Description of American cat breeds and their content
Today cats that have good pedigrees are popular among connoisseurs of pussies. After all, belonging to a certain breed and a good pedigree gives confidence that the cat will behave correctly, and all its problems will be easy to deal with. American cats are no exception.
Peculiarities
The American cat is in many ways different from other breeds, and one of its main features is the ability to hunt. Almost all breeds of animals are characterized by a muscular body or unusual color. Some of them have very strange ears or have no tail at all.
Besides, the animal has a friendly character. The cat very quickly becomes attached to its owners, who not only feed it, but also educate it. They especially love small children, American cats quickly find a common language with them, and literally follow on their heels.
They can also get along with any other pets that live in the house, even with dogs. In addition, these cats are very balanced and calm. They like to be indoors rather than walking outside.
This is a great solution for those who cannot walk their pets. But at the same time, cats value freedom, and if you limit it, they can even become aggressive.
Description of breeds
American cats look and behave differently. It all depends on the breed of the animal.
Bobtail
This breed of American cats appeared in the 60s of the XX century, but only in 1989 was it recognized by felinological associations. Their distinctive feature is considered to be a very short tail, which can be curved or straight.
American Bobtails can be short-haired or long-haired. Both varieties are recognized by felinologists. If we talk about the former, then they have a rather thick coat and the same undercoat. In long-haired cats, the fur coat is dense, but at the same time shaggy. For example, in the area of the neck, paws, tail, the fur is longer.
The physique of cats of this breed is rather muscular, these are animals with a wide muzzle and slightly slanted eyes. On average, the weight of cats is 5-6 kilograms, and cats - no more than 4. Puberty occurs only after 2 years. Life expectancy reaches 13-14 years.
Other than that, bobtails are very smart and friendly. They easily converge not only with their owners, but also with other pets. Pets are not afraid of strangers.
They are excellent hunters and can even catch a fly on the fly.
Curl
This cat breed appeared relatively recently - in the late 80s of the XX century. The story goes that a small kitten with ears turned outward appeared on the doorstep of a house. And after a few years she gave her owners 4 babies, half of the kittens had the same unusual ears. In 1986, the Curl breed was officially recognized, and began to participate in various exhibitions. However, the number of individuals is very limited, and this makes this breed of American cats much more valuable.
All representatives have an elongated muzzle, rather large eyes, which makes them look a little surprised. But the ears of these animals are very small, with a bend. The coat can be either short or slightly elongated. The color of curls is very diverse: monochromatic or striped.
Many people call this breed of cats clowns, as they perform literally any tricks that they are asked to perform. The nature of these pets is very friendly, moreover, they like to play a lot.
At the same time, curls do not tolerate loneliness, therefore they almost always follow their owners. And if they are not paid attention to, they begin to meow loudly, urging at least to turn their heads in their direction.
American shorthair
This cat breed is considered the property of its country. She has a beautiful and sophisticated appearance, independence, as well as excellent hunting inclinations. It appeared quite a long time ago, at the beginning of the 20th century. In 1966, this breed received the title of "Cat of the Year", and was also recognized by international felinological organizations.
Today it is most popular in America and also in Japan. American beauties very quickly get used to any conditions, as they have excellent immune systems. The smooth-haired American cat has a rather thick coat. Their color can be both monochromatic and tricolor. The latter is considered the most popular.
These pets are very smart and gentle. They are distinguished by excessive sociability, love to hunt and jump very high up. Live from 12 to 15 years.
American Wirehaired
The coat of this animal seems tough only at first glance. On the contrary, it is very soft and delicate to the touch. However, not all offspring in the future will have the same unusual fur coat. Almost half of the babies have a normal coat. They are medium to large animals with a slightly rounded body shape and very strong and muscular legs. In addition, their nose is slightly flattened, and their eyes are rather large. The color of cats is dominated by a tortoiseshell tone, with small white or brown stripes.
The nature of the pets is very docile and sociable, they quickly become attached to their owners. They are not afraid of loneliness, and are also considered excellent hunters for many rodents. In addition, they are distinguished by longevity and immunity to many dangerous diseases.
Despite the fact that this breed of cats has gained recognition, there is not a single club in America dedicated to these animals.
American Burmese
This cat breed is distinguished by its unusual color. It can be reddish brown, almost ginger, or hazel. You can also find Burmese cats with a black coat. There are 4 types of color of such animals. This color is champagne, blue, sable, and also lilac. In addition, their fur is always very soft and silky to the touch. With the slightest movement, it shimmers, making the cat a real mystical animal.
Cats of this breed are very elegant and strict. Their amber eyes follow the person intently. They quickly become attached to their masters and just as quickly get used to the new territory.
Burmese are easy to train, love children very much and easily converge with other pets in the house.
Pixie bob
This is a completely new breed, which was born as a result of the fact that two breeds of cats were crossed: wild forest cats with a short tail and simple domestic cats.
The specialists received a small copy of the lynx, and it almost immediately won the recognition of many felinologists. The tail of these cats is very low, its length can vary from 3 to 15 centimeters. The head of the pet has a pear-shaped shape; it has triangular eyes with thick eyelids. Pixie bob cats can be shorthaired or medium in length.
A distinctive feature of this breed is the length of growth, which lasts up to 4 years, as well as the presence of more toes. However, this does not bother the animals at all. These cats have a very affectionate character, they quickly converge not only with their owners, but also with other pets. In addition, they are very mobile and can jump to great heights.
