California shining is a very rare breed of cat. It was bred specifically to show humanity that wild animals are not a subject of hunting fun, nor a toy, nor a trophy. This is part of nature, and you need to touch them with love and respect.
A shining California cat is surprisingly similar to a small leopard. If you want to have such an exotic animal at home, but are afraid not to cope with its wild temper, it is for you. There is nothing of the "savage" in it. She is sweet, courteous and completely safe.
A bit of history
About the appearance of a shining California cat, you can shoot full dramatic pictures. Moreover, she owes her appearance to one of the American screenwriters.
While filming on the African continent, Casey was simply dumbfounded by the brutality with which poachers destroyed leopards. And all because of the chic skins of amazing colors. Being literally shocked by the cruelty he saw, he returned to his homeland and shared his impressions with his anthropologist Louis Lickey. Together they came to the conclusion that if people were made to see in these animals not only fur coats and mantles, but also loyal friends, then extermination could be stopped. As a result, it was decided to breed a special breed of cats, the fur coat of which would repeat the coloring of the leopards. After all, if a person has such a pet at home, he is unlikely to want to buy a leopard coat.
For the planned breeding project, as many as 10 different breeds of pussies were involved. Among them are Abyssin, Manx, Angora, Siamese and some others. The “cherry on the cake” was an Egyptian street cat, who was also attracted to the experiment.
It took as many as 11 generations and years of selection work to make the pussy of a new breed purr on the lap of the researchers.
Why is she shining?
A description of the California radiant is worth starting with a transcript of its name. With the first part, everything is clear - she was born in California. But what about the second part? Each “decent” breed has its own legend. Shining cats also have it. Its essence is that the ancestors of this animal traveled with gold miners, their masters. Particles of gold dust settled on the fur of pussies, because of this it began to shine. Over time, shining hairs became an integral part of the skin. This feature was inherited. Hence the name.
Most likely, this is just a beautiful fairy tale. But the fact that the spotted fur coat of kittens of this breed is surprisingly smooth and gleaming is really true.
Another interesting feature of the breed, bringing it closer to the wild fellow leopards, is flexibility and mobility. Pussies are very active and rarely sit in one place. This is a fairly large breed, so a pet will need a lot of space.
Character
For all its vernal “savagery,” the purr has a kind and responsive disposition. Californian radiant character is very friendly, sociable and affectionate. She adores kids and quickly finds a common language with her. She treats babies especially reverently.
Not afraid of a cat and strangers. This cat will never hide if guests come to the house.
Young pussy very quickly and strongly attached to the owner, literally follow him. At the same time, they are rather silent and will not vote for no reason. California cats get along well with other representatives of the cat world, but dogs are not too favored. The friendliest behavior that they are capable of in this case is simply not to notice the dogs.
If there are birds, rabbits, ferrets, fish or various rodents in the house, the owners will not have time to come to their senses, as the cat will demonstrate its hunting instincts. Pussy is perfectly trained, easily remembers the rules of conduct and is well accustomed to the bowl and tray. It can execute several commands, smart and non-conflict.
Exterior
A shining California cat is incredibly similar to a mini leopard. Her body has the shape of a pronounced rectangle. Strong constitution, muscles are developed perfectly. These are quite large animals. The weight of some individuals is able to reach 8 kg. The average weight is just over 4 kg.
The tail of these animals has an equal thickness along the entire length and does not have light marks on the tip. This is a very important feature that you should pay attention to when evaluating.
A rounded head with a convex frontal part is set on a rather long and flexible neck. The ears are small, set high and have rounded tips. Especially the "Californians" eyes stand out. They are large, almond-shaped and harmoniously combined with the color of the coat. Along the lower eyelid is a little white eyeliner.
The coat is short, soft and smooth, firmly pressed to the body. On the tail and belly, it can slightly lengthen.
