Asian cat: description and nature of the breed, its content
The beautiful and famous Asian cat is quite popular and beloved today. It is great for keeping in an apartment, in families with children. These pets can become not only favorites of children, but also loyal friends of each family member.
History of origin
Representatives of the Asian breed of cats have roots in the UK, where in 1980, in the process of crossing the Persian chinchilla and the Burmese cat, this species was bred.
The breed of Asian cats includes the following subspecies:
- Asian uniform color;
- Asian smoky;
- Asian tabby
- tiffany;
- burmilla.
The animals of this breed include long-haired and short-haired cats. Representatives of the first species had a shiny black coat, but in the process of selection, various colors were obtained.
The breeding of an Asian breed of cats of an even color brought to naught their crossing with the Persian chinchilla.
New Zealand breeders tried to cope with a similar task, they bred a variety of mandalays.
The modern Asian Shorthair and the Mandalay breed are considered identical species. Representatives of this subspecies have the physique of Burmese cats, however, differ in the color of their coat.
Features of the species
Individuals of the Asian suit have a strong constitution, a developed muscular system and a strong skeleton. The average weight of pets ranges from 5 to 8 kg. Outwardly, the animal looks very impressive thanks to the luxurious rounded chest, muscular back and flat stomach. The shape of the head in Asians resembles a blunt wedge with softly contoured contours and a clear profile. The ears of cats are large, set high and slightly directed forward.Wide-set almond eyes are usually yellow or amber in color. The legs are long and slender, with pronounced muscles. Short hair can be of various shades: chocolate, smoky, lilac, cream, hazel, blue.
Asian cats are very curious, friendly and lovable. They value care, and in return they pay in loyalty to their master. By nature, Asians are quiet and calm, but if necessary, they can stand up for themselves. They get along easily with other pets, especially from an early age.
If the owner is at home irregularly and often leaves the pet alone, the cat is very homesick and shows signs of anxiety.
Therefore, if it is difficult for the owner to devote the maximum amount of time and attention to his pet, it is recommended to have two individuals of this species, or to prefer an animal of another breed.
All subspecies of Asian cats almost completely fit the general description of the breed, however, some representatives have their own unique features.
The Asian smoky cat is shorthaired, with a developed body relief. Its coat is thick and close to the body, usually of a uniform color with a slightly light undercoat. In addition to the main smoky color, there can be cats of this variety with blue, red, tortoiseshell and cream shades of wool. The shade of slanted eyes also depends on the color of the coat; they are green and yellow.
The striking representatives of the Asian breed are tabby animals. Pedigree cats of this species have their characteristic massive constitution, strong jaws and chin, a wide nose, large erect ears, rounded at the ends. Their short coat has no undercoat and comes in four types of color:
- spotted - dark coloration of irregular shape with elements scattered all over the body, with the exception of the abdomen;
- brindle (mackerel) - the predominance of dark vertical stripes, similar to the skin of a tiger;
- marble - intertwined black spots and stripes on the sides and back of the animal;
- ticked (agouti) - monochromatic color of all wool, except for paws, tail and muzzle, which have dark stripes.
The silver Burmese cat is another representative of the Asian breed. Its distinctive features are various coat colors: smoky, blue, chocolate, purple, tortoiseshell or Bombay. Silvery male and female cats give strong offspring, with high resistance to diseases. Young kittens are very playful and mobile, and in adulthood they are affectionate and calm.
A successful experiment, in which a chinchilla cat was crossed with a Burmese cat, eventually opened the world to a new breed of Asian pets - the tiffany.
The breeders really liked the kittens for their semi-long shiny coat with an unusual black-brown color. The base color, evenly distributed over the body, is combined with a slight contrast of darker tones. Color options can be varied: sable, brown, blue, chocolate, platinum, lilac, red, cream.
The shape of the head of this species is more rounded, the chin is strong and rounded, the jaws are wide, with the correct bite. The shape of the tiffany's eyes is special: they are large and shiny, the upper line of the eye is oriental in shape and tilted towards the nose, and the lower one is rounded. In pedigree cats, yellow eyes predominate. By their nature, tiffany are moderately calm and docile, they love to spend time with their master, play with children. They are very inquisitive, and easily amenable to education. In favorable and comfortable conditions, an Asian cat can live up to 20 years.
Maintenance and care
To ensure favorable conditions for the existence of a pet, no special knowledge in the field of felinology is required. It is enough just to give the Asians the necessary attention and monitor their health. Caring for an Asian cat must include the following activities:
- regular brushing of the coat, especially in long-haired breeds;
- washing wool with a special tool - no more than 1 time per month);
- ear cleaning - once a week;
- daily wiping of eyes with a damp cloth or cotton swab;
- monthly claw trimming;
- routine vaccinations for disease prevention and routine veterinary examinations.
An Asian cat needs a balanced diet containing natural ingredients. The diet should be based on lean meat (chicken, turkey, beef), boiled fish. In addition to meat dishes, vegetables and cereals work well. For convenience, you can purchase ready-made premium food, which is ideal for the daily nutrition of the animal. A litter tray, toys, playhouse and scratching post are other essential accessories for your pet.
Reviews
Asian cats evoke a lot of positive emotions from their owners. This is due to the complaisant disposition, ingenuity and unpretentiousness of the pet. Of the shortcomings, it is worth noting only the high cost of kittens of an Asian cat. Since the breeding of this breed is not popular in Russia, everyone who wants to have such a pet will have to spend a considerable amount and purchase a kitten from a special nursery.
And yet Asian cats are worthy of attention. They not only look sophisticated and attractive, but also have a wonderful character. For the attention and care given, cats will gladly respond to their beloved owner with affection, playfulness and devotion.
For more details on the Asian tabby cat, see the video below.