Tom, who has been catching mice for 80 years, is he British or Russian?

Do you still remember the cat that brought us endless joy in our childhood? The unlucky cat that was always busy trying to catch mice but always ended up being fooled by their cleverness , either being teased by mice or ridiculed by the hostess?

GIF | Tom and Jerry

Hey, I'm talking about Tom (｡◝ᴗ◜｡)

Classic animated pictures will be passed down forever | "Tom and Jerry"

Tom the Cat rarely stays in cat shape (sure) | Tom and Jerry

The prototype of Tom Cat has always been a mystery. According to Wikipedia, the prototype is the Russian Blue Cat . Many netizens support this view: Tom has a slender figure, blue fur with gray, and green eyes, which is consistent with the appearance of a Russian Blue Cat; however, Tom's white hair also makes many netizens dissatisfied: This is clearly a British Shorthair blue and white !

Both sides have their own opinions, and both have their own reasons. Let's analyze these cats carefully to see who Tom's true identity is closer to.

Elegant "Angel" Cat: Russian Blue

The first contestant is the Russian Blue cat. In reality, if you are looking for a gentle, quiet and smart cat, then the Russian Blue cat will suit your taste. It has a slender and elegant figure, and its green and affectionate eyes seem to be able to look into your heart. (Objectively speaking, "smart" can barely be compared to Tom, but quiet and gentle emmm...)

The maximum score for each item is 10 points. This level of noise does not seem to match Tom. | https://www.petfinder.com/cat-breeds/Russian-Blue

The Russian Blue cat is an ancient natural breed, and its short, dense fur is the hallmark of the Russian breed. Cats that look very similar to it can still be found in the high-altitude regions of Russia.

Russian Blue cats were once called " Angel Cats " because the Russian port of Arkhangelsk, where they originated, was also called the "Angel" port, and because Russian folklore believed that they had healing powers and brought good luck , just like angels. Therefore, pictures or carvings containing Russian Blue cats were once given as gifts to brides as a blessing.

Russian Blue Cat Like an Angel | spartacusandmarie / Pixabay

Regarding the development history of the Russian Blue Cat, a more reliable theory is that in the 1860s, Russian sailors brought them from the Achaian Islands to Great Britain and Northern Europe. In 1875, the breed first appeared in the records of the Crystal Palace in the UK under the name of the Archean Blue Cat .

Initially they were categorized with other short-haired blue cats until they were given their own breed classification in 1912. From 1917 to 1948 they were called Exotic Blues , but eventually became known as Russian Blues.

Emerald eyes | Nickolas Titkov / Wikimedia Commons

After World War II, the breed was mainly developed in the United Kingdom and Scandinavia. Due to the sharp decline in the number of Russian Blue cats after the war, breeders crossbred them with Siamese cats.

Although Russian Blue cats had arrived in the United States before the war, it was after the war that American breeders combined the Russian Blue cat bloodlines from Britain and Scandinavia to breed the Russian Blue cat that is common today.

Unique appearance

Since it originated in cold Russia, of course it has to take cold-resistant measures. The Russian Blue Cat has a gorgeous double coat . The inner layer of fur is soft and dense, like velvet, which keeps the cat warm. The outer layer of short fur shines with a silver glow, and is paired with almond-shaped green eyes (the only color) that sparkle, making it indescribably noble and elegant.

Before the age of one, the eyes of Russian Blue cats are a transitional color from yellow to green , and when they reach adulthood, they will completely turn into emerald green. This is also a typical feature of Russian Blue cats.

The breed has well-developed whisker pads that give it a smiling look, long limbs and a graceful body, and large, fairly pointed ears that indicate a constant alertness.

Tom in the animation has a slender figure, pointy ears and green eyes , which are more consistent with the Russian Blue cat.

Russian Blue cat, watch its eyes | JDoug Miller / Wikimedia Commons

Tom's eye color matches the eye characteristics of a young Russian Blue cat | Tom and Jerry

Sometimes their tails have some almost imperceptible dark markings, and some kittens are born with faint tiger-like patterns , but as the cats mature, these patterns gradually disappear and are replaced by shiny silver-blue fur (the only color) . This has become one of the main arguments against Tom being a Russian Blue cat.

Kittens | ruskis / Wikimedia Commons

Curious and peaceful little angel

The Russian Blue cat is a curious and peaceful animal, known for its friendliness , intelligence and reserve , and is sensitive to human emotions. They have a quick-witted brain, enjoy playing with a variety of toys, and like most cats, love to jump and climb . A large sunny windowsill is a perfect match for the Russian Blue cat.

Russian Blue cats are generally considered a quiet breed, and they rarely make any noise. But there are always exceptions , and sometimes they can be fierce hunters, catching rodents, birds, small mammals such as rabbits, or reptiles. (Tom: My life is an exception every day)

Quiet little princess | smarko / Pixabay

One of Tom's few elegant images | Tom and Jerry

If you want a clingy master, then the Russian Blue cat is not for you . Because they are affectionate but not clingy , they will not follow you from one room to another, and will not respond to your calls too much. When there are guests at home, they will not greet them enthusiastically, but will only leave a shy silver-blue back. Compared with young children, they prefer older children who will not rub them or scare them and gentle dogs ~

Russian Blue cats can sometimes display a deep and reserved temperament. While they can't be completely ignored, they don't mind you being out for long periods of time to earn cat food, litter, and toys for them.

