Many people are in love with charming cats that have one interesting feature - a flat face. These cute creatures look very interesting and always attract attention. A similar type of cat face was artificially bred. Initially, cats with such a structure of the muzzle were not found in nature. Today we will get to know better the different breeds whose representatives have such a distinctive feature.
Features, pros and cons
There are a great many different breeds of cats, and each of them has its own individual characteristics that distinguish them from other subspecies. Such a non-standard structure of the skull of animals is otherwise called brachycephalic. This is not an idea of nature, but the work of man - cats and cats with similar features were artificially bred. In fact, this design of the animal's face is not normal.
Simply put, this is a kind of pathology. But today, animals with such a structure are not regarded as defective. On the contrary, charming owners of flattened faces are insanely popular and loved by many people. Flattened muzzle have representatives of several well-known breeds.
The rest of their characteristics, external data and behavioral features can vary significantly.
It is worthwhile to figure out what are the main pros and cons of cats with flat faces. Let's start with the good - get acquainted with the positive aspects.
- The main plus which is seen behind such pets, lies in their original and very interesting appearance.Even in our time, when it is difficult to surprise anyone with cats of various breeds, animals with a brachycephalic skull attract a lot of attention.
- The jaws of such pets are strongerthan representatives of breeds with a classic structure of the muzzle.
- The lion's share of cats with a similar structure It has a very affectionate, friendly character. They are sociable, unobtrusive and in everyday life behave absolutely calmly. It is these qualities that many people seek in pets.
And now we will consider what are the disadvantages of these unusual pets.
- For such seals, it is necessary to select not ordinary, but special dishes, from which they can comfortably drink and eat without unnecessary interference.
- Custom skull shape These pets become the inevitable cause of noisy sleep, snoring and snorting. Some people do not like these behaviors of animals very much, they cause irritation.
- Cats with a flattened face are distinguished by that have shortened tear channels and a nonspecific nose shape. These factors lead to the fact that such pets, experiencing severe stress, can suffer from strong secretions. Similar problems can occur if the cat has been in the cold.
- Some species of animals with a similar structure of the skull they can’t eat on their own, regardless of the selected food and its consistency. Such animals should be treated like small children - feed from a spoon. Not every person agrees to this, so you need to think several times whether you are ready to get such a furry fidget.
- The features of thermoregulation in these animals are as follows, that they do not tolerate the effect of low temperatures.
- Due to nasal discharge described above such cats very often suffer from various infectious diseases. In addition, they are prone to allergic reactions.
From all of the above, we can conclude that The disadvantages of such cats are more than pluses. Although, many of the disadvantages of such animals are better called their features.
If you properly care for these cats, treat them, taking into account all their individual requirements, then there will be no problems with the content. As a rule, people are satisfied that they brought such cute creatures.
Breeds
Brachycephaly is a characteristic feature of some purebred cats. Let's get to know better the most popular of them.
Persian
The history of a luxurious Persian cat has more than one hundred years. At all times, representatives of this breed were insanely popular and in demand.
The nose of the Persians is slightly upturned, and the eyes are large and round. Usually these cats have a long and silky coat, which is very pleasant to the touch. To stroke these cute creatures is a pleasure. The Persians have a squat body, their paws are short. The color of the coat for these pets can be very diverse.
There are several subspecies of Persian cats. They differ in the following features:
- classic type - in such pets the nose is slightly below the line of the eyes;
- modern type - in these animals the edge of the nose is located in line with the lower eyelid;
- extreme type - if the cat is of this type, then it will have a characteristic concave nose, located at the same level with the inner corners of the eyes.
All these cats are real couch potatoes. They have a calm and balanced character. Kittens are playful, but as they grow older they become more and more peaceful and sedate.
These individuals are easily educated and like to sit in the arms of a person. They very rarely meow or make other sounds, and usually do not show aggression.
Exot
Otherwise, this breed is called exotic shorthair. Its representatives are the result of the crossbreeding of American Shorthair and Persian cats. Externally, these individuals are very similar to representatives of the Persian breed.They differ only in short hair.
Exotics are most similar to extreme Persians. They also have an upturned nose, expressive eyes and a squat physique. The paws of these cats are also not very long. The nature of these pets is considered absolutely calm, peaceful and playful.
Exotics have always been affectionate pets, for which many fans of cats with a flattened face love them. They rarely voice and love their master very much. Besides, exotics seamlessly coexist in the same territory with other domestic animals.
Himalayan
The Himalayan cat looks elegant and unusual. True so far not all organizations recognized it as a separate breed. Some experts consider it one of the subspecies of the Persian cat breed.
These charming little animals are distinguished by the same flattened muzzle, expressive blue eyes and long hair. The color of the Himalayan cat is the same as that of Siamese individuals. These cats behave very calmly, do not get involved in fights and conflicts.
Without resistance and anxiety, they can endure almost any manipulation on the part of a person, therefore they are very fond of small children.
British Shorthair
These cats are very popular and widespread. The main distinguishing feature of the breed is that their flattened muzzle is wide and round with slightly deflated cheeks. The body of the British is also squat, and the limbs are short. There are many options for coloring furry pets. It is considered to be classic those individuals whose hair has blue, cream, red, black, purple or tabby.
British Shorthair cats are flexible. They behave intelligently and accurately, demonstrating excellent education. These animals tolerate long loneliness without problems. Kittens love to play and are funny. The British are patient animals and release claws only in exceptional cases.
Scottish lop-eared
Such animals have a non-standard structure of the auricles - the ears seem to lean forward and lean down. The denser the ears touch the head, the more valuable the cat is recognized. In animals, the muzzle can also be flattened, but not at all like in exotics or Persian handsome men. The body of the lop-eared aristocrats has a more powerful complexion. They have a short coat, characterized by softness.
Most often, the color of these animals is monochromatic - blue, beige or chocolate. But you can also meet multi-colored individuals or cats with a striped color.
The Scots are unpretentious in matters of caring for them. Their character is balanced, so usually such pets behave absolutely calmly. These individuals quickly become attached to the person. Scottish fold kittens are big fans of playing enough, but still lend themselves to training and education. Scots often get up on their hind legs or sleep on their backs - at such moments they look very cute and funny.
How to care?
Seals with a flat muzzle need to ensure the correct content. Consider how to take care of these cute pets.
- Look after the eyes of cats. Do not constantly wash your eyes with water, especially if you have a Persian cat. It is better not to use cotton wool for processing - its pile can get into the eyes. During the procedure, use a paper towel or cloth. They are moistened with a weak solution of boric acid or with special drops, and then they clean the eyes of the cat, you can use the Optic Gel tool.
- Give cats dry food to prevent the accumulation of plaque and tartar on their teeth. You can buy a chewing toy. Brush your pet’s teeth with a special paste at least once a month. Use a special brush purchased at the pet store.
- Regularly inspect the ears of cats with a flat muzzle. Clean your ears at least once a month with cotton buds. As soon as the pet’s ears become dirty, they should be cleaned immediately.
- Take care of the normal condition of the claws of the animal. Buy or make a scratching post. Trim your nails once a month using a nail clipper. Cut off the excess evenly and grab no more than 2 mm.
- Comb out long-haired pets every day, bathe cats. If the coat is long, then this should be done once every 8-12 weeks.
- Feed your pet high quality natural food or premium and super premium feeds. You can’t feed salty, smoked, fried, fatty, sweet foods, as well as cheap economy-class foods.
Animals with a flattened muzzle are one of the most interesting and popular. They are started by many people who want to keep a sweet, beautiful and unusual friend in their home.
About the features of exotics see below.