Planetfurry BBS

Cateagle · Posted: Fri Feb 07, 2003 11:38 am Post subject: A Target for Purists

If recent results of genetic studies in our world read across, maine coon cats like Lee Evans and Victoria Maine may well be targeted by Purists despite being a distinct breed.

A comparison of genetic sequences in our world show that Maine Coon cats are strongly related to Norwegian Forest cats and are a cross, that now breeds true, between them and a now-extinct feline breed or species. Apparently a number of Norwegian Forest cats got off the boat in Vinland and refused to get back in. Laughing

Now, if this carries over to the furry universe, Maine Coon cats would be a hybrid breed descended from when Viking Norwegian Forest cats and native cats mixed, rather thoroughly at that, and, as such, could definitely be targeted by Purists. They might be especially targeted because they make a good case that mixing is good, not bad.

Thoughtfully,
Cateagle

Nameless · Posted: Fri Feb 07, 2003 11:56 am Post subject:

In that respect, what is the big difference between them and dogs. As far as the different breeds of dogs go?

Cateagle · Posted: Fri Feb 07, 2003 12:01 pm Post subject:

Tygon · Posted: Fri Feb 07, 2003 12:22 pm Post subject:

Hmmm... very interesting...

I guess the question is how strong the Maine Coon Cat population is. Hybrids are a minority were as Maine Coon Cats are now an own race. If there are too much of them Purist can't attack them because it would mean to fight a distinct part of the population. Only really extreme Purists would do such a genocide.

Cateagle · Posted: Fri Feb 07, 2003 12:56 pm Post subject:

Nameless · Posted: Fri Feb 07, 2003 1:14 pm Post subject:

If they start targeting a breed that may or may not be called it's own species, then lots of furs of similar breeds (dogs) might also feel threatened...

Cateagle · Posted: Fri Feb 07, 2003 2:27 pm Post subject:

Kinsfire · Posted: Fri Feb 07, 2003 7:02 pm Post subject:

Galadrion · Posted: Sat Feb 08, 2003 6:12 pm Post subject:

<Grin> For some reason, German Sheppards don't seem to fare well against cats in general... I've actually been witness on two occasions to this sort of matchup, and heard personal accounts of others from those I trust; in no case does the canine actually come out of it with the best side of the encounter.

Now, to be fair, the two encounters I saw (different dogs, and, as will be obvious, different cats) were... well, let's just say the dogs were outmatched from the start. In one case, the Sheppard spotted the Siamese at the end of a long hall and did a galloping charge up said hall, whereupon Van (the Siamese) glared, arched, and hissed. Brakes were applied, but loose rug on tile affords little purchase - despite heroic effort, Sam kept closing fast. Van swatted him once, then chased the interloper from his home...

The other case was even more of a mismatch. Neighborhood G.S. with a rep as a cat-killer ran across a friend's cat - misnamed "Nermal" for his looks, but probably outweighing Garfield... and seriously out-attituding him. Twenty-two pounds of bad attitude with built-in weaponry is just not going to run from a German Sheppard, no matter what kind of reputation the dog carries. The dog walked carefully, from then on...