California Shining Cat

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California Shining Cat
California Shining Cat

Video: California Shining Cat

Video: California Shining Cat
Video: The Shining + My cat (HD) 2024, March
Anonim

The California spangled cat was bred to remind humans of the plight of wild cats. Ironically, the Californian Shining Cat is one of the rarest cat breeds (there are currently less than 200 breed members in the world!). Despite their wild appearance, these cats are very kind, curious, sociable and loyal to their owners. Their ebullient energy and acrobatic abilities are admirable.

Weight: 4-8 kg.

Height: 20-25 cm.

Cost (price) of a kitten: from $ 800 to $ 2500 and more.

Life expectancy: up to 20 years (average 9-15).

Breed diseases: no hereditary diseases have been identified.

Country of origin: USA.

The breed is recognized by the felinological federations: TICA (since 2000 the breed is considered extinct).

California shining cat, photo cat breed cat image
California shining cat, photo cat breed cat image

California Spangled Cat. © Gatoteria

Californian Sparkle Cat: Buying a Kitten

Tips for Keeping and Feeding a Sparkle Cat

Nicknames for Californian Sparkle Cats

California Sparkle Cat: Tips for Care of Hair, Eyes, Teeth and Ears

History of the breed

Outwardly, the Californian shining cat looks very similar to wild cats, but in fact it is a mixture of many breeds. Paul Arnold Casey Jr., a Hollywood playwright, screenwriter, author and animal rights activist, was inspired to create the breed by communicating with the paleoanthropologist Louis Leakey from Kenya. Working in Africa in 1971, Casey visited the famous Olduvai George Canyon. While in this historic site, he was shocked to hear that one of the last leopards in the area had just been killed by poachers. Then in California, Casey and Louis decided that if a person had a cat that looked like a small leopard, it would draw attention to the problems of big feral cats. In other words, people shouldn't want to wear fur coats that look like their favorite pets.

The idea sunk into Casey's soul, and in the mid-1970s, in the 11th generation, a cat that looks like a leopard that fits on his lap finally appeared. Casey spent 10 years perfecting the breed. He kept careful computer records of every breeding and found good homes for all kittens. In breeding Casey used Manx, Siamese, Angora, British Shorthair, American Shorthair and Abyssinian cat breeds. They were all introduced in a specific order to give the breed a specific trait. Wild cats were not used in the breeding program.

When the main breed line was developed, Casey added a spotted street cat from Egypt with the wild, primitive appearance that Casey wanted in his creation. Convex forehead, heavy musculature, widely spaced eyes and ears, well-developed vibrissa pads. And of course the spots.

California shining cat, cat breed photography cat photo
California shining cat, cat breed photography cat photo

Californian shining cat. © dbphotosfile

According to Casey, this Egyptian cat is a descendant of the spotted cat, which was worshiped by the ancient Egyptians. He also found that the Egyptian cat has a wonderful outgoing personality, which is also important. At the very end, Casey added a short-haired spotted Malay domestic cat, thanks to which the radiant got its soft velvet coat.

In 1985, Casey finally got what he saw in his imagination. He brought together a small group of breeders to help promote the new breed and formed the Californian Shining Cat Fanciers Association (now the international CSCA). The association is engaged not only in the further development of the breed, but also in the protection of wild cats.

To draw the attention of the public to the cat, Casey ran an advertising campaign by placing photographs of cats in Newman Marcus's 1986 Christmas catalog. The photographs of the cats were featured on the centerfold, representing gifts "for him" and "for her" at a cost of $ 1,400 each. This promotion caused a great resonance, since the same catalog featured fox, beaver, mink, coyote, ermine coats. With his actions, Casey has angered almost everyone, from animal rights activists who oppose deliberate breeding of domestic cats to cat lovers who believe that the three already recognized spotted breeds are more than enough.

However, it is said that there is no bad publicity, and this controversy has brought the shining cat fame in a way that it would never have achieved otherwise. Newman Marcus received hundreds of orders for cats that were clearly overwhelming. This significantly slowed down the development of the breed. As demand grew, so did the price of quality kittens, some of which sold for $ 2,500.

