Each person in his own way represents the most beautiful and unusual breed of cats. Some people cannot imagine a pet without a soft and fluffy fur coat, while others will choose a hairless friend. Some felines naturally have original features: curly hair, lack of a tail, long torso or large size. What cat can be called the most unusual in the world?
No wool
Sphynxes are amazing: some representatives of this breed do not have a hair on them. But still, this feature does not occur very often; many subspecies of sphinxes still have a certain amount of thin and sparse hair.
Prominent representatives of sphinxes:
- Canadian. A little fluff on their body is acceptable, but it is practically invisible.
- Donskie. There is no hair on their body at all. Such cats are often chosen by people with allergies.
- Ukrainian Levkoy. They are distinguished not only by the absence of a fur coat, but also by their drooping ears. The breed is young. In 2007, she was officially registered by breeders from St. Petersburg.
- Peterbalds. Originally from St. Petersburg. Gradually, the breed became one of the most popular among lovers of hairless cats.
- Elves. A completely new look. They got their name from the original shape of their ears.
In contrast to hairless cats are furry felines. Some of the most interesting are exotics.
Snub-nosed and fluffy
The original appearance of exotic cats has received popular recognition, although they were bred by accident by crossing different cats in an attempt to improve the Persian's coat. The resulting breed was rejected, but unexpectedly it gained widespread popularity.
The face attracts lovers, because of which exotics are rightfully considered one of the most unusual cat breeds. The cat's snub nose, wide-set round eyes and flattened muzzle leave no one indifferent.
The exotic coat is more similar to the British coat - it is shorter than that of the Persians and has a thick and soft undercoat.
Exotic domestic cats of the mid-20th century
As a result of man's craving for the unusual, many cat breeds have appeared. Take, for example, the same exotics - representatives of the exotic shorthair cat breed. In the middle of the 20th century, they were bred in America, using two breeds as a basis: Persians and American Shorthairs.
And, it should be noted, the result turned out to be quite nice. Snoopy and his plush brothers with big eyes and snub noses are admired by the whole world.
But where are these cute cuties concerned with real exoticism? For some time now, in houses where everything was expensive and rich, completely different exotic species of cats began to be found!
The biggest
Maine Coons are unusual cats due to their outstanding body size. They have been loved all over the world for several centuries, ever since they were developed in North America. The usual weight for these strong guys is 10 kilograms. But it won’t be surprising if the pet grows larger. Some representatives reach 15-16 kilograms. The Maine Coon has a recorded body length of 120 centimeters.
This makes these cats one of the most unusual in the world. Moreover, their character has an original trait - a love of water. For her sake, they are ready to overcome difficulties and get wet at every opportunity.
Interesting! This love of water, according to one version, appeared thanks to their ancestors, whom sailors willingly took with them on voyages.
Amazing savannas
If a purebred Serval is not quite what you need, you can buy a Savannah cat. This breed is a cross between a domestic cat and a serval. Savannah reaches a weight of 15 kilograms, has large ears and a beautiful spotted coat. The cost is determined by the percentage of serval blood in the animal - the more of it, the more expensive the animal.
Savannah
Savannahs are very active, curious, jumping and water-loving. They cannot stand loneliness, preferring to be the center of attention. Free walking is contraindicated for them; a spacious enclosure needs to be equipped. Thanks to the genes of the domestic cat, Savannah can be given ready-made food without plant components. Mineral supplements with taurine will be beneficial for health. Savannahs have no health problems, with the exception of minor liver problems. They live quite a long time, 10–15 years.
Dachshund cat
More recently, a new breed has appeared - the munchkin. These short-legged cats officially appeared in 1991, after they were identified as a separate breed. Interestingly, no one specifically tried to get an animal with such an appearance. But a rare mutation created an original appearance, and breeders did not miss the opportunity to get a new look.
Short legs, which in this breed of cats are 2 times smaller than standard ones, make it difficult for a munchkin to jump on a sofa or quickly climb a tree, which makes them very unusual representatives of the graceful feline family. But they do not experience other inconveniences, and their musculoskeletal system functions perfectly.
No tail
Some representatives of the cat family have another anomaly - the absence of a tail. Some have preserved some of their vertebrae, while others are completely missing. This is another natural mutation, and not an attempt to create a breed artificially. These cats are called Manx.
Manx
Interesting! According to legend, a tailless cat sailed on a ship that crashed near the island. The fluffy sailor made it to land and gradually began to meet kittens on the island that had no tails.
Another breed does not have the usual tail, but several vertebrae are preserved, thanks to which it still has a short tail. These are bobtails. If a standard tail has about 23 vertebrae, then in the case of a bobtail there are no more than 7.
This unusual breed also has other talents - they can not only meow or purr, but also emit something similar to barking and chirping. Kurilian bobtails are cats that are unable to retract their claws, which makes them similar to cheetahs.
Kurilian Bobtail
Descriptions and photographs of exotic cats: guests from Africa
One of these very unusual pets is servals, “mini-cheetahs” native to Africa. They really have a very impressive and memorable appearance.
