Ural rex: description, choice and care rules

Nature without human intervention can surprise you with its capabilities regarding the appearance of some animals. Among the prominent representatives of this phenomenon, it is worth highlighting the Ural Rex cat breed. The fame of her spread throughout the world due to the unique fur of animals, which quickly gained popularity among breeders.

The Ural Rex cat is a very rare species of animal with curly hair. In the formation and breeding of such representatives of the feline family, man did not participate, therefore, its origin is considered a natural process of gene mutation in animals. Russia is considered to be the homeland of the Ural Rex; the first mentions of such unusual cats date back to the 40s of the last century.

Today, there are a number of parameters that an animal of this rare breed must meet.

• Purebred Rex - male and female cats of medium size. The constitution of the animal should be lean and muscular. The head is wedge-shaped with a wide forehead. The cheekbones are set wide, the profile is slightly curved. The chin and jaw are well developed.
• The ears should not be large, set in an upright position with rounded tops. The eyes will have an impressive size, there is some slanting. The color of the pupils is usually in the tone of the animal's coat.
• The limbs are of medium length, slender with oval paws. The tail does not stand out for its size, its end should be rounded.
• Acceptable coat options are long-haired and short-haired, in this case, the first option assumes the presence of an average length of wool in the animal. It is soft to the touch, curls are arranged in waves throughout the animal's body, including the tail. The presence of a mane is not a deviation from standards.

Curls in cats are formed by about 3-4 months, however, the curls will acquire the peak of their appearance by 6 months. As a rule, cats will be smaller than males. The weight of the former will be 4-5 kilograms, while cats can weigh 5-7 kilograms. Since the breed is considered aboriginal, animals stand out for their high immunity and lack of tendency to genetic diseases, the average life expectancy of such pets will be 14-15 years.

Animals can have different coat colors.

Mostly cats of the Ural Rex breed will:

• redheads;
• cream;
• blue;
• black or blue cakes;
• white;
• gold;
• black;
• silvery.

As for the pattern on the wool, in this case, the following options are acceptable:

• tabby;
• van;
• harlequin;
• bicolor.

According to the accepted standards, the following colors are considered to be inconsistencies in the breed:

• cinnamon;
• Abyssinian ticking;
• chocolate;
• Burmese color.

But after the first molt, the shade disappears. As for adults of black color, then upon reaching the age of two, the color of the coat is gradually oxidized, which entails its change to brown or gold.

Animals of this breed are disposed towards humans, according to the reviews of the owners, they have a good and docile disposition. Cats are happy to express their affection for a person by affection, intuitively feel the mood of their breeder.

Pets quickly adapt to new conditions. Once in the house, they are strongly attached to the owners.

Rex accompanies its owner everywhere, is very patient with small children, not expressing his aggression towards them and other pets in the house. Animals have a playful and cheerful character, however, in their desire to have fun, they do not bother people if they are not inclined to play at the moment.

Cats like to bask with a person in his bed, also pets very often doze in their arms, for the Ural Rex, loneliness is a difficult moment, so it is not recommended to leave animals alone for a long time... Curly-haired pets are focused on their owner and the family in which they live, and cats and cats also treat their offspring with awe. This instinct is equally manifested in fathers and mothers.

In addition to taking into account the external characteristics specified in the description of the breed, when purchasing a curly cat should be guided by the following criteria.

• The animal you like must have a neat and well-groomed appearance. The pet should not have defects on the coat, as well as discharge from the eyes and nose. Such moments may indicate health problems in the animal. It is also useful to conduct a visual inspection of the coat to make sure that there are no parasites.
• It is worth paying attention to the behavior of the kitten. The animal should be friendly, healthy cats are always active. Opposite conditions will indicate errors in keeping cats and possible diseases.
• The selected cat must have all the characteristics of the breed. Also, you should not purchase an animal of such a rare breed in spontaneous markets without documents.Each pet must have a veterinary passport containing information on vaccinations and pedigree.

Ural Rex kittens at a young age should be curly, however, some irregularities in the curls are not a deviation. In animals, the skull is very pronounced, and the eyes will be protruding and wide-set. You should not buy very small kittens, as the mother must pass on immunity to her cub with milk. In addition, a baby who is weaned too early from its mother may have serious psychological problems in the future, in addition to a tendency to frequent illnesses.

The breed does not cause difficulties for breeders in terms of caring for animals at home. Pets are very fond of different shelters and houses, so the owner of the Ural Rex is advised to purchase or make a cozy shelter for the cat. Animals often prefer to climb inside, so the house should be as comfortable as possible. At the same time, there is no need to make an observation deck for this breed.

The breed is not prone to obesity, however, the breeder is still recommended to keep the animal's diet under control. The Ural Rex is suitable for industrial feed, it is better to choose premium products. Also, cats and cats can be fed with natural food. In the second case, the diet should be as balanced as possible so that the animal's body is not deficient in any minerals and vitamins. Rex should be given fish and meat, as well as milk, eggs, vegetables and grains.

Spicy, fatty, salty and fried foods from the common family table remain under the ban. From meat products, pets should choose beef or chicken, as well as offal. Meat can be offered raw or boiled to cats. As for cereals and cereals, then the introduction of legumes into the diet should be abandoned. Of the eggs, the cat will only need to give the yolk.

The question of the frequency of feeding a representative of the feline family is quite acute, since it is important to form a specific meal schedule in order to improve digestion. Small kittens up to 3 months old can be fed up to 5 times a day. After reaching 6 months, the frequency of meals should be reduced by up to 4 times. Closer to 9 months, cats are recommended to be fed three times a day; the animal should be transferred to an adult diet closer to a year. The diet of pregnant cats and weakened animals should be less strict, however, it is not worth overfeeding pets. Access to clean water is a prerequisite for keeping an animal, especially when feeding ready-made feed.

The peculiarities of the wool of the aboriginal breed require special care for it. This will preserve its individuality and attractive appearance of the animal, regardless of its age. Particular attention should be paid to a small pet during the molting period, when it will naturally get rid of gray hairs. Adult cats also need attention to their coat on the part of the breeder, since the wave of cat curls, its smoothness and intensity will depend on quality and regular grooming.

Experienced breeders recommend using natural bristle brushes for brushing, as a rule, two treatments per week will be sufficient.For show cats, curly hair can be additionally smoothed with natural suede.

Cats of this breed do not need water procedures, so they should be bathed if absolutely necessary. Breeders should be aware that water can negatively affect pet's sensitive skin, causing it to dry out. However, many representatives of this breed are not afraid of water, and willingly play and explore with it. For bathing Rex, you should use only gentle specialized products for sensitive skin.

Animals of this breed are not prone to any disease. As the experience of breeding Rex shows, pets rarely get sick. But regular visits to the veterinarian and routine vaccinations for animals are a must.

For breeders of Ural Rex, there are a number of rules regarding care that should be followed:

• cats need to wipe their eyes daily with a damp cotton swab;
• ear cleaning is allowed once a week;
• examination and cleaning of the oral cavity is carried out every month;
• claws are recommended to be trimmed as they grow, but at least 2 times a month;
• you need to brush the animal twice a week.

In general, animals show independence in terms of caring for themselves, therefore, adult cats and cats are able to cope with most of the mandatory activities on their own. The breeder is required to control these processes, if necessary, help his pet.

More information about this breed can be found in the video below.