The standard was adopted by TICA in 1993. Today the breed is still very small and not accepted by most associations. A total of 58 cats were officially registered. At the beginning of 2010, around 200 individuals of this breed were believed to live around the world. Today, the Californian Shining Cat is considered extinct by TICA (the only association to recognize the breed). However, a small group of breeders continue to work with the breed and try to preserve it. Members of the association consider these cats to be little ambassadors of their wild brethren.

California shining cat image cat breed cat picture
California shining cat image cat breed cat picture

The appearance of the California shining cat

The California shining cat looks like a small leopard in its spots, low hunting gait, long, slender muscular body. Its front legs are bent at an angle of almost 90 °, allowing its body to creep low, enhancing its resemblance to a wild cat.

The body is long, thin, somewhat muscular. The skeleton is strong, but not massive. Well developed sinewy thighs. The head is medium in size, round in shape. The forehead is slightly convex. The transition from the forehead to the muzzle is weak. The muzzle is expressive, well developed, with strong jaws and a strong chin. The ears are medium in size, set high on the head and rather far from the face, giving the cat a wild look. The eyes are large, almond-shaped, slightly slanted, well open. Eye color from golden to brown, in cats with the color of the snow leopard - blue. Eye color should match the color. Green eyes are not allowed.

The neck is strong, of medium length. The legs are long, slender, very strong. Paws are large and round. Hind feet appear to be slightly longer than front feet. The tail is rather long, bushy, evenly thickened along its entire length from base to tip, with two to three dark rings and a dark tip. The coat is short, soft, close to the body. Slightly longer on belly and tail.

Dark streaks may be present on the head, chest, and legs, but the body should only be mottled. Spots can be grouped into rosettes. The spots should be dark, well defined and in sharp contrast to the base color. Eight color options are known: black, brown, blue, bronze, charcoal, red, gold and silver. Spotted tabby pattern: the body is evenly covered with spots of various shapes. Rounded or rectangular spots are preferred. Round, square, oval or triangular spots are permitted, while crescent, ring or fish scale marks are considered a blemish.

There are two varieties of these cats - the snow leopard and the royal shining. The snow leopard is similar to the Central Asian big cat of the same name. The light background, crisp spots and blue eyes make for a truly stunning effect. Snow leopard kittens are born completely white, with spots appearing as they mature. The royal shining is similar to the endangered royal cheetah. These kittens are born completely black except for the muzzle, paws and lower body. With age, stripes and crystal-shaped marks appear on the sides. On the muzzle, from the inner corner of the eye to the outer edge of the mouth, there are light stripes.

California shining cat, cat breed photography cat photo
California shining cat, cat breed photography cat photo

The nature and temperament of the Californian sparkling cat

Despite their wild appearance, Californian sparkling cats are very kind, curious, outgoing and loyal to their owners. They have a very sharp mind that allows them to keep their masters in their velvet paws. They prefer to sit higher to maintain eye contact with you and have a good view. Their ebullient energy and acrobatic abilities are admirable.

These cats have a highly developed hunting instinct, which can be experienced by your unsuspecting toes. They instantly grab a toy mouse, and if they're lucky, a real one. These cats love most of all games in which you take an active part. They love to be hugged and fondled. Friendly to children, good to strangers. They get along well with dogs and cats they grew up with.

Californian shining cats don't like being left alone for long periods of time. They constantly need contact with someone, otherwise the animals become nervous, easily get depressed and most often begin to "smash" the apartment.

These cats are very energetic, so it is highly advisable to buy for them a complex "cat tree" or a cat complex placed under the ceiling (or better, both). Thus, you will not only protect your belongings and furniture from damage, but also help keep your pet in good physical and psychological shape.

The best home for the Californian sparkling cat will be a country house where she can freely walk in the garden. And since these are excellent hunters, the pet will very quickly rid you of unwanted rodents.

These cats cannot be called very talkative. The best toys for them are feather toys, puzzle toys, and interactive toys (especially moving ones).

20 nicknames for Californian shining cats

For male kittens: Argos, Belenos, Varki, Daren, Calvin, Makki, Nikiti, Patvin, Ricky, Tocho.

For female kittens: Abela, Balma, Vaneta, Grecia, Jesilin, Zoanne, Ivianna, Kailin, Laurel, Nidoi.

See the full list of nicknames …

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