Servals
Servals are the longest-legged and largest-eared representatives of the cat family (naturally, we are talking about proportions compared to body size). They are the size of a decent dog - the height at the withers reaches 65 centimeters, and the weight is 18 kilograms.
In the wild, the serval needs this height to see prey in the tall grass. Large ears are also adapted for hunting - in order to successfully hunt rodents and birds, which constitute the main diet of the free predator.
Adults eat from 0.5 to 1.5 kilograms of meat per day. Those who sell these cats for keeping at home assure that pet food will not be so expensive - it can be poultry or beef (only fresh!) and special vitamins with calcium.
Those who are thinking of keeping this beautiful cat at home should keep in mind that this is the most dexterous and successful hunter among felines - more than half of its hunts end in victories (despite the fact that the king of animals, the lion, achieves his goal only in a third of cases). In pursuit of prey, it can reach car speeds of up to 80 km/h, jump 3.5 meters in length and 3 meters in height.
Can you imagine what kind of energy potential lies in this beautiful pussy? Are you sure that in your home it will be directed in a peaceful direction? And don’t forget that the serval has a nocturnal lifestyle in its blood.
In addition, in their “historical homeland” in Africa, servals live near water and love to swim. So in the house where the serval lives there must be a suitable body of water for him.
Serval breeders claim that they resemble dogs with their love of water and many other qualities. Well... take care of your shoes, furniture and whatever else you can chew on.
As for walks on a leash and balls that servals bring to their owners, this actually looks very impressive. Look at photos of exotic cats! But keep in mind that such a pet will entertain you only when it wants to - an animal whose ancestors lived in the wild for thousands of years will not be changed by several generations that grew up next to people.
In addition, servals are quite touchy and can remember for a long time some action of yours that seemed to them an expression of aggression.
Yes, one more nuance - even those who highly praise servals as pets unanimously recommend castrating and sterilizing them. Mature individuals have a very specific smell! So they are not for those who “feel sorry for the cat.” Keep in mind that the serval will mark not only things, but also the owner, to whom he becomes very attached.
If the beauty of the serval overshadows for you all the other nuances of living together with a wild African cat, a few tens of thousands of dollars - and it’s yours!
Savannah
There are different types of exotic cats sold on the Internet. Another such species is the savannah. This is a cross between a serval and a domestic cat. It is also quite large (up to 15 kilograms), big-eared, has a beautiful spotted skin and is also very high-status - last year it was recognized as the most expensive in the world. The higher the percentage of “wild” blood, the more expensive the animal.
From their wild ancestors, these cats (the Savannah breed is still not recognized among most felinologists) also received height. Savannah, nicknamed Troubble, holds the Guinness Book of Records record as the tallest cat.
Savannahs are also very active, jumping, water-loving and inquisitive. They are smart and love to be the center of attention. Loneliness is not for them. Free range, by the way, too. Savannah needs an enclosure, and a well-equipped one, so that there is somewhere to expend energy and realize the hunting instinct.
Since the Savannah is still partly a domestic cat, you can feed it with ready-made food, but only expensive, with a small content of plant components. Special supplements that include taurine are recommended.
With normal care and vaccination regimen, breeders do not notice any special health problems in Savannahs. Only sometimes does the liver become “naughty” in adult animals. Life expectancy is slightly less than that of servals. “Pure” Africans have an average of 20 years, and their hybrids have an average of 15 years. Those who want to breed savannas must keep in mind that cats are infertile - up to the 4th generation.
Miniature lynx, or caracal
Looking at photographs of exotic cats, you may see a miniature lynx among them. “Black ear” is how the name of the caracal is translated. What gives these cats a special charm are the tassels on their ears, which can reach 5 centimeters in length. The caracal itself is lower than its previously described counterparts, but is not inferior in weight to them and can weigh up to 19 kilograms.
Those who want such a miracle to decorate their home need to take into account all the previously described features of keeping a semi-wild cat at home. And her need for space, swimming and activity, and mandatory sterilization, and food - the kind that predators eat in normal living conditions.
Particular attention should be paid to the fact that caracals should not be given pork, spicy and salty foods. Vitamins with calcium are required.
Despite this cat’s funny appearance, playfulness and need for people, we must not forget that the caracal, like other most exotic cat breeds, has a wild nature. Even if such a cat grew up in your house, you shouldn’t be sure that he will be able to stop playing in time or be able to distinguish a child’s prank from a real threat.
In short, the most exotic domestic cats mean not only prestige and status, but also great responsibility and even danger. A lot is on the scales - both the life of an animal, which of its own free will would never choose life in a “golden cage,” and the peace of your family. Maybe to take a beautiful photo with such an animal, it’s enough to go to Africa?
leopard cat
Bright spotted color is a distinctive feature of Bengal cats. They have short golden fur, which gives them a resemblance to their wild relatives.
The first representative appeared in the mid-20th century, when a wild Bengal cat, bought on the black market, gave birth to offspring from a domestic cat. This is how the animal turned out with a gentle disposition and a predatory coloration. This is a happy occasion, because such crossing almost never ends in success.
