Domestic Cat - How a Cat Breed Conquered the World Without Being One

When we talk about cats, we probably all picture pretty much the same thing - and yet something quite different, too. For some, a cat is simply an animal. Others remember the special house tiger at grandma and grandpa's, back in their childhood. Many automatically think of their beloved furball at home, with all its particular quirks. And some pull out their phone and enthusiastically show photos the moment cats come up in conversation (…okay, we admit it, we at LucyBalu do that a lot). There are even said to be people who don't like cats - you probably won't show them any photos.

As you can see - however you talk about cats - it never gets boring. Just like our favourite pets themselves, reactions to cats are entirely individual.

An endless amount has already been written about cats. We now know they originally came from warmer regions, and that they most likely all descend from a handful of "ancestral mothers". Cats are considered loners, almost aloof individualists, and impossible to train. For a long time, rumours also persisted - that cats are more attached to their home than to their owner, that they barely form bonds - and even among many cat experts, they're seen as fairly unpredictable.
Perhaps it's no surprise, then, that pedigree cats are so highly valued by many owners. Here, people hope for more "reliability", since breeds are bred according to a specific standard and particular traits. And yet - pedigree cats make up only a small part of all cats kept at home. In Germany, barely a third of all cats can be assigned to a specific breed. Because the "breed" that is kept, loved, fed and entertained most often isn't actually a breed at all - the domestic cat! In other countries, the share is even higher. The domestic cat is a wild mix of everything there is. It comes in every colour, many shapes, and even more personalities. Whether tabby, solid-coloured, tri-coloured or spotted - the coat alone shows enormous variety. And today, we're focusing on this breed that isn't one.

Colloquially, our domestic cat is almost always referred to as a European Shorthair. The abbreviation "ESH" pops up practically everywhere - in articles, at the vet, and in classified ads online. That's not entirely accurate, though, because the European Shorthair is in fact a real breed, also bred to specific standards. Our domestic cat, on the other hand, is truly one of a kind. When a female cat has kittens, it's entirely possible that not one of the six even remotely resembles another - and that's not even mentioning personality. From personal experience, the author of this article can confirm: a single litter of kittens can produce loners, cuddlers, shy ones, indoor cats and freedom-lovers alike - anything is possible. So when you bring home a kitten like that, there's really only one thing you know for sure - that you know nothing. Here on the team, we still fondly remember a photo shoot from LucyBalu's very early days - we had three young kittens from one litter as our models. Our vet was there to make sure everything stayed stress-free and kitten-safe. Two of the babies played together with total abandon, wanting to explore and nibble on everything, curious and cheeky. The little female was a bit bolder than her more cautious brother. And the second tom? He didn't spare his siblings or the camera a single minute of attention. He sat by the window and wanted out. Alone! You cannot always get what you want?

If we're honest, that's exactly what fascinates so many of us most about cats. The fact that you never quite know what you're getting. That they're individual, independent creatures whose quirks you still can't fully list even after years of living together.
So if you're considering getting a cat, let us tell you this - with a domestic cat, you really can't go wrong - as long as you let yourself be surprised and grow alongside your cat.

Still, it's of course important to get to know the cat a little before it moves in. There are a few options for that. At an animal shelter, for instance, the caretakers know their animals inside and out - and can often tell within a few minutes whether it's a match, or whether that particular temperament isn't right for your family. If you're taking on a cat from friends or relatives, the character of your new family member is likely already familiar to you, too.

But what if the cat just moves in on its own? More than 15 percent of all cats aren't actually "acquired" at all - they simply wander up to their future owners and never leave again. What then? In that case, you should simply trust that domestic cats pretty much always know what they want. And if YOU are what they want, that's one of the biggest compliments a cat can pay you.
We simply wish you lots of joy and a wonderful life with your domestic cat - one thing's for sure, it won't be boring!