Kanaani

It was created in Jerusalem in the 1990s by the German-Israeli artist Doris Pollatschek, who crossed domestic cats from Israel with the African wildcat (Felis lybica), the wild ancestor of all domestic cats. Its name comes from Canaan, the ancient name of the region. The WCF recognised it in 2008 and it was the first cat breed established in Israel; the programme later continued in Germany, but the breed was almost lost. In the 2020s a recovery programme in Brooklyn, New York, took up breeding again, and in 2026 there were only three registered Kanaani, among them Haifa, the female in its photos. TICA does not recognise it as a championship breed. It is a medium to large cat, slender and muscular, with large ears with tufts and the pale patch behind the ears typical of the wildcat. In character it is very active, playful and affectionate with its people, but also independent and an excellent hunter.

The coat looks after itself with a weekly brush. The demanding part is activity: it needs intense hunting play every day, plenty of vertical space, sturdy scratching posts and constant enrichment; when bored, it invents its own entertainment. It is not a good cat for a small flat or for first-time owners. Before considering one, check the regulations: in several European countries keeping wildcat hybrids is restricted.

There are very few health data: the population is tiny and inbreeding is a real risk. In the early generations, its wildcat heritage can make it more skittish and less suited to life indoors. Otherwise, the care of any cat: vaccinations, parasite control, neutering and an annual check-up.