Californian Rex cat breed

A rex cat is any of a number of different domestic cat breeds, distinguished by wavy or curly fur, which may be long or short, light or thick. The breeds originate from naturally occurring genetic mutations, which have since been selectively bred. There are four main internationally recognised rex breeds:

Cornish Rex
Devon Rex
LaPerm
Selkirk Rex

There are also a number of rarer, less well known or developing rex coated breeds, including the German Rex, Ural Rex,Tennessee Rex, Tasman Rex group and Skookum. Spontaneous rexed variants have also been observed in breeds such as the Maine Coon and Persian as well as in random-bred cats such as the Ohio Rex, Oregon Rex and California Rex, however there has been no significant attempt to develop or seek recognition for these varieties and most have died out. A number of experimental breeds have been developed from the main 4 rex breeds, such as the German-bred Pudelkatze (Poodle Cat), now believed to be extinct.

Rex breeds vary considerably in appearance, from the elegant slender build of the Cornish Rex to the larger, cobby and heavy-boned Selkirk Rex. Each results from a separate mutation rather than being bred from a common ancestor. Each mutation causes the hair follicles to be oval in shape, instead of the normal regular round form, which results in hairs curling round as they grow instead of growing straight. Many of the other spontaneously occurring rex mutations have occurred and some have proven to be the same gene as the main four breeds. Some of those mutations, such as the Dutch Rex, were found to have unmanageable or unattractive fur and were not pursued as breeds.

The name Rex was taken from the Rabbit Fancy because the first rex cat breed to be developed, the Cornish Rex, has a coat similar to that of a rex rabbit, in that it comprises only the undercoat with no topcoat or guard hairs.

Cyprus cat breeds

Birth of a New Cat Breed

The birth of a new cat breed is being acted out on the island where the most ancient evidence of the domestic cat was found – Cyprus. In 2001 a French archaeologists discovered a human grave that was assessed to be 9,500 years old with a pet cat next to the deceased person. The site was in Shillourokambos. Experts have decided that the domestic cat evolved from the Near Eastern wild cat some 9,500 years ago. The grave was evidence of the earliest example of cat domestication.

There is then a very long (the longest) history of domestication of the cat in Cyprus and yet they have not (until now) laid claim to their own naturally occurring purebred cat. There are many cat breeds that are exclusively linked to a country where they are said to have evolved naturally and then been“discovered” by a breeder. Having been discovered the cat was then developed into a well known and established breed. Examples are the Siamese (Siam – Thailand), Chartreux (France), British Shorthair (Britain), Japanese Bobtail, Manx and the Turkish Angora and Van to name a selection only.

It seems that the Cypriots have decided it is their turn to have their own cat but there is competition. The cat fancy worldwide has well and truly moved on from the days when the breeds above were discovered. There are many more breeders and it is more commercial.

It would seem that the chance to start a new breed that originates from the home of the domestic cat (Cyprus) is very enticing and there is competition from cat associations and/or breeders in other countries to turn two types of cat in Cyprus (presumably domestic, semi-feral and feral) into a purebred cat.

DNA testing by Davis University, California would seem to have established that there are two types of unregistered purebred cat in Cyprus and the Cypriot Feline Society would like them to be recognised as cats that are exclusively linked to Cyprus. These cat types have been called:

The Aphrodite. A breed that is is larger, stronger and taller than the other cat which has been called the
St Helena. The St Helena is smaller in size, with larger eyes but a smaller face.

Aegean Cats

Origins

The Aegean Cat originates from the Cycladic Islands in the Aegean Sea, where they occur naturally. Since it is one of the newest cat breeds, it is believed that it could be among the rarest; however, they seem to be ubiquitous throughout Greece. They are much liked for their character and intelligence. In rural areas, they are often seen as the best method of pest control, because they are very capable predators.

Aegean Cats as pets

Although the Aegean Cat has only very recently begun to be bred systematically, has been domesticated for many centuries and thus has become adapted very well to humans. It is a social pet that tolerates living in an apartment rather well. It is intelligent, active and lively and also communicative, not hesitating to draw a person's attention.

Aegean Cats characteristics

The coat of an Aegean Cat is semi-longhaired, without down hair, with a moderate ruff and a rich tail. The Aegean Cat's coat provides good protection during the harsh winter weather and sheds out short for the summer. The coat is bicolor or tricolor; one of the colors is always white, without signs of yellowing and takes up between 1/3 to 2/3 of the body. Other colors can be black, red, blue, cream, with or without stripes. The Aegean Cat is a medium-size breed, with a sturdy and muscular build, without signs of obesity. The body is long, with strong, medium-size feet and round-shaped paws. The tail is moderately long, straight, without kinks. The head is medium-size, wide but not round. The ears have a wide base and rounded tips and are covered by hairs. The eyes have an oriental shape and their color can be any shade of green.

Cat Illness - Signs of Sickness in Cats

Cats are very stoic by nature & it is up to the observant cat owner to keep a watchful eye over them & be aware of small changes to their appearance, behaviour, eating habits etc., which could indicate all is not well.

Behaviour, pain & general signs & physical signs are all important clues to your cat's general health.

