Bahrain is a small island just off the east coast of Saudi Arabia in the Persian Gulf which is connected to the mainland by a causeway. Bahrain (or Mamlakat al-Baḥrayn) literally means "Kingdom of the two Seas". Significantly 92 percent of the 257 sq mile area of the island is a flat desert plain, so 'Dilmun' cats have a tough time of it.

The mottled and striped Bahrain Dilmun have very distinctive markings and vary in colour from dark brown, through ginger, lightening to gold and silver. These Bahraini cats were called the 'Dilmun Cat' it is believed after the local ancient name of the Island. They generally appear as slender, elegant tabbies with beautiful silky coats that are said to the feel like a Persian carpet.

'Dilmun' both hardy & friendly

Photograph courtesy of Adele O'Shea

Dilmun cats have managed to adapt over the centuries to accommodate the harsh climatic conditions of Bahrain such as the extreme summer temperatures (max 35 °C /95 °F ) and high humidity in the evening. Also rainfall in Bahrain is minimal and irregular. Presumably they have developed large ears and a short fur allowing them to transpire and dissipate heat from their bodies more easily. It is perhaps not surprising that Dilmuns are generally fond of water (like the Bengal Cat) no doubt due to the cooling effect of drinking and being near water in the extreme heat. Also they are inclined to sleep during the daylight hours and to appear from their shelters revived and lively in the evening [no change there then from the U.K. domestic cats I've seen, Ed]. Of course in the cooler months they do often become more active during the day.

Generally Dilmuns cats are looked upon with disdain in their home land, which is likely due to their opportunistic nature in that they frequent areas of human habitation, where there is a sufficient supply of food (scraps and rodents) and enough shelter. This is unfortunate as the cats of Bahrain are particularly endearing creatures because of their friendly and likable personalities.
Dilmuns are adaptable creatures, able to breed and feed in amongst the roughly built sheltered housing areas of the island. However today with modern commercial development taking place these usual habitats are slowly disappearing due to demolition of old style building and replacement with modern concrete architecture.

Lets hope the Dilmun can survive these changes to their environment.

The result of breeding domestic short haired tabbies to make them resemble a "toy tiger", this breed's creator, Judy Sudgen, has stated that the breed was developed in order to inspire people to care about the conservation of tigers in the wild.

Toyger on the lawn

In 1980 when Judy was looking to clarify the mackerel markings in her two tabby cats, she noticed distinctive markings occurring on the head, an area normally devoid of distinct pattern, and it was this that first inspired the idea of a tiger-like tabby. After importing a tom from the streets of India with noticeable head markings, the quest to develop tiger-like, circular face markings in the cats began. The introduction of the Bengal breed into the gene pool was a move on Sudgen's part to produce a "big cat body".
It was recognized for "Registration only" by The International Cat Association in the early 1990s, and in 2007 its status was upgraded to allow the breed full Championship status. There are several breeders in the United States, three breeders in the UK, and one in Australia working to develop the breed.

With the aid of computer imaging, breeders have been able to develop a prospective model for the desired, final look of the breed. By 2010, breeders hope to have achieved rounded ears, and a wider nosebridge. Smaller eyes, whitened chest and stomach markings, and a cheek ruff are also breed possibilities for the future.

A golden Toyger can fetch £4000 (~ $8000) it's said.

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Link: http://www.manxcats.com/myths.htm

The Cymric is strictly considered by some cat registries to be a long-haired variety of the Manx cat, rather than a separate breed, and except for the length of fur, in all other respects, the two breeds are exactly the same. The name Cymric (pronounced kim-rick or kum-rick) comes from Cymru (pronounced kum-ree), the original Welsh name of Wales (though the breed is not associated with Wales at all). It is believed the name may have been given as an attempt to give a 'celtic' name to the 'breed'.

According to Isle of Man records, the taillessness trait of the Cymric began as a spontaneous mutation among the island’s domestic cat population. Though there are many myths which surround this animal. Given the island’s closed environment and small gene pool, the dominant gene that decided the Cymric’s taillessness was easily passed from one generation to the next, along (it appears) with the gene for long hair. Long-haired kittens had been born to Manx cats on the Isle of Man, but had always been discarded as “mutants.” Then, in the 1960s, similar kittens were born in litters from Manx cats in Canada and this was the start of the increase of Cymric popularity.

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