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Simply having a few of the characteristics of a known breed does not mean that a cat is of that particular breed. Not all large longhaired cats are Maine Coons, not all cats with color restricted to its points are Siamese. These are physical traits that many cats share across species, breed and non-breed alike.
Sometimes people confuse a physical characteristic with a breed. For example, a calico is not a breed, but a color pattern. Polydactilism (having extra toes) is a physical variation, not a breed.
Each breed has a description that describes what an ideal cat of that breed would look like. It specifies characteristics such as the head shape, ear size and placement, eye color and shape, coat color, coat length and texture, body shape and size. This breed description also states what non-conforming traits may be allowed (such as a non-visible tail kink in some breeds) and what are disqualifying faults (incorrect color, a patch of white at the throat).
Many breeds are known as "Natural Breeds" - They have been with us since man began defining differences in cats. Their characteristics may have changed or evolved over time, but the essence of the breed has remained the same. Persians, Abyssinans, Siamese, Russian Blues, Turkish Angoras are but a few of the natural breeds.
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