My first Publication CC April Edition-19-High Resolution | Page 31

THE MEXICAN HAIRLESS CAT
S
urely it has been an exotic specie, but as a child I failed to
keep it under the category of cats, because I could never fi t it
in my cognitive map of what we were taught of a Cat as a Child!
It was not furry,it did not have a cute smile, was Not fl uff y. So
yes, you can see my obvious reasons for calling it a ‘scary weird
thing’but not a cat. No Off ence to those who like this cat. I was
just a child. Anyway, now I appreciate its uniqueness. Aztec cat
or the New Mexican Hairless, was a purported breed of cats, fi rst
documented in 1902 by Mr. E.J.Shinick, who owned a pair of
hairless cats.
Th ese cats were novelties at that time because of their lack of a
coat (fur), although they grew light fur along the back and tail in
winters. Th ese cats also had long whiskers and eyebrows. Because
they had no coat, they lost more body heat than the coated cats.
Th is made them warm to touch, as well as heat-seeking. Th ey are
well documented in media reports in the early 20th Century. In
1902, a couple from New Mexico received two hairless cats from
local Pueblo Indians. Th ese were purportedly the last survivors
of an ancient Aztec breed of cat.  
Th e Sumxu, is a Chinese cat found with dropped down ears.
Th is breed of cat is also given for its lop ears, such droop-eared
cat or hanging-ear cat, referring to its characteristic feature of
pendulous ears. It was considered to be rather mythical because
of its features like long hair and lop ears. Now it is thought to be
an extinct type ( if it ever actually existed). Th e descriptions are
based on reports from travellers, on a live specimen reportedly
taken to Hamburg by a sailor, and on a taxidermy specimen
exhibited in Germany. Th e last reported Chinese lop-eared cat
was in 1938. It is believed by some to have been a mutation
similar to that found in the Scottish Fold. Th e name Sumxu,
originally described the yellow-throated marten, but a series
of mistranslations caused the name to be applied to the alleged
cat or cat-like animal. Th e white lop-eared cat, was said to be
found in a northern region of the country. Later authors, copying
and translating from early natural histories, confl ated the two
unfamiliar animals. I wish, I could own one. I would have kept it
like a Queen or a King!
THE CHANTILLY-TIFFANY,]:
A
lso known as the  Chantilly  or the  Foreign Longhair, is a
bold beautiful cat with a thick coat and stylish hair. You
can take it to the parlour once a while and get its hair done in the
image of whichever actress or actor you like. Th at is one thing I
like about this cat- the numerous hair styles it can confi dently
carry. Th is breed originated in North America,has a semi-
foreign body style and a full semi-long coat. Th e coat is silky,
soft and smooth; the lack of undercoat usually makes grooming
simpler than that of cats with an undercoat. It is slow to mature
and usually does not come into its full stature until about two
years old. Th e eye color of the feline intensifi es with age. Th e
Chantilly was thought extinct until the 1960s when two of these
cats appeared during an estate sale
April 2019 • Vol. XII • Issue 4 • Noida
31
| Creature Companion