The Skookum cat breed arose as a result of crossbreeding Munchkin cats, known for their short legs, and Laperm cats, felines with curly hair, which resulted in a cat that was short on legs and curly hair. Skookum cats are cuddly, loyal, sociable and extremely kind companions, but they are also very active and playful.
They are very small cats, so much so that they are considered a dwarf cat breed. Nevertheless, despite its small size, it is a very strong and muscular cat.It is from the United States and it is a very recent breed, in fact, the first specimen was born in 1990. If you want to learn more, continue reading this breed sheet from PlanèteAnimal in order to discover all the characteristics of the Skookum cat, its origin, the care it needs, its state of he alth and where to adopt one.
Origin
- America
- United States
Physical Characteristics
- Thick Tail
- Big ears
- Strong
Size
- Little
Average Weight
- 3-5
Character
- Active
- Affectionate
- Smart
- Curious
Hair type
- Medium
Origin of Skookum Cat
The Skookum cat breed originated in the United States and it was created by Roy Galusha in 1990. Galusha was equally fascinated by Munchkin cats and Laperms, which is why he decided to breed them. cross. From this moment, other breeders decided to do the same in New Zealand, Australia and Europe.
" This is still not a consolidated breed by the major cat associations, it is a breed considered experimental by the Miniature Cat Association, the New Zealand Cat Register and independent European cat registries, as well only by TICA (The International Cat Association), in addition, his name has still not been approved. As it is an experimental cat breed, the Skookum can be seen in some cat shows in Australia, moreover, it is a Skookum cat the first champion of Little Miss Moppet."
" On the other hand, Skookum&39;s name refers to its appearance, it is a word that comes from Chinnok, the language of a Native American tribe in the Northwestern United States, and which means powerful or grandiose because, despite their reduced appearance, they are very powerful cats. The word Skookum was also used to refer to good he alth or good spirits and to prove that something is pleasing to a person."
Characteristics of Skookum Cat
As we said, the Skookum cat is small in stature and has shorter bones than other cat breeds. Thus, they weigh less. Concretely, males weigh between 2 and 3 kg and females between 1.5 and 2 kg, which is almost 50% of the weight of a standard adult cat. In all its physical characteristics, we must speak of:
- Muscular, low and robust body
- Short legs, rear longer than front
- Rounded wedge-shaped head
- Round and compact feet
- Round neck and chest
- Big eyes, walnut-shaped, and very expressive
- Clogged and prominent eyebrows and mustaches
- Big triangular ears
- Long tail, hairy and rounded at the end
- Soft curly hair. Short or medium sized coat. That of males is generally curlier than that of females
Skookum Cat Colors
The Skookum cat breed can present several colors and drawing patterns, such as:
- Solid.
- Tigray or Tabby.
- Colorpoint.
- Two-tone.
- Black.
- White.
- Brown.
Skookum cat character
Perhaps for its size, this breed of cat can make you believe that it is very delicate, low in energy and fearful, but it's quite the opposite! The Skookum cat combines the characteristics of its two parents, which is why they are active, intelligent, tender, athletic, gentle and confident cats.
Cats of the Skookum breed are sociable and get along very well with other pets. In addition, they are perfect for families with children. They are also cats that need a lot of affection, so they should never be left alone. On the other hand, Skookum cats love to play a lot and they are quite capable of learning to walk around on a leash.
Furthermore, Skookum breed cats are very confident and sure of themselves and, although they are short-legged, they don't hesitate for a second to jump up and climb over anything. who gets in their way.Being strong and energetic, they love to play and they won't hesitate for a second to accompany their guardians in all your daily activities.
Caring for a Skookum Cat
Taking care of these cats is not really different from what you should do with any other breed of cat: a varied and balanced diet, containing all the essential amino acids, good quality proteins, adapting calories to its physiological and physical state. It must be remembered that the changes in food must be made gradually so as not to cause digestive alterations, nor must you overfeed them because they are cats that tend to suffer from obesity. Water, like all cats, prefers it when it's in motion, so opting for a fountain is a great idea.
As for brushing, it is a breed of cat with curly hair, so it will have to be brushed several times a week, in addition, these moments will allow you to create a good guardian-cat bond.You also need to pay attention to the state of his hair in order to watch out for the presence of parasites or infections.
Skookum Cat He alth
The Skookum cat's short legs can cause spinal or bone problems because, in fact, the size of its legs is due to a type of dwarfism called achondroplasia. This bone dysplasia is genetic and consists of a change in the genetic material that creates alterations in the fibroblast growth factor 3 receptor, which consequently generates anomalies in the formation of cartilage and alterations in the growth of bones. bone. Therefore, the kitten needs to be active and you need to make sure they get exercise to keep their muscles strong. It will also be necessary to bring it frequently to the veterinarian so that he makes sure that everything is running smoothly. Although nowadays it seems that these cats do not have many he alth problems, the fact of raising a breed with this mutation can condition the quality and the life expectancy of the cat.It is very important that these cats do not grow to obesity as this is a condition that will greatly aggravate the problems.
" Apart from what we have just said, as this is a new experimental breed, veterinarians do not have enough perspective to know if they are likely to suffer more or less from certain diseases. Experts suspect it&39;s possible that these cats may be suffering from hypothyroidism and kidney problems that are linked to achondroplasia. The famous Grumpy Cat who died in 2019 was barely 6 years old and he suffered from achondroplasia and prognathism (larger front lower teeth due to a genetic jaw deformity), he ended up dying due to related complications kidney infection."
Although an average life expectancy has not been established, it is believed that if achondroplasia causes no pain or consequences, its life expectancy would be the same as all well cared for cats .
Where to adopt a Skookum cat?
Adopting a Skookum cat is really difficult because it is a very recent breed. If you are interested in adopting a Skookum, you can approach shelters or associations that fight for animal protection. If these associations do not have a Skookum to offer you for adoption, they will certainly offer you a Munchkin or Laperm breed cat.
You must remember that a kitten of this breed, despite its kind character, needs a series of specific cares. As we have explained to you, you will have to be especially careful that they do not grow, in fine, you will therefore have to make sure that they remain active. If you are not sure that you can face this challenge and that you do not necessarily feel able to offer him the best quality of life possible, it would be better for you to adopt another breed of cat.Neither cats nor the rest of the pets are toys, they are all beings who feel and suffer like everyone else and who do not deserve to have a bad quality of life for a whim.
Photos of Le Skookum
