California Spangled
These cats are named after their home region and the dark, round marks on their coat similar to those you see on the plumage of some birds. While they might look wild, these cats are very affectionate and close to their humans. Their vivacity and agility, which allows them to jump great heights, will surprise many people. Being particularly playful, they make ideal companions for family life.
Key facts about the California Spangled
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Origins and history
In the 1970s, an American scientist, Paul Casey, returned from a trip to Tanzania with the idea of creating a cat breed resembling the little spotted foxes he had seen on his travels. He decided that if he created a house cat with a leopard’s coat but an affectionate temperament, then fewer people would want to wear fur. There are many breeds that make up the family tree of the resulting cat, such as Siamese, Abyssinian, British Shorthair and even some Asian and Egyptian stray cats. It took eleven generations for Casey to reach the model he’d envisaged. For some time, the California Spangled was a Hollywood muse, before being dethroned by the Bengal. Today, the breed has practically disappeared and there are only a few individuals left.
Physical characteristics of the California Spangled
Adult size
Female : Between 12 and 14 in
Male : Between 12 and 14 in
They reach their adult size at around 18 months old.
Weight
Female : Between 7 and 11 lb
Male : Between 11 and 15 lb
Coat colour
Black / seal, blue / slate grey, chocolate, lilac, cinnamon, fawn, red, white
All colours are recognised by GCCF.
Type of coat
Short
Eye colour
Blue / aquamarine, golden yellow
Their eyes can be a number of different shades. Only green is discriminative.
Description
The California Spangled is a long-bodied cat with powerful musculature. They are fairly large, with long legs that end in big, round paws with prominent toes. Their ears are large but quite short with rounded ends, sitting high on their head and turned slightly backwards. The tail is average-sized and uniform from base to tip. The forehead is separated from the strong, well-defined nose by a slight stop. Their ovular, almond-shaped eyes overlook prominent, well-developed cheekbones and a strong chin. Their fur is short and soft to the touch.
Good to know
Instead of being presented at a feline show, the California Spangled was first introduced commercially via the front page of an American mail-order catalogue, the Neiman-Marcus. The cat was such a success that it took two years to meet the demand from the first month it appeared.
Temperament
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Affectionate
These cats are very affectionate and happily join in with the family activities by observing all the tasks, actions and goings-on amongst the occupants of their home.
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Playful
These excellent hunters are also extremely playful, needing to use up lots of energy. They particularly enjoy play sessions with their human.
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Calm
Very active and extremely energetic, they can make vertiginous jumps and take great pleasure in it! Quite the opposite of a calm and composed cat!
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Intelligent
Their vivacity is impressive. If they are presented with regular training sessions, they are capable of learning several tricks, such as offering their paw, fetching a toy, etc.
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Fearful / wary of strangers
Very sociable, they will voluntarily approach humans.
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Independent
Owing to their affectionate and playful nature, they need the presence of their human to feel good: solitude is not their strong point!
Behaviour of the California Spangled
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Chatty
Quite untalkative, their meow is soft and discreet.
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Need for exercise / Sporty
Very sporty, they need to use up all their energy every day in order to feel tip-top.
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Tendency to run away
Although they are fond of outdoor walks during which they’ll happily use their hunting skills, their attachment to their home will stop them from ever going too far.
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Greedy / Gluttony
These cats aren’t particularly greedy, but their large size translates into high energy requirements. Their food must be not only of a high quality, but ideally regulated with interactive bowls too.
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Is the California Spangled right for you?
take the testCompatibility
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California Spangled and cats
Like all cats, they enjoy being the only feline in the house. However, they can acclimatise to life in a community if their environment is suited to the number of cats and if the introduction is done correctly.
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California Spangled and dogs
Their good nature makes it possible for them to get along with their canine counterparts, as long as the introduction between the two species is done correctly and the environment offers them plenty of high spots to escape to.
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California Spangled and children
Their taste for fun and their high energy make these cats a great playmate for children, provided the child knows to respect the cat and their needs.
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California Spangled and the elderly
These cats have affection in spades, so they can share the life of a calmer person who will shower them with caresses. However, their liveliness requires an environment that is sufficiently stimulating, with daily play sessions.
Price
We do not enough data to set an average price for the California Spangled. However, the price will vary depending on lineage, breeding, age or even the sex. The reason for this high price is the breed’s extreme rarity. For your monthly budget you should allow on average £35 per month to provide for their needs, offering them a high quality diet and ensuring to keep them in good health.
Grooming
Their short fur doesn’t need any particular upkeep apart from a weekly brush to keep their coat shiny. You should also check the cleanliness of their eyes and ears on a regular basis.
Shedding
These cats don’t lose particularly high volumes of fur outside of their moulting period. A regular brushing will help to regulate this seasonal loss and prevent the formation of fur balls in their stomach.
Nutrition of the California Spangled
The California Spangled’s diet needs to be adapted to their age and their lifestyle. It’s important to give them a balanced diet in order to meet the energetic needs of these dynamic felines.
Health of the California Spangled
Life expectancy
The California Spangled can live for over 15 years.
Strong / robust
This breed is pretty resistant to both cold and heat.
Tendency to put on weight
These cats don’t tend to be overweight. However, an over-stimulating environment can cause boredom and, as a result, weight gain. On that basis, you’ll need to be sure that they can wear themselves out on a daily basis.
Common illnesses
They don’t seem to have a predisposition to any disease in particular, however, given the breed is so new, it’s difficult to get enough of an overview to be completely sure. Additionally, they may at some point develop the same conditions as other cats, like oral diseases.
Reproduction
Only pairings between California Spangleds are recognised.
