Originally posted by popcornbird
AWWWWW! How precious! You know, Ally looks like a TOTAL Middle Eastern cat. Are the cats there a different breed? I'm asking because all the cats I've seen in that part of the world have a similar build to Ally. Beautiful cat!


Does she REALLY enjoy the hot hot sun of Bahrain? Or is it beginning to cool down a bit?
PCB,

They ARE different. They are specially designed to handle the extreme heat! Here is a great article about them (I think Steffi N originally forwarded the link to me):

http://www.internationalspecialreports.com/archives/00/bahrain/21.html

Also here is a pic of a few of them in my garden:





As you can see, Ally does not have the traditional Dilmun colouring - she must have some domestic blood somewhere in her heritage. The true Dilmuns blend into the desert so well you can't see them unless they move! Such a pity their bloodline in being diluted by breeding with strays - at least The Cat Society here is doing what they can to get the Dilmun recognized as a breed in it's own right!

And yes, Ally loves to lie in the sun, even when it is over 100 F she will be found in a patch of sunshine, waiting for a belly rub!

BTW she says THANKS to Killearn Kittens's Meowmie for the belly rub