Any sign that your cat is unwell requires veterinary attention. Your cat can't tell you when something is wrong so it is important for you, the carer to be observant & watch for clues, and act accordingly. What may seem to be a minor change to you may be indicative of a serious medical issue with your cat, so prompt veterinary attention is always necessary to find out what is happening.
Behaviour:


Inappropriate elimination - Inappropriate elimination can be the result of a behavioural issue or a medical problem. This is why it is extremely important to seek veterinary advice if your cat stops using the litter tray. He/she will run some tests to determine if there is a medical cause, if so it can be treated, and if it is established that it is a behavioural problem appropriate action can be taken to help your cat resolve this problem.

A cat who is urinating outside the litter tray may have a number of medical conditions such as diabetes mellitus, kidney failure, FLUTD, urinary tract infection.

Increased/decreased thirst & or appetite - There are many possible reasons why your cat may be eating or drinking more or less, some of which include:

Increased thirst could indicate diabetes mellitus, pyometra, hyperthyroidism. Increased appetite could be caused by hyperthyroidism.

Loss of appetite could be caused by an abscess, anaemia, dehydration, injury or trauma, intestinal obstruction, dental or mouth pain (gingivitis, tooth abscess, stomatitis etc.) or other disorders.

Increased vocalisation - This may be caused by stress, fear, estrus or an underlying medical problem. It is often seen in older cats & can be indicative of pain, sickness, loss of cognitive functions or another medical problem.

Hiding - If your usually outgoing cat suddenly takes to hiding it could have been brought about by fear, anxiety or an underlying medical cause.

Sleeping habits - Sleeping more & lethargy often a sign that something is wrong with your cat.

Change in routine or general behaviour - If your cat usually greets you when you come home from work, but abruptly stops this it could be a sign that something is wrong with kitty. Is your cat suddenly spending a lot of time in the litter tray, no longer harassing you for food first thing on a morning, or harassing you for food when it hadn't in the past? Any change, no matter how minor could be a result of a medical condition.
General & Physical Signs:


Coat appearance - Cats are by nature fastidiously clean & spend a great deal of their day grooming. Poor coat condition can be caused by a multitude of problems, from parasites to malnutrition to skin disorders (such as ringworm, fleas, allergies). The older cat may have problems maintaining it's grooming regime due to pain caused by conditions such as arthritis or obesity.

Bad breath - Also known as halitosis, bad breath in cats is not normal & could be a sign of kidney disease, diabetes mellitus, liver disease, tooth abscess, periodontal disease, intestinal problems, cancers of the mouth.

Difficulty going to the toilet - If your cat is straining to go to the toilet, or only passing a small amount of urine, going to the toilet often or licking the genital area frequently these symptoms could be the following; FLUTD (which is a medical emergency), bladder stones, tumours, diabetes mellitus, kidney disease or constipation.

Blood in urine (hematuria) - Bladder stones, urinary tract infection, cancer, trauma can all be causes of blood in urine.

Weight loss or gain - There are many causes of weight loss or gain. Weight loss could be caused by diabetes mellitus, hyperthyroidism, malnutrition, kidney failure or any chronic illness.

Pain - Cats are very good at hiding pain from their carers & each cat will have a different pain threshold. There are countless causes of pain in cats, which is why it is important to seek veterinary advice as soon as possible to find out the cause.

Discharge - Discharge from the eyes & nose could be indicative of a bacterial or viral infection, or foreign body. Discharge from the genitals could indicate pyometra.

Ataxia (unsteady gait): Possible causes include poisoning, neurological disorder, ear infection, spinal trauma, pelvis fracture, brain trauma.

Abnormal breathing - Heart failure, asthma, lung disease. Panting could be a sign of hyperthermia (heat stroke).

Eyes - Are the pupils both the same size? Shine a light in them, do they become smaller or stay fixed? Either scenario is a medical emergency & could indicate head trauma, seek veterinary attention immediately.

Check the eyes for discharge, this could indicate a foreign body, eye infection or upper respiratory tract infection.

Appearance of the third eyelid (also known as haw) is another indicator that something is wrong with your cat. This could be a sign of dehydration, illness or injury.
Appraising the situation:


Gum colour - The normal colour is pink. Pale to white gums may indicate shock or anaemia. Blue gums indicate not enough oxygen, yellow gums indicate liver problems, bright red can indicate carbon monoxide poisoning or heatstroke.

Dehydration - To check for dehydration grasp some skin at the base of their neck (the scruff) and gently pull it up. In the hydrated cat, the skin will spring back immediately. In a dehydrated cat, the skin will be slower to retract. The more severe the dehydration the slower the skin will take to retract.

Capillary Refill Time (CRT) - This helps you to test your cat's blood circulation & can indicate dehydration, heart failure or shock. To test capillary refill time lift your cat's upper lip & press the flat of your finger against the gum tissue. Remove the pressure & you will see a white mark on the gum where your finger was placed. Using a watch with a second hand, time how long it takes for the pink colour to return to the white spot. In the healthy cat it should take around 1 - 2 seconds to return to pink.
Important:


This article has been written to provide a guide to what to look for in regards to signs of sickness, some signs include possible causes. It has not been written by a veterinarian & shouldn't be used to replace veterinary advice. This is by no means meant to be for diagnostic purposes, most symptoms of sickness have multiple possible causes, many of which aren't included in this article. Therefore it is imperative that you seek proper veterinary attention if you see you suspect your cat is unwell. You should NEVER make an medical diagnosis based on what you read on the Internet, only an examination performed by a qualified veterinarian can give you a definite diagnosis so please, if you believe your cat is unwell, seek proper medical care immediately.

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