Nature without human intervention may surprise with its capabilities regarding the appearance of some animals. Among the brightest representatives of such a phenomenon, the Ural Rex cat breed stands out. Her fame spread throughout the world due to the unique animal hair, which quickly became popular among breeders.
Characteristic
Cat breed Ural Rex is a very rare species of animal, distinguished by curly hair. In the formation and breeding of such representatives of the family of feline people did not participate, so its origin is considered a natural process of gene mutation in animals. Russia is considered to be the birthplace of the Ural Rex, the first records of such unusual cats date back to the 40s of the last century.
Today, there are a number of parameters that must be met by an animal of this rare breed.
- Purebred rexes are medium-sized cats and cats. The body of the animal should be slim and muscular. The head is wedge-shaped with a broad forehead. The cheekbones are set wide, the profile is curved. Chin and jaw well developed.
- Ears should not be large, planted in a vertical position with rounded tops. Eyes will have an impressive size, there is a certain diagonalism. The color of the pupils is usually in the tone of the hair of the animal.
- Limbs of medium length, slender with oval legs. The tail does not stand out for its size, its end must be rounded.
- Valid options for wool are long-haired and short-haired types, however, the first option assumes the presence of an average length of hair in an animal. To the touch it is soft, the curls are arranged in waves all over the body of the animal, including the tail. The presence of the mane is not a deviation from the standards.
Curls in cats are formed by about 3-4 months, however, curls will acquire a peak of their appearance by 6 months. As a rule, cats will be smaller than males. The weight of the first will be 4-5 kilograms, while the cats can weigh 5-7 kilograms. Since the breed is considered native, animals stand out for their high immunity and lack of a tendency to genetic diseases, the average life expectancy of such pets will be 14-15 years.
Types of colors
Animals may have different coat color.
Most cats of the Ural Rex breed will be:
- red;
- cream;
- blue;
- black or blue tortie;
- white;
- gold;
- black
- silvery.
As for the pattern on wool, in this case, the following options are valid:
- tabby;
- van;
- harlequin;
- bicolor
According to the accepted standards, the following colors are considered a discrepancy for a breed:
- cinnamon;
- Abyssinian ticking;
- chocolate;
- color burmese cat.
The formation of coat color in kittens of the Ural Rex occurs progressively, therefore initially the animals will be mostly gray.
But after the first molt shade disappears. As for the adults of black color, when they reach the age of two, the coat color is gradually oxidized, which leads to its change to brown or gold.
Character traits
Animals of this breed are located to the person, according to reviews of the owners have a good and docile disposition. Cats with pleasure express their disposition to the person with caress, intuitively feel the mood of their breeder.
Pets quickly adapt to new conditions. Getting into the house, strongly attached to the owners.
In the case of respect and tenderness on the part of a person, they respond with doubled reciprocity.
Rex accompanies his master everywhere, very patiently treats small children, not expressing his aggression towards them and other pets in the house. Animals have a playful and cheerful nature, however, in their desire to have fun, they do not bother people if they are not disposed towards the game at the moment.
Cats like to bask with a person in his bed, pets are also often asleep on their hands, for the Ural Rex, loneliness is a difficult moment, so animals are not recommended to be left alone for long. Curly pets are focused on their owner and the family in which they live, and cats and cats with trepidation belong to their offspring. To the same extent, this instinct is manifested in fathers and mothers.
Due to its calm nature, Rexs are in excellent contact even with strangers, which makes it easier for them to get used to the new conditions of life and their owners.
How to choose?
In addition to taking into account the external characteristics specified in the description of the breed, when buying Curly cats should be guided by the following criteria.
- The liked animal should have a neat and well-groomed appearance. The pet should not have defects on the coat, as well as discharge from the eyes and nose. Such moments may indicate health problems for the animal. It is also useful to conduct a visual inspection of the wool to ensure that there are no parasites.
- It is worth paying attention to the behavior of the kitten. The animal must be friendly, healthy cats are always active. Opposite conditions will talk about errors in the maintenance of cats and possible diseases.
- The selected cat must have all signs of the breed. Also, you should not buy an animal of such a rare breed in natural markets without documents. Each pet must have a veterinary passport containing information about vaccination and pedigree.
