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Anurous

A term used to describe a tailless cat.

Breeches

Longer, thicker hair on the back of the upper third of the hind legs.

Breed True

To produce a kitten exactly the same as the parents.

Brush

A bushy or plume-like tail of a longhaired cat.

Cat Fancy

A term that refers to pedigree cats and their breeding, and to cat clubs and societies.

Characteristics

Features defined by a standard of points that are used to judge a cat.

Cobby

Short and sturdy on low legs.

Cross-breed

The combination of two pedigree varieties.

Dense

A thick, full coat.

Dome

A rounded forehead.

Frill

The fur around the head that is brushed up to form a frame for the cat's face.

Genotype

The constitution of an animal as described by its genes rather than its appearance.

Ghost markings

Faint tabby markings seen in some solid colored cats, especially when the cats are kittens.

Haw

A transparent, third eyelid at the inner side of the eye that keeps the eye clean and moist.

Kitten

A cat up to the age of 9 month in Britain or 8 months in the United States.

Longhairs

A term for referring to all cats with long fur.

Mittens

The pure white feet of certain cats.

Muzzle

The projecting jaw and nose of the cat.

Patched

A coat coloration that has patches of different colors, for example: a Calico cat or a Toroiseshell and While cat.

Pedigree

A cat having at least three generations of pure breeding.

Persians

A breed of cats with long fur.

Phenotype

A term relating to the appearance of an animal as opposed to its genetic makeup.

Polydactyl

The situation where a cat has more toes than normal on one or more feet. 5 toes are normal for the front feet; 4 toes are normal for the back feet.

Queen

A female cat used for breeding.

Rumpy

A completely tailless Manx Cat.

Self

A cat's coat which has the same color all over.

Snub

The short noses seen in some of the longhaired varieties.

Spur

The white area seen on the back of the feet in Birmans.

Squint

Cross-eyed, with the eyes placed so that they seem to look permanently at the nose.

Standard

A description of what is required for a particular variety.

Stumpy

A Manx cat having a stump of a tail.

Tufts

Hair growing from the ears or between the toes.

Whip

A long, thin tapering tail. Seen in the Siamese, for example.