CubaPLUS Magazine

Today is February 20 and the world celebrates a new International Cat Day, one of the most charismatic so-called domestic animals on Earth, which has even been worshiped and venerated since time immemorial, as the ancient Egyptians andcountries of the formerly called Far East.

The date of February 20, accepted by several nations, pays homage to Socks the cat, belonging to US President Bill Clinton, who died by pious euthanasia on that date in 2009, to avoid the bloody suffering caused by cancer that spread as diagnosed. They say that the feline had been very popular since his arrival at the White House, and the entire country had visualized him as an occasional attendee of some very high-level public events.

How nice, the poor thing. But that is not the only date dedicated to these captivating and even eccentric cats, with an independent life, a hunting spirit and never faithful to their masters like dogs.

Also on August 8, in the stage of greatest fertility of these animals in the northern hemisphere, another International Day dedicated to them is celebrated, at the proposal of a scientist interested in the survival of the species and the education of humans on a topicso sensitive.

In the world there are very famous species, named by the country of origin, although they are already widely spread on a planetary level, with the appearance of new versions and genetic changes.The most famous breeds are headed by the Persian cats, medium or large, with beautiful fur and very homely, followed by the Russian Blue, the Siamese, the Turkish Angora, the Siberian, the Maine Coon (American) and the Bengali, all of themlooked almost like legend.

In Cuba, cats are highly appreciated and many families and children, even grandparents and grandmothers, prefer them in their homes as pets, where they are very spoiled. We will not talk about the isolated people who are prejudiced against them, especially those of black color, nor the animal abusers who sometimes appear, as everywhere, but receive criticism and massive disapproval from everyone.

The Cuban Association of Cat Fanciers (ACAG), with affiliates throughout the country, has reported that the presence of nine breeds is recognized on the island, among which the Persians, Bengalis, Siamese, Balinese, Orientals and a new one stand out.most recently classified: the Cuban Blue Cat (2011).

ACAG executives reported that it is a beautiful breed, native to our land, characterized by short or long fur, bluish-grey with silver veins, robust and strong in appearance. It is unequivocally one of the blue cats on the planet, arose spontaneously, with very little human participation, but from now on it will be managed with the necessary scientific requirements to guarantee its survival and reproduction.

It has the advantages of the great diversity of its genetic potential, lacking inbreeding, that is, not reproduced by abundant crossing with relatives. A beauty is our Cuban Blue Cat.