Let’s start with an observation: how often, in an ordinary conversation between friends or acquaintances, does the statement “I got a cat” prompt the question “Oh yes? What breed?”

Now picture the same situation with the word “cat” replaced by “dog”. We can all agree that the likelihood of hearing “What breed?” goes up, and by quite a lot.

So why does the concept of breed struggle to enter common sense when it comes to cats, but not dogs?

One might think this has deep historical roots, stemming from the fact that dogs have always been domesticated to do “jobs.” There are hunting dogs, guard dogs, herding dogs, rescue dogs, guide dogs for the blind, assistance dogs for people with disabilities, police dogs, truffle dogs, and so on and so forth. For this reason, the different breeds were studied in depth, and once their characteristics had been verified, they were assigned to one task or another.

The same thing did not happen with cats, since they were all mousers of equal standing.

For us, people of the 2020s, what use is the concept of breed? When it comes to looks, we all agree: whether we like it or not, we see it at a glance. But is the concept of breed still a viable one?

In our opinion it is, and there are two main reasons:

If you know thoroughly the type of cat you are about to get, you know whether or not you are able to provide what it needs;
If your home has physical limitations, or the people living in it have different needs, you can choose the cat that will do well in that living environment.

So, with one eye on the animal’s welfare and one on the dynamics of living together as a family, knowing the breed (that is, getting in touch with someone who knows it well) will reassure you about the choice you are making and give you information on any drawbacks or difficulties.

The classic example: the cat I want to get will have free access to the garden. I won’t choose a Sphynx or an all-white cat, which could get sunburned if they fall asleep in the sun.

Another example: I already have mixed-breed cats at home, so I’ll choose a cat that gets acquainted easily with others of its kind, certainly not a Turkish Van!

Knowing the particular traits of a breed does not guarantee success in introducing the cat or in living together, but it means starting off on the right foot to make the best choice, taking into account your own circumstances, especially those that cannot be changed. If you cannot stop your cat from going out into the garden, then it is better to choose a very lazy, sedentary cat. If a family has small children, then a Maine Coon is perfect, since it can play without bringing out its claws.

What do we know about non-pedigree cats? That we love them very much for their “felinity,” but nothing more.