats who could jump on top of very high cabinets or pieces of furniture in what seemed like a single bound — just like Superman. I even had a friend whose cat routinely jumped off her second-story balcony and another whose cat was always on her roof jumping off. It really is true that cats have nine lives because of all their high-flying feats, they should be dead already. My childhood cat didn’t jump very high, and he had the bad luck to be going out the door when I accidentally slammed his tail in the door. The bright blue band-aid with white stars stood out against the black fur of his tail but didn’t work very well. The entire tail from the band-aid on down fell off. We called him Stubby after that. So, I guess cats survive to live another day, but maybe not in the best shape. Anyway, let’s find out more about athletic cats.
According to the Dec. 21, 2016 editorial article “12 Athletic Cat Breeds” at be.chewy.com, you might be familiar with your own cat’s acrobatic skills, from leaping tall bookcases in a single bound to pouncing on feet in the middle of the night, but which breeds take the cake when it comes to skills and athleticism? Certified Animal Behavior Consultant Steve Dale names the top sporty cat breeds, along with some tips on how to keep them busy.
When properly socialized, each of the breeds tends to be friendly, outgoing and almost doglike in their personalities, said Dale, who is also co-editor of “Decoding Your Dog” with Dr. Debra Horwitz and Dr. John Ciribassi — the American College of Veterinary Behaviorists authors the book. However, it is essential for these cats to have owners that have enough time and energy to interact with their cat on a daily basis or for them to have companions — like another cat or dog — to stay out of trouble.
Abyssinian
A breed that always seems to have an agenda, Abyssinians move around the home as if they’re headed somewhere important and love having things to do and places to go. This isn’t a cat that runs in circles for fun and doesn’t always enjoy simply relaxing in an owner’s lap. A medium-sized breed with a muscular body, research has shown that cats with naturally lean appearances, short hair and angular faces tend to be more active than their long-haired, larger counterparts. This is certainly true with the Abyssinian, a friendly breed that especially does well with another companion in the home to help wear it out.
Somali
Similar to the Abyssinian in color and activity level, the Somali has longer hair than its counterpart. Curious and playful, Somalis will often greet their owners at the door and tend to be exceptionally friendly, outgoing cats. A breed that loves human interaction and attention, it can be trained to fetch, play games and even walk on a leash. Some owners report their Somalis being able to hold cat food and objects in their paws like a monkey, as they explore their homes from top to bottom.
All breeds on this list, like the Somali, love activities like leash training and even agility as a positive and productive outlet for their energy. They’re also bred to be with their people and enjoy being involved in household activities.
Bengal
Easily recognized by its wild appearance, the Bengal cat also retains its energetic and very active personality from its Asian leopard cat ancestors. Exceedingly intelligent, Bengals need a job to do — almost like a Border collie or Australian shepherd — and like investigating every nook and cranny of a home. With a lush, dense coat that has distinctive spots in a marbled, rosette, horizontal or random pattern, Bengals enjoy the company of their people and will do best with a family that has an active lifestyle and is willing to incorporate their Bengal in their activities around the home. From playing games with your Bengal to enlisting another pet in the home — either a cat or dog — to keep them occupied, it’s important to provide a sporty cat with plenty of outlets for their energy.
Cornish Rex
Called the greyhound of the cat world because of their sleek look and short, single coat, the Cornish Rex is particularly friendly with people and loves learning. A naturally curious breed that can get itself into things around the home and enjoys having fun, the Cornish Rex’s soft, curly coat sheds less than other breeds which may make it suitable for people who have allergies.
According to Wikipedia, the Cornish Rex is a genetic mutation that originated from a litter of kittens born in the 1950s on a farm in Cornwall, UK. One of the kittens, a cream-colored male named Kallibunker, had an extremely unusual, fine and curly coat; he was the first Cornish Rex. The owner then backcrossed Kallibunker to his mother to produce two other curly-coated kittens. The male, Poldhu, sired a female called Lamorna Cove who was later brought to America and crossed with a Siamese, giving the breed their long whippy tails and big ears.
Devon Rex
According to the “12 Athletic Cat Breeds” article, another intelligent, affectionate breed that enjoys nothing more than cuddling up with their people and keeping warm, the Devon Rex is also an active breed but tends to stay out of trouble when its people aren’t at home. With a short, wavy coat that has a washboard-looking appearance, Devon Rexes will shower their people with attention and make tireless playmates.