The most important thing that distinguishes the “Californians” is their way of moving. They literally creep on the ground, as if creeping up to prey. This is explained by the structure of the forepaws, in which the radial and humerus are located at right angles. In this case, the legs themselves are small, rounded in shape.
Color spectrum
The colors of the shining California can be very diverse. The paws, tummy and muzzle are usually slightly lighter than the main body. The fur coat of a California cat is her main wealth. The breed standards recognize as many as 8 colors: gray-anthracite and black, red and gold, blue, bronze, silver and brown. The similarity of a fur coat to the skin of a snow leopard is also welcomed.
It is noteworthy that the kittens of this breed are born completely black and only as they grow older they acquire one or another color.
With age, spots also appear. They can be of different types and sizes, can be grouped into chic patterns or arranged in bulk. The main thing is that they do not take the form of fish scales. Rings or crescent-shaped marks are also not allowed. Dark streaks are likely to appear on the head, chest, or legs.
If you put alongside the photos of a wild young leopard and a California homemade radiant pussy, the differences will be minimal.
Care Features
The care and maintenance of a California radiant does not imply any special skills. Regular cutting of the claws, combing the fur coat and rubbing the eyes for them is familiar and does not cause resistance.
The main thing that the Californian needs is the ability to throw out her wild energy. They love to jump, run, climb all kinds of stairs and passages. It is best to provide the animal with as much space as possible for games and equip a special corner according to the principle "the higher, the better." Shelves, ladders, drawers and transitions between them are what these fidgets adore.
If the house already has any living creatures, it is better to move it to another room. Otherwise, your beloved hamster can be a delicious breakfast for a young hunter.
Defective kittens
Animals, like people, are not always born beautiful and healthy. If you intend to participate in the exhibition, you must know the criteria by which a shining California cat may not qualify. This does not mean that you will love her less or she is somehow sick. Not. It’s just that there are certain standards whose non-compliance can prevent your pet from becoming a wonderful specimen for reproducing quality offspring. By the way, when buying a kitten, keep in mind that the cost of "defective" kittens is much lower than the "original". Therefore, if you are offered a baby at a clearly lower cost, then it is likely that something is wrong with him.
Among the parameters for culling are the following:
- too big body;
- very round muzzle;
- light spots on a fur coat;
- green eyes;
- pointed tips of the ears;
- white hair at the tip of the tail;
- the presence of spots of irregular shape (sickle, scales, ring).
The presence of such qualities in no way suggests that the cat is sick. It just appeared in her ancestor genes that do not meet the standards invented by people. The animal will still love you and delight with its presence for many years, but it is not suitable for breeding.
Health and possible diseases
California shining cat breed boasts surprisingly good health and excellent immunity. This breed is quite young, it is a little over 40 years old. The breed has not gained much popularity and therefore is not bred by nurseries on an industrial scale. It is rather an exclusive animal. They have absolutely no genetic defects and diseases that can be inherited. Your favorite will be awake and active until his most advanced years.
If you take care of the animal correctly, regularly visit the veterinarian for the purpose of prevention and fully feed, the shining cat can live up to 20 years. The basis of a healthy lifestyle for this breed is movement. So it is necessary to make sure that the cat has a lot of space for games and walks. On average, shining California pussy live 13-15 years.
How much and where to buy
There is a real shining kitten very decent. Moreover, in order to buy an animal, you must first book it. This service is paid, and the cost is determined by the breeder himself.
The price of a California shining cat can reach 120 thousand rubles. A cat will cost you about 30 thousand rubles. cheaper.
This is such an exclusive breed that it is bred only in the USA. Nowhere else in the world there are nurseries for breeding shining kittens. So if you were offered to buy a cat in Russia, Belarus or Ukraine, most likely this is a hoax.
In order not to run into an unscrupulous seller, ask the breeder to provide a full package of documents. You must be issued a metric and a veterinary passport. They will confirm the purity of the breed, as well as the health of the baby. Many kennels provide lifelong pussy maintenance. This means that at any time you can turn to them for advice on any issue relating to your purses.