American Keuda

The American Keuda (pronounced KEW-da) is an emerging breed of cat. The Keuda is under active development since about 2002, but has already become semi-standardized. Were it recognized by a major cat registry, it would probably be classified as a "Provisional" breed (meaning it has been standardized beyond "Experimental" stage, but the desired characters are not entirely developed and/or stable). A small number of US catteries breed and provide Keuda cats.
Rationale
The roots of the breed are from a 1980s study called the "Kitten Evaluation Under Direct Assessment" which was meant to determine the characteristics which led to superior barn cats in the Southwestern United States. Barn cats selected for desired characters were gathered from the study area (Oklahoma, New Mexico, and Texas) and bred with each other to develop a standardized breed. Cats were essentially semi-feral mongrels that were selected for characters such as hardiness and physical prowess in an attempt to create a "utility" cat breed that places usefulness before appearance. The Keuda is essentially a re-domestication of selected strains from the introduced cat population of SW North America.
No outcrosses to domestic breeds of wild felines are allowed. New lineages are still selected from the rural ranch cat population; these undergo quality evaluation according to the breed standard before being allowed to contribute. The rationale behind the project is that the barn cats from the study area were able to survive for hundreds of years under unforgiving conditions. Thereby, alleles that unduly affect fitness - such as those predisposing for diseases — were selected against, those that confer advantages, such as physical and mental prowess and adaptability were favored. The source population is believed to be among the oldest populations of semi-feral domestic cats in North America; their ancestors were cats brought to the region by the first European settlers, maybe already by Spanish conquistadores in the 16th-17th century or so, and their descendants have had to live unable to rely on human assistance ever since.
Similarities with Egyptian Mau
The American Keuda has some pronounced similarities with the Egyptian Mau breed, including body type, habits, and a belly flap, not seen in other breeds. Since the belly flap allows extra extension when running, and thus more speed, this would be a successful adaptation for any cat that needed speed, e.g. for pursuit or escape. Keudas also share a high level of intelligence and athleticism with the Mau, as well as love for warm conditions and a lack of shyness to water. They are not usually water-loving, however (like the Turkish Van for example, a landrace from the Lake Van region).
It is an open and controversial question whether the similarities reflects an Egyptian Mau contribution to the gene pool or whether cats with Mau-like traits are superior barn cats. In the latter case, these traits would be reinforced over time and would not necessarily require a Mau contribution to the gene pool. Since the Egyptian Mau itself was redomesticated from feral Egyptian cat populations in the mid-1950s, it may represent a superior feral cat type, closely reproduced in the deserts of the American Southwest and eventually the Keuda, but with no direct phylogenetic connection to that breed. It seems more likely that the belly flap is an autapomorphy in the Mau and the Keuda, as the ancestors of the Keuda seem to be rather among the Early Modern age barn cats of England, France and Spain.
One marked difference between the Keuda and the Mau — indeed to most cat breeds — is the wide diversity of appearance the Keuda may display. While some Keudas look strikingly like Maus, they may also look like a Siamese, Havana Brown, cats of other breeds or mixed breed cats. Keuda are allowed a much wider variety of coat colors and patterns than do Maus, though long-haired cats are obviously somewhat disadvantaged under field conditions. There are, however, a small number of long-haired Keuda lines.
Altogether, the Keuda cat is as close to being a "working cat" (compare working dog) as there has ever been, at least in recent history. The breed does not strive foremost for uniformity in color, pattern or coat, or fancy shapes like "show" breeds, but rather for an optimization of behavioral traits, which are deemed useful to cats and cat owners, especially in warm-temperate/Mediterranean climates and non-metropolitan areas.
Standard
The breed standard (revision of May 2002) values body morphology rather highly compared to other breeds' standards, but does not emphasize on specific characters (though eye shape and ears are of less importance). The general definition of the breed defines the standard thus:
This naturally occurring working cat's facial expression should reflect an intelligent and inquisitive nature. The medium-boned body is built for speed, climbing and athletic ability. Loose skin is common and the skin flaps on the belly and under the elbows aid not only in athletic abilities and dispersing heat in the summer, but also to escape possible attacks, allowing the Keuda to hyperextend his legs and run like a cheetah and even twist in his skin to confront an attacker. The Keuda's coat lies flat against his body even in the long-haired cats and in the summer months the coat is shed out so completely that the coat is mostly guard hair. Many Keudas enjoy playing with or in water and maintain their colony instincts. As a pet they are intelligent, adaptable and soft-voiced and get along well with children and other cats or dogs.
-- AKCA (2002)
The standard penalizes lack of a well-developed belly flap, large protruding eyes, a short muzzle and under- or overshot jaws, short front legs, and lack of a slick, silky coat. Shortened legs such as in Munchkins or a Persian-type nose break, and a kinked, curled or missing tail disqualify cats from breeding. Toes have to be five in front and four behind. Notably, eye color is entirely secondary and left at the breeders' discretion as long as it is not harmful to the cat.
Recognized colors are theoretically limited only by the cats' well-being. As of 2002, white, blue, black, red, cream, chocolate, shaded (with or without tabby markings), golden and combined lineages (including torbies) as well as some bi-colors were known to exist in the source gene pool.

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