They also don't like you touching the money you earn for them (wrong) | Giphy

They like a stable and organized life. If you forget to prepare dinner for them or disrupt their life plans, please be prepared to accept complaints from them.

How to take care of him?

The Russian Blue is a small to medium sized cat, weighing an average of 2 to 7 kg, with a gestation period of approximately 64 days and an average litter size of three cubs.

Five-week-old Russian Blue cat | Tigeresse / Wikipedia Commons

They need weekly brushing and regular cleaning of the eyes and ears with a clean damp cloth. Russian Blue cats are happy to enjoy indoor life if they are provided with adequate food and toys.

The Russian Blue cat is a very healthy breed with few genetic problems and is not prone to illness. The average lifespan is 10 to 20 years, and some can even reach 25 years. However, inbreeding may cause some health problems.

People with mild cat allergies have better tolerance for Russian Blue cats. This is because they produce less glycoprotein Fel d 1, which is one of the culprits of cat allergies. At the same time, their thick fur can trap most allergens on the surface of the cat's skin , and only a small amount of allergens will be captured by humans. But this does not mean that people who are allergic to cats can raise them recklessly, because they will still cause allergic reactions, but the degree of allergy is relatively mild.

Five short "blue fat man": British shorthair cat

Next up is contestant number two: the British Shorthair cat .

British shorthair cats are called "blue fat guys" with five shorts . They have three characteristics: a round face, a short neck, and small thick legs (almost all the characteristics that make them look fat, so sad). In addition, their fur is short, dense, and automatically stands up , making them look fatter (in fact, there are long-haired varieties of British shorthair, but they are not as common as short-haired ones). In terms of body shape, the current Tom cat does not look like a British shorthair. However, the Tom in the early animations was rounder, so it is not unreasonable to think of him as a British shorthair.

I heard someone said I was fat? | ThomasWolter / Pixabay

A completely damaged Tom and Jerry video from 1940. It can be seen that Tom was rounder at that time | Tom and Jerry

Historically, the British Shorthair's fur was not as short and dense as it is now. In the past, they were "working cats" in the ancient Roman army , responsible for catching mice in the granary. Their working environment was very humid, and if they were paired with this highly absorbent fur, they would be like living mops.

How did the British shorthair and the Persian cat get their hair so dense and blue ? The offspring of the British shorthair and the Persian cat inherited the blue-gray color and dense hair shape, and people thought this cat was good-looking, so the "fat blue cat" became popular.

Harmless little fat boy | Pixabay

The British Shorthair is a very friendly and gentle cat. It is also smart , can learn some basic games, and can get along well with children . They like to socialize and share their territory with other pets in the house.

In addition, they are not very clingy , and occasionally they will stay in a deserted place and quietly look into the distance. When strangers come, unless they smell danger, the "blue fat man" will not immediately show its aggressive side, on the contrary, they will shyly hide . They are quiet "blue fat men" and are especially suitable for families with elderly people or children.

GIF | Giphy

The Chartres Cat

It is not well known that Russian Blue cats , British Shorthair cats and Chartres cats are collectively known as the "three major blue cats in the world". So how similar are the Chartres cats to Tom cats?

The Chartres cat is between the Russian Blue cat and the British Shorthair cat, with a moderate fatness and thinness . The Chartres cat has been catching mice in France for generations. (Well... at least Tom and the Chartres cat have the same goal in life, but their business ability may be a little different)

At the beginning of the 20th century, Chartres cats lived in France, and their population was still relatively large. Unfortunately, soon after, people gave Chartres cats three hats: "good fur", "delicious meat" and "good mouse catcher" . As a result, the number of Chartres cats surviving in the wild became fewer and fewer, until the outbreak of World War II brought a complete disaster to Chartres cats. After the end of World War II, Chartres cats also disappeared in the wild .

Cats are so cute, how can you eat them! | Pixabay

Fortunately, cat breeders have preserved some of the "sparks" in their hands, saving the Chartre cat from extinction. In the 1970s, the Chartre cat sailed across the ocean from France to the United States. They are very popular in the local area, and in 1987 they were officially recognized by the CFA (The Cat Fanciers' Association, the International Cat Federation), and got the "green card" of cats .

As a domestic pet nowadays, Chartres cats are a good choice. Compared with other cats, Chartres cats are not very fond of meowing, but they love to play . So porcelain bowls, glass vases, etc. must be kept well, otherwise...

Similar to this | Tom and Jerry

The Chartre cat has a good temper and can coexist with children and most small pets. However, the Chartre cat has another identity, that is, the cold death god : when it comes to catching mice, no cat can match it. Wherever it goes, no mouse will survive. So if you have a hamster , for the sake of its life safety, don't get a Chartre cat.

Trees are prone to growing playful cats | Quickndirty / Wikipedia Commons

Since the first Tom and Jerry show in 1940, Tom has been chasing Jerry for more than 80 years.

Art is higher than life, and cartoon characters themselves also have many elements of artistic creation. The prototype of Tom Cat may not be that important, but what is important is that it has never been absent in our childhood memories .

I hope that one day in the future, Tom can catch his dear little mouse.

Love and hate | Tom and Jerry

Author: Ji Wuli, YYYYb

Edit: Thoughts

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