Californian shining cat: description of the breed and rules of care

The California Shining Cat is one of the rarest breeds in the world. Such animals are outwardly similar to their predatory counterparts - ocelots and leopards. Other than appearance, domestic Californian 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.

As the name suggests, the rare Californian shining cat is native to the state of California. The idea of ​​creating this breed belongs to the American writer and screenwriter Paul Casey. The purpose of breeding such cats was, first of all, 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 carnivorous cats at home, people would think and stop destroying wild animals.

We can say that the history of breeding the breed began in the 1970s. Officially, the Californian shining cats were 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 the proper distribution and has almost completely lost its popularity over time. We can say that it was supplanted by such breeds as Ocicats and Bengal cats.

The California Shining Cat is considered a large breed. The body of 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 be sneaking, sinking to the ground as during a hunt.

The tail of cats is long and straight, has the same thickness along its 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 arched, the cheekbones are high and well visible. Cats have powerful jaws and chins.

The ears are set wide apart, small in size and slightly rounded at the ends. The eyes of the Californian shining cats are quite large, in shape more like an oval than a circle. The color of the iris can be different, but according to the breed standard, it should be in harmony with the color of the coat. Most often, the iris has a yellowish or gold tint. Green eyes are considered unacceptable.

The hair of the Californian Shining cats is short, with the exception of the abdomen and tail. It is soft to the touch and has a bright shine, which is why the breed is called "shining".

As for the color, there are such types as:

• royal shining - at birth, kittens with this color have a black woolen coat; over time, the coat brightens, spots appear on it.
• snow leopard - representatives of this species are born with a white, monochromatic coat; over time, dark spots appear on the body.

The color of the coat in Californian shining cats can be different: blue, red, silver. The shades of the spots on the torso can also differ depending on the base color of the coat.

Despite the undeniable external similarity of the Californian shining cats with wild animals, they have nothing in common in their character. Domestic cats are distinguished by their kind 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 they will rather avoid the offender in every possible way than take revenge on him.

Representatives of this breed quickly become attached to the owner and need his attention. Pets get along well with children, are quite playful and sociable. These cats cannot be called noisy, as they meow less often. Animals do not tolerate loneliness and prefer to be always close to humans.

They are also very smart and quickly absorb new information. Californian shining cats are not very fond of 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 induce a hunting instinct in a pet.

Keeping the Californian Shining Cat is best in a spacious home. A small apartment is not well suited for growing representatives of this breed. This is due to the fact that these animals need more space for their play and physical activity. It is advisable to equip a separate play area for your pet.

If the apartment has a little space for the active rest of the cat, then you can periodically walk with it on the street using a harness. Pets do not need complex care, as they can independently maintain hygiene and cleanliness. However, the owner needs to periodically check the condition of the ears, eyes and mouth.

Ears must be carefully cleaned from excess sulfur using cotton swabs. If the eyes are dirty or inflamed, it is recommended to use special drops that can be purchased at the pet store.

Since the wool of the representatives of this breed is not long, it does not require frequent combing. It is enough to remove excess hairs that have fallen out with a soft brush or a special glove several times a week. However, during the molting period, it is recommended to carry out this procedure daily so that as little hair as possible gets into the pet's esophagus.

Californian shining cats should have a balanced diet. Whether it's ready-to-eat foods or organic foods, all food must be of good quality. You do not need to feed your pet with dishes from the person's table. The feline body is different from the human, so many foods are simply not able to digest. As for ready-made canned and dry food, it is undesirable to use formulations below the super-premium class.

Include fresh, lean meat, such as rabbit or veal, in your pet's diet. Poultry meat can also be given to cats, but only boiled, like offal. In small quantities, boiled sea fish without bones will be useful for animals. Fermented milk products will also be useful for the pet, but not milk itself. It is also advisable to include vegetables, herbs and grains in the diet. All natural cat food should not be salted or seasoned.

Californian 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 not take him to the veterinarian.

Californian shining cats do not have inherited diseases. Their life expectancy will completely depend on the quality of maintenance, care and feeding. In favorable conditions, cats can easily live up to twenty years, while not losing their activity. The average lifespan for this breed is 15 years.

For more information on the California Shining cat breed, see the video below.