California Spangled Cat
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| California Spangled Cat | |
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| Country of origin | |
| United States | |
| Breed standard | |
| TICA | : standard |
The California Spangled Cat was a breed of cat which became extinct in the 1990s.[1] They were bred to resemble spotted wildcats, like the ocelot and leopard. They were originally bred in the 1980s and were only ever a rare breed, and were usually expensive, priced between $800 to $2,500. The popularity of two other spotted cats breeds- the Ocicat and the Bengal- overshadowed their development.
Inspired by the poaching death of a leopard, the anthropologist Louis Leakey motivated Californian scriptwriter Paul Casey to breed a domestic cat resembling a small leopard, and that this would emphasize how important it is to preserve the leopard.
California Spangled Cats were a crossbreed of many strains of cat, including the Abyssinian, American Shorthair and British Shorthair. Despite their wild appearance, they were completely domestic.
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[edit] Physical Features
This cat gives the initial impression of being a miniature leopard. It has a long, lean, somewhat muscular body, a low slung walk, along with those irreplaceable spots. The most desired shape of spots on the cats are round, yet somewhat blockish. Triangular, oval, or square spots are acceptable also. The Spangle's coat may be any of the following colors: bronze, gold, blue, brown, charcoal, red, black, silver, or white.[2] They have conspicuous cheekbones and light, large whisker pads.[3] Spangles may look wild but are purely domestic and adore playing and interacting with their people.[4]
[edit] History
Originally bred by Paul Casey, a Hollywood scriptwriter, after his return from Tanzania. This animal was ideally bred to resemble a leopard, thusly giving the impression of a "House-Leopard".[5] His motivation for this breed was that people would not want wear the same type of fur that it looked like their pet had.[6] The Spangle was first introduced in a Nieman Marcus catalog in 1986.[7]
[edit] Personality
California Spangled Cats are affecionate, social, curious, and extremely devoted to their owners. They are big on eye contact and being in on the action, they love to perch on places that are at your shoulder or eye level so that they can see exactly what is going on. These kitties are known for their well-honed intelligence, athletic abilities, high energy level, and accidental acrobatics. California Spangled Cats love to pounce and have very sharp hunting skills, they also enjoy games that involve a large participation part by their owner.[8]
[edit] References
- ^ http://www.worldcatcongress.org/dwnld/wcc_min_1999.pdf
- ^ Syufy, Franny. "California Spangle." Ask.Com. 1 Life's Abundance Pet Foods. 19 Feb. 2008 <http://cats.about.com/od/breedprofiles/p/caspangle.htm>.
- ^ Appearance." All About Cats. 1 iLoveindia. 3 Mar. 2008 <http://pets.iloveindia.com/cats/cat-breed/california-spangled-cat.html>.
- ^ Tyson . Pretty Kitty. Flint River Ranch Premium Pet Food. 11 Mar. 2008 <http://www.geocities.com/pndtpa/breeds/CaliforniaSpangledCat.htm>.
- ^ Bryant, Matt. "History." Furry Critter Network; California Spangled. 1 Cat Fanciers Association Inc.. 20 Feb. 2008 <http://www.furrycritter.com/resources/cats/California_Spangled.htm>.
- ^ Syufy, Franny. "History of the California Spangle." Ask.com. 1 Windows Vista. 25 Feb. 2008 <http://cats.about.com/od/breedprofiles/p/caspangle.htm>.
- ^ Ask.com. Arm and Hammer cat litter. 12 Mar. 2008 <http://cats.about.com/od/californiaspangledcat/California_Spangled_Cat.htm>.
- ^ Helgren, Anne J. "Personality." Petplace.com. 1 Promeris. 27 Feb. 2008 <http://www.petplace.com/cats/choosing-a-california-spangled-cat/page1.aspx>.
[edit] External links