According to Wikipedia, the first Devon was discovered by Beryl Cox in Buckfastleigh, Devon, UK, in 1959. The breed was initially thought to be linked with the Cornish Rex; however, test mating proved otherwise. The Devon Rex looks similar in appearance to the Cornish Rex but has guard hairs and sheds. The Devon Rex mutation is different from the Cornish Rex mutation in that the Devon has shortened guard hairs, while the Cornish Rex lacks guard hairs altogether. Crosses between Devon and Cornish Rexes are not permitted in pedigrees and matings between them will not produce a cat with short wavy fur.
Egyptian Mau
According to the “12 Athletic Cat Breeds” article, a breed that excels in agility activities for cats, the Egyptian Mau loves to run, jump and play. A long, graceful breed with a unique set of spots, which can come in a variety of shapes and markings, Egyptian Maus are also recognizable by their faces, which have an M-shaped mark on the forehead and two black lines across the cheeks. Known for its even temperament and trainability, the breed is particularly good at fetching items for its owners, which may be a trait passed down from its ancestors who were used to retrieve game.
According to Wikipedia, Historical evidence points to the Mau being an Egyptian breed. The feline genome data published in the Pentascope document shows the Egyptian Mau to be very closely related to the Maine Coon, Korat, and American Turkish Angoras. Egyptian Maus are a relatively rare breed. Fewer than 200 kittens are registered with the Governing Council of the Cat Fancy each year. Not all Mau kittens are registered.
Japanese Bobtail
A medium-sized breed with a slender, athletic build, the Japanese Bobtail is a friendly, intelligent cat that loves being with its people and gets along well with other cats it has been raised with, but may be skeptical of new pets or cats in the home. If you plan to get your Japanese Bobtail a companion to keep it engaged, be sure you properly introduce the cats and socialize your Bobtail with other animals from an early age on. A breed that craves attention and has been known to play in water, the Japanese Bobtail enjoys interacting with children and loves jumping and prancing around the home.
Ocicat
The Ocicat was bred to have a wild look but, unlike the Bengal, has no wild cat ancestry. An incredibly loyal breed that is social with other pets and tends to accept new cats into the home more easily than others, the Ocicat will often use its athletic abilities to jump onto high bookcases or shelves and explore its surroundings. Recognized by its exotic build and distinctive spotted coat, Ocicats are able to learn commands and can be leash-trained to provide an outlet for their energy.
Siamese
Social and outgoing, the Siamese loves human companionship and will happily spend the day chattering away to its owners about what it wants and when. A breed that thrives playing games with other cats, Siamese do well in pairs and are generally happy to spend time in their owner’s lap provided they receive enough regular activity. With large ears, blue eyes and a sleek, slim build, the Siamese has a short coat that’s easy to maintain and comes in four colors: seal, chocolate, blue and lilac point. If left alone too often, the Siamese can get lonely and sad fairly quickly and will be sure to let you know when they’re unhappy.
Balinese
With a fuller coat than its Siamese relatives, Balinese cats are also very active, affectionate and people-oriented. When socialized at a young age, they tend to travel well and excel in agility and leash training. Another chatty breed, Balinese cats love jumping and climbing and plays well with other cats.
Oriental Shorthair
An active, extroverted breed with a naturally high prey drive, the Oriental Shorthair loves playing, especially with toys that it can pounce on. Similar in body type and personality to the Siamese, the Oriental Shorthair differs in that it comes in a wide variety of colors and patterns, including pure white, ebony, chestnut, bi-color and tabby. A breed that loves being the center of attention and may become cranky if ignored, the Oriental is less communicative than the Siamese but will still do best in a home with attentive owners that have multiple pets or are willing to interact with it regularly.
Singapura
The smallest of all cat breeds, the Singapura retains its kitten-like looks and personality throughout its lifetime and loves performing and spending time with people. A social, highly affectionate breed, the Singapura is trusting and devoted and can befriend nearly anyone.
According to Wikipedia, the Singapore Tourist and Promotion Board uses the breed — advertised under the name Kucinta — as a tourism mascot. The name Kucinta is an amalgamation of the Malay words kucing (cat) and cinta (love) and taken from the winning entry in a naming competition. Incidentally, Kucinta also means "The one I love" in Malay. Sculptures of the Singapura can be found by the Singapore River.
Awww! Thanks so much for the Peter Pippin feature! I loved this entry, of course - and now I want to see a Singapuran cat in real life!