Bambino
It is a very rare and expensive breed that has an unusual appearance. The animal has a small, but at the same time stocky body, legs are very short. The body has no hair at all, as it was obtained as a result of crossing 2 breeds: the Munchkin and the Sphynx. The first representatives were born at the beginning of the XXI century.
All cats are in excellent health, but the fact that they have almost no hair requires a high temperature in the room at all times. Such cats also need more nutritious food. Their character is very friendly and playful. They love to bask in the arms of their owners. In addition, they quickly get used to the new home.
Their life expectancy reaches 12-14 years.
American Balinese
This cat breed was born as a result of crossing Siamese cats, whose hair is slightly longer than usual. The result is a breed of cats with a fringe on the tail. In addition, these cats are very graceful. They have a wedge-shaped head with a narrow muzzle and a long nose. Their ears are in the shape of a triangle, their eyes are slightly slanted and almond-shaped.
Balinese cats are very loyal to their owners. Therefore, they rejoice when they appear in the house, and do not even mind taking a walk on the street. But you can only walk them on a leash, since the animals are completely unaccustomed to life outside the home. It is also worth noting that any walks are bad for their coat.
How to choose?
It is very difficult to decide on the choice of a kitten, because almost all breeds of these animals are somewhat remarkable. Therefore, before buying, you need to know exactly the breed and gender of the purchased pet.
If a person does not want to mess with kittens, then it would be better to take a cat or neuter the cat.
Those who wish to breed offspring need to study the pedigree of the animal well, as well as make sure that the cat is completely healthy. After all, all this is very important for breeding little handsome men. Select animals only from reputable nurseries. You should not buy cats from your hands, order on the Internet - now there are a lot of unscrupulous sellers who are always ready to take advantage of the ignorance of the future breeder.
But even this is not the most important thing.The most important thing is that a person likes the cat visually, because she will live in the house and constantly flicker before his eyes.
In addition, before you bring your pet into the house, you must definitely take care of his home so that he feels at home.
What to feed?
You also need to take care of food for your pet. At the time of purchase, you should definitely find out what kind of food the kitten ate. If it is very small, then you need to pick them up yourself. Commercial or natural feed can be used. If preference is given to the first, then the pets will receive all vitamins and nutrients in their diet. However, only taking into account the fact that the feed will be of the highest quality. Commercial feed can be dry or wet. Both species are good for kittens, they are well balanced and well absorbed by the body.
Those who prefer natural food should first familiarize themselves with what to give their kittens and what not, and also not to forget about the frequency of feeding. It is best to feed adults 2 times a day, always with the same break between meals.
In addition, the following foods should be included in the diet.
- Lean boiled meat - 100-150 g. It can be chicken, beef or turkey. It is best to cut the meat into small pieces to make it easier for the cat to eat. You also need to remember that it is recommended to give meat products no more than 3-4 times a week.
- Offal... Two or three times a week, you can give your pets offal, but they also need to be boiled.
- A fish. Fish should be given twice a week. Better if it is marine and pitted.
- Porridge. Porridge from various grains can be present in the diet of cats on a daily basis. It can be oatmeal, rice, buckwheat. In order for the pet to eat with appetite, you can mix meat or fish into the porridge.
- Boiled vegetablessuch as carrots or beets.
- Dairy products... Milk should not be given to cats. But a little low-fat yogurt or cottage cheese will not hurt your pet at all.
- Greens. It should also be present in the diet of cats, but you need to find out which pet prefers.
- Water... It is imperative to give fresh and purified water. It should always be within the reach of the cat.
In addition, you need to know which of the products will harm the cat more than benefit. These include the following food:
- any sausage products;
- smoked products;
- raw meat;
- potato dishes;
- any sweets;
- beans or peas;
- spicy or too salty.
Care
First of all, you need to take care of the cat's place of residence. It should be located so that it does not interfere with the owners, but at the same time the pet likes it. For example, a cat can be equipped with a sleeping place or a play area. True, most cats will not spend the whole day there, because the animal rightfully believes that absolutely the entire apartment belongs only to him. The tray must be selected with high sides so that the filler does not spill out.
It is better to buy the filler in special stores, you can also use small sawdust or shredded paper. In addition, it must be changed regularly so that there is no unpleasant smell in the room.
A scratching post can be installed in the access area so that cats can take care of their claws. But this is still not enough. It is necessary to cut the claws once a month and this should be done very carefully, because the blood capillaries are placed very close to the claws. If the owner is afraid of harming his pet, then it is better to seek help from a veterinarian who knows how to do this procedure quickly and painlessly.
If your pet has hair, you need to take care of it regularly. That is, it must be combed out with a special comb, and this procedure will need to be done 2-3 times a week. During molting, comb out daily. Only in this case traces of wool will not be visible on the furniture.You need to bathe your pets 2-3 times every 6 months, or do it as they become dirty. You can use special shampoos that are sold in any pet store.
In addition, it is necessary to brush the cats' teeth. For this, there are special brushes and paste. This should be done 2 times a week, and it is better to teach it from an early age. Do not forget about the ears of your favorites. You can clean them with special ear sticks.
You should also regularly do the necessary vaccinations and treat cats from various parasites: worms and fleas. To deal with the former, special drugs are used, and with the latter, special collars can be used, which are enough for 6 months.
Summing up, we can say that keeping a domestic American cat requires certain knowledge, since such an animal will need to be carefully looked after. Only then will the animal respond with love and affection, and its life span will exceed the established norms by several years.
You can learn more about the American cat in the video below.