When getting pets, people choose an animal that is different from their brothers (unless, of course, they have the financial capabilities to do this). The desire to stand out by the presence of an unusual specimen in the house supports and stimulates breeding, as a result of which new rare breeds of cats appear. Despite their high cost, and sometimes the difficulty of leaving, purrs love to buy them willingly. Often you have to sign up and wait for the coveted kitten for months. Among all breeds, the Ural Rex stands apart. It has not only a non-standard look, but also attractive behavioral features, which makes it very attractive for those who want to have a cat at home.
Rare breeds of cats
Despite the fact that the Ural Rex is an officially recognized breed, it is still not widespread. It can be safely entered into the list of rare lines, which includes:
- Munchkins are cats with short paws. A characteristic feature was not deliberately derived, but became a fixed consequence of mutations. In the world they are known under the title of “kangaroo cat” for their manner of sitting - and for a long time - on their hind legs.
- Toygers are a new breed whose color exactly reflects the tiger color. The standard was approved only in 2003.
- Elves are cats resembling aliens, almost hairless, with crooked, twisted ears.
- Manksi, who received the name from the Isle of Man, where they were brought. Cats are tailless from birth; some may have a very short process.
- Laperma - Oregon curly cats. The ancestor of the breed was the Kurly kitten, born in the 80s of the bygone century.
Each rare breed has its own distinctive feature. This also applies to the “Urals”, which we will talk about later.
Origin of breed
Ural Rex boasts primarily the eccentricity of the formation of the breed. She was not intentionally bred as a result of decades of selection and was not the result of any mutation. The breed belongs to the so-called aboriginal, that is, it developed by itself, and people only fixed the trait they liked. A fairly significant population of domestic cats with curly hair in the Urals existed in the pre-war years. During the war, they almost disappeared, although individual individuals appeared and were recorded in the 60s. The Ural Rex breed began to revive since 1988, when the cat Vasily was born , carrying a rare curly gene. It was in Zarechensk, where he came from, that a close study, cultivation and improvement of the breed began. In August 2006, it was recognized by the WCF General Assembly in the German city of Essen. Around the same time, the Ural Rex as an independent breed was recognized by other felinological systems - MFA and FARUS.
Characteristic uniqueness
A distinctive feature of the breed was the unusual coat of the animal. The Ural Rex cat has a curl not noted in any other breed, with elastic corrugation and a small step between the waves. In addition, the wool of the “Ural” is hypoallergenic (and it is precisely because of allergies to it that many regretfully have to abandon the idea of having a purring pet at home). Another feature of the Ural Rex is non-standard molting. The cat does not lose hair constantly, forcing the owners to regularly clean. Her lumps during the change of cover remain only on a constant bed or comb.
Another nice feature, which the Ural Rex compares favorably with artificially bred breeds - exceptional health and unpretentiousness. There are neither genetic diseases, nor characteristic of this line - animals are as close to nature as possible and usually do not cause any trouble with the owners.
Breed standard
According to the description presented in felinological systems, the Ural Rex must meet the following requirements:
- In terms of size, they belong to the middle category, the torso should be round and proportionate, the chest should be round, well defined and developed.
- The head should have the outline of a short rounded wedge, the forehead is slightly flattened; in profile, the muzzle should also have rounded outlines, with a strong but not prominent chin.
- Ears are triangular, with equal sides, mostly small, of medium size. The supply is high and straight, the top tip is rounded.
- The eyes are almond-shaped, a little slanting, set wide. Any colour.
- The legs are medium in length, rather slender than strong.
- The tail is also medium, not very wide at the base and tapering noticeably to the tip.
As for the color, there are few restrictions. Cinnamon, chocolate and any shades of them are denied. Burmese and points are also not recognized.
Maintenance and care
The Ural Rex is good because it practically does not require any special cares. The structure of his coat is such that to maintain it in a presentable form, it is enough just to stroke the cat. During periods of molting, daily combing is required. But even if you skip sessions, no tricks will be formed (unlike, for example, Persians).
An inexperienced owner of the “Ural” must remember that it is necessary to bathe a cat as rarely as possible - his skin is thin, it dries easily. Frequent wetting may cause loss of coat. However, knowing how much cats "love" water procedures, such a restriction is only a joy.
The nature of the Urals
In the behavioral plan, representatives of the breed can be considered just angels. They are non-aggressive, balanced and complaisant. The "Urals" do not have conflicts with other animals, they are patient with babies, sensitive to the mood of family members and react to them in the right way, without being indifferent. Cats of this breed are playful and mobile, affectionate, but without obsession. Each of the owners, evaluating the temperament of his cat, leaves only positive reviews. Owners of the Ural Rex are especially noted for their silence. They purr with pleasure, but they don’t arrange cat concerts, even in the period of unsatisfied rut. Because of this, animals are not sterilized, even if they are not breeding.
Where can I buy "Ural"
Since the breed is new, it is still small and not widespread. The largest selection offers Ekaterinburg with its surroundings. In Moscow, if you are interested in the Ural Rex, kittens are sold in the Uralochka kennel, there are breeders in St. Petersburg, Sevastopol, Volgograd and Perm. In far abroad countries, good quality kittens can be bought in German Dresden.
A good kitten with a pedigree, depending on the line and class, costs from 300 to 1000 dollars. Cats are traditionally priced cheaper than cats. If you are satisfied with the culling by color (well, you are not going to breed, you just like the breed), then you can buy a pet of thousands for seven rubles.