The California Shining Cat is one of the rarest breeds in the world. Such animals look like their predatory counterparts - ocelots and leopards. In addition to appearance, domestic California shining cats have nothing to do with wild animals. The description of the rare breed, as well as the rules for caring for it, will be discussed in more detail in this article.
Origin history
As the name implies, California is the birthplace of a rare California shining cat. The idea of creating this breed belongs to the American writer and screenwriter Paul Casey. The purpose of breeding such cats was primarily to draw people's attention to the problem of the destruction of wild animals and the use of their fur. Paul was convinced that raising a compact copy of predatory cats at home, people would think and stop destroying wild animals.
We can say that the history of breed breeding began in the 1970s. California shining cats were officially recognized only in the 1980s, in total, it took about fifteen years to breed them. To create the breed, quite a few types of cats were used, such as: American and British Shorthair, Abyssinian, Siamese and so on. The California shining cat has not received its proper distribution and over time has almost completely lost its popularity. We can say that it was supplanted by such breeds as Ocicats and Bengal cats.
Features
California shining cat is considered a large breed. The body of the animals is long and thin, but at the same time muscular. The limbs of cats are as powerful as the body.The legs are long and straight, and the hind legs are slightly larger than the front. Representatives of this breed are distinguished by a special gait: the cat seems to sneak, sinking to the ground as during a hunt.
The tail of cats is long and even, has the same thickness along the entire length. At the end, it is slightly rounded and painted black. Body weight can range from five to eight kilograms. The head is shaped like a triangle. The forehead is slightly convex, the cheekbones are high and clearly visible. Cats have powerful jaws and chins.
The ears are wide apart, small in size and slightly rounded at the ends. The eyes of California shining cats are quite large, in shape more like an oval than a circle. The color of the iris may be different, but according to the breed standard, it should be harmoniously combined with the coat color. Most often, the iris has a yellowish or golden hue. Unacceptable is the green color of the eyes.
The hair of California shining cats is short, with the exception of the abdomen and tail. It is soft to the touch and has a bright shine, due to which the breed is called "shining".
On the wool must be present spots that should be clearly visible. The shape of the spots can be different: round, oval and even triangular.
As for the color, then there are such types as:
- royal shining - at birth, kittens with this color have a black coat; over time, the hair brightens, spots appear on it.
- snow leopard - representatives of this species are born with white plain hair; over time, dark spots appear on the body.
The color of hair in California shining cats can be different: blue, red, silver. Shades of spots on the body can also vary depending on the primary color of the coat.
Nature and behavior
Despite the undeniable outward resemblance of California shining cats to wild animals, they have nothing in common in character. Domestic cats have a good disposition. They are very affectionate and friendly, although at first glance, due to their unusual appearance, they may seem aggressive. Cats do not tolerate a rude attitude, but rather they will in every possible way avoid the offender rather than avenge him.
Representatives of this breed quickly become attached to the owner and need his attention. Pets get along well with children, quite playful and sociable. Such cats cannot be called noisy, as they do not meow so often. Animals do not tolerate loneliness and prefer to always be near a person.
Representatives of this breed are active, jump well and need regular physical activity.
And also they are very smart and quickly learn new information. California shining cats do not really like dogs and are unlikely to get along with them on the same territory. Small animals and birds, in turn, such as hamsters and parrots, can trigger a hunting instinct in a pet.
Content
Keeping a California shining cat is best done in a spacious home. A small apartment is not suitable for growing representatives of this breed. This is due to the fact that such animals need more space for their games and physical activity. It is advisable to equip a separate play area for the pet.
If the apartment does not have much space for an active holiday of a cat, then you can periodically walk with it on the street using harness. Pets do not need complicated care, as they can independently monitor hygiene and cleanliness. However, the owner must periodically check the condition of the auricles, eyes and oral cavity.
Ears of sulfur must be carefully cleaned with cotton swabs. If the eyes become dirty or inflamed, it is recommended to use special drops that can be purchased at the pet store.
To prevent tartar formation, a cat needs to be given solid food or periodically brushing her teeth.
Since the wool of the representatives of this breed is not long, it does not require frequent combing. It is enough to remove excess hair loss with a soft brush or a special glove several times a week. However, during molting, it is recommended that this procedure be performed daily so that as little hair as possible gets into the pet's esophagus.
Feeding
The nutrition of California shining cats should be balanced. Be it ready-made feed or natural products - all food must be of good quality. No need to feed your pet dishes from the person’s table. The cat's body is different from the human one, so many products are simply not able to digest. As for ready-made canned and dry feeds, it is undesirable to use formulations below the super-premium class.
Fresh low-fat meat, such as rabbit or veal, should be included in your pet's diet. Poultry can also be given to cats, but only in boiled form, as well as offal. In small quantities, boiled boneless sea fish will be beneficial for animals. Sour-milk products will be useful for the pet, but not the milk itself. It is also advisable to include vegetables, herbs and cereals in the diet. All natural food for cats should not be salty or seasoned.
Health and Life Expectancy
California shining cats have good health and good immunity. However, this does not mean that you do not need to regularly monitor the condition of the pet and do not take it to the veterinarian.
Like all domestic cats, representatives of this breed need timely vaccination and treatment against helminths and other parasites.
California shining cats have no hereditary disease. Their life expectancy will depend entirely on the quality of their maintenance, care and feeding. In favorable conditions, cats can easily live up to twenty years, while not losing their activity. The average life span for representatives of this breed is 15 years.
Read more about the California shining cat breed in the video below.