Kittens of the Ural rex at a younger age should be curly, however, some irregularities in the curls are not a deviation. The animals have a very distinct skull, and the eyes will be bulging and set wide apart. You should not buy very small kittens, as the mother must pass on immunity to her cub with milk. In addition, the baby, who was too early weaned from the mother, may further have serious psychological problems, apart from the tendency to frequent illnesses.
The animal must be with its mother for some time in order to learn the basics of self-care, communication with other animals, play, etc. As a rule, closer to two months the rex will be ready for independent living.
Content
Breed does not cause difficulties for breeders in terms of animal care at home. Pets are very fond of various shelters and houses, so the owner of the Ural Rex is recommended to purchase or make a cat a cozy refuge. Animals often prefer to climb inside, so the house should be as comfortable as possible. At the same time, it is not necessary to make an observation deck for this breed.
Also curly animals will need for the house to buy a scraper, a few small toys.
Nutrition
The breed is not prone to obesity, however, the breeder's diet is still recommended to be kept under control. The Ural Rex is suitable for industrial food, it is better to choose premium products. Also, cats and cats can be fed natural food. In the second case, the diet should be as balanced as possible so that the animal’s body does not experience a deficiency in any minerals and vitamins. Rexam should definitely give fish and meat, as well as milk, eggs, vegetables and cereals.
Under the ban remains spicy, fatty, salty and fried foods from the general family table. From meat products, pets should choose beef or chicken, as well as offal. Meat can be offered to cats in raw or boiled form. As for cereals and cereals, the introduction of legumes in the diet should be abandoned. Of the eggs, the cat will need to give only the yolk.
Fish for the Ural Rex should be pre-boiled, the priority will be river seafood.
The question of the frequency of feeding the representative of the family of felines is quite acute, since it is important to form a certain meal schedule in order to adjust the digestion. Small kittens up to 3 months can be fed up to 5 times a day. Upon reaching 6 months, you should reduce the frequency of meals up to 4 times. Closer to 9 months, it is recommended to feed the cats three times a day; the animal should be transferred to an adult diet regime closer to one year. The diet of pregnant cats and weak animals should be less rigid, however, you should not overfeed pets. Access to clean water is a must when keeping an animal, especially when feeding with ready-made feeds.
Hygiene
Features wool native breed suggest the implementation of her special care. This will keep her personality and attractive appearance of the animal, regardless of its age. Particular attention should be paid to a small pet during the molting period, when it will naturally get rid of gray hairs. Adult cats also need attention to their wool from the breeder, as the wave of curls of cats, its smoothness and intensity will depend on high-quality and regular grooming.
In addition, combing has a beneficial effect on the uniformity of coat color, especially during the molting period.
Experienced breeders recommend using brushes with natural bristles for combing, as a rule, two procedures per week will be enough. Show cats curly wool can be further smoothed with natural suede.
As for the molt, at this time the Rex need to remove excess villi with a trimmer, since they do not fall out on their own.
Cats of this breed do not need water procedures, therefore they should be bathed in case of emergency. Breeders should be aware that water can adversely affect the sensitive skin of pets, overdrying it. However, many members of this breed are not afraid of water, and are willing to play and explore with it. For bathing Rex should use only gentle specialized means for sensitive skin.
Animals of this breed are not prone to any disease. As the experience of Rex breeding shows, pets are extremely rare. But regular visits to the vet and routine vaccination for animals are mandatory.
Despite its strong immunity, cats can suffer from parasites along with the rest of the breeds, so preventive measures and treatments for fleas, ticks and worms are needed by each individual.
For breeders of the Ural Rex, there are a number of rules regarding care, which should be followed:
- cats need to wipe their eyes daily with a damp cotton swab;
- cleaning of the ears is allowed once a week;
- inspection and cleaning of the oral cavity is carried out every month;
- claws are recommended to trim as they grow, but at least 2 times a month;
- comb the animal must be twice a week.
In general, animals show autonomy in terms of personal care, therefore, adult cats and cats are able to cope with most mandatory activities on their own. The breeder is required to control these processes, if necessary, to help his pet.
More information about this breed can be found in the video below.