I hate to be "that guy" but it's a stupid pet peeve of mine when people call something a breed when it isn't. I know it's not in the intention of people in this thread, but this is what happens when you work with animals for a living and certain things grow to bug me.
1. Tabby, tortoiseshell, calico, tuxedo, etc, aren't breeds of cat. They're colours and patterns, with many of them also being seen in purebreds (as a side-note, all non-sterile calicoes and torties are female, so that wouldn't work lol). Most cats in the world are mixed or of unknown ancestry, so people usually just call them "domestics" (like "domestic shorthair" and "domestic longhair"). Also, the random brown tabby you got at the shelter is most likely not a $2000 Bengal cat (a client at my clinic insists despite no rosettes and just looking like your typical brown moggie. Oy)
2. Cockapoos, Labradoodles, etc are mixed breeds, and technically not breeds. The name is usually put on either as a cute name, or to make money (often charging more than they should). As a side note, not all poodle mixes are hypoallergenic (they're actually starting to phase them out as guide dogs because most inherit the Golden or Lab coat and poodles are just so bouncy). Not bashing the mutts, though a name does not a breed make.
3. Caution to anyone who looks at "miniature", "toy", "teacup", etc, before a breed name (like in the Miniature Bulldog posted above). It's often a money-making scam done at the expense of the dog's health, costing outlandish money (the 2 grand seems a lot, though I know Bulldogs in general are more costly due to requiring C-sections). I remember seeing a "Teacup Maltese" that cost thousands. She came from one of those Korean Puppy Boutiques, and the owner had no qualms when she (and I quote) saw 200 dogs in the kennel. That dog at 6 months was the size of an 8 week old Maltese.
Thank you,
Your tired neighbourhood veterinary technician
Unkillable Cat said:
The first was supposed to be a ragdoll, which wouldn't stop growing until it was clear he was a Maine Coon
What? That doesn't make any sense. Ragdolls and Maine Coons are nothing alike, so you would know from a young age whether a cat was a Ragdoll or Maine Coon (namely colour. Ragdolls are pointed cats, meaning they're white as kittens and then become darker with age. Maine Coons are usually a different body shape, colour, and in general and have a different length and texture of coat. Very different breeds and difficult to mix up). If you're talking about size alone, Ragdolls are one of the biggest breeds of cat and can go to roughly the size of a Maine Coon (males can get to around 20 lbs, females closer to 15).
OT: Since I've gone long enough with my whining, I'll just be biased and say Ragdolls are my favourite cat breed. I own one, and he turned 10 in October.
As for dogs, I'm not picky. I don't really like the brachycephalic (pug-nosed) breeds for their appearance and health, but other than that I like many breeds without a clear favourite. Sighthounds (Greyhound-like breeds) I have a soft spot for, but I also like German Shepherds, Schnauzers, Poodles, among others.
