Breeds of yard cats: do noble blood flow in outbred beauties? Yard cat breeds: why you should choose just such a cat Habits of yard cats

Representatives of the cat family can be found even in the most remote corners of the planet. The only exceptions are, perhaps, the territory of the Far North and Australia. The smallest of them is considered to be the domestic cat - one of the first animals domesticated by humans.

This predator combines strength, agility, and the ability to lie in wait for prey with a peaceful and affectionate disposition.

Its movements are soft, silent, and its weapons of attack and defense are sharp claws and teeth. Cats have amazing coordination - even falling from a small height, they manage to get back on their feet in time.

The weight of these animals can vary - from 3 to 5 kg, and life expectancy largely depends on conditions and nutrition. In caring hands, a cat can live up to 20 years.

History of origin

It is believed that the first country where a person tried to domesticate a wild cat was Egypt. It was there that an image of this animal was found on one of the ancient monuments.

The first mention of it was discovered, made by a Greek historian in the 5th century BC. There is an assumption that the man opened the doors of his house to the cat out of necessity. In an agricultural country like Ancient Egypt, large reserves of grain had to be stored in barns.

Hordes of rodents settled there, causing huge losses. Knowing that wild cats were the only danger to rodents, the Egyptians began to domesticate these animals. In addition to fighting mice, the animals were also trained to hunt game, using their predatory instinct.

Later in this country the cat was revered as a sacred animal and protected by law. Her murder, even through negligence, was punishable by death.

Gradually, cats began to appear in other countries. In Europe, the first reports of them date back to the first century AD. Today, outbred domestic cats that do not have a pedigree or other documents participate in exhibitions and receive awards.

Of course, this happens separately from their purebred counterparts. A special exhibition class has been created for them, which is called “domestic cats”. Judges evaluate the animal's physical condition, color, and grooming.

Description

The appearance of outbred pets is very diverse. Only a small part of this category consists of cats with long hair. These are mainly animals from northern countries. They are also distinguished by strong bones and a dense, stocky build.

Cats living in warm climates usually have thinner coats and no undercoat, making them appear lighter and sleeker.

The color variations in domestic cats are enormous. The most common color is “wild” (tiger). Blue cats are not uncommon in Western countries. In addition to single-colored animals, there are many two- and three-colored animals.

By standard, all colors are divided into groups:

• Tabby.
• Plain.
• Tortoiseshell.
• Chinchilla.
• Color point.

Moreover, all of them can be combined with white.

Character

There are no two domestic cats with exactly the same character. Some are very affectionate, sociable and playful, others are distrustful and withdrawn. But all domestic cats are significantly inferior to dogs in terms of attachment to their owner.

If a small kitten is able to quickly get used to a new home and get used to its inhabitants, then not every adult outbred animal can easily do this.

Some people immediately find a common language with new people, including children, while others may remain completely indifferent to their surroundings for a long time.

Properly raised domestic cats sometimes simply adore their owners, accompanying them everywhere around the apartment. They easily get used to walking on a leash, respond to their name, and even learn simple commands.

They are usually very peaceful creatures that get along well with other pets. They often establish very friendly relationships not only with their relatives, but also with dogs, and even with decorative rodents.

Their pronounced predatory instinct manifests itself only in hunting mice and birds.

All cats (including outbred cats) are unusually clean animals. However, they still require some care.

Those with long hair need to be brushed regularly to prevent tangles from forming. It is possible that the cat will have to be accustomed to this procedure, then this should be done gradually, combing the fur a little every day.

A cat that has returned from a long walk and has gone on a spree must be washed. Despite the fact that cats are excellent swimmers, they do not like water, so they also need to be taught to bathe. Wash the animal with warm water and regular soap.

At the same time, under no circumstances should they lather the wool itself. You need to dilute the soap foam separately and only then use it for washing. Rinse thoroughly with water.

It is not difficult to train a cat to use the toilet if the owner has taken care of the bath in advance, filling it with sand or a special cat litter. As a rule, the animal understands from the first time what is required of it.

Feeding

To save time, many owners prefer to use commercial cat food. But natural nutrition has a number of advantages.

It excludes all kinds of dyes, preservatives, thickeners and other artificial components in its composition, and is as close as possible to natural food. In nature, a wild cat eats mice, birds, and sometimes insects or reptiles.

To get vitamins and fiber, you can eat green grass. But he will never, for example, fish.

This is an unusual food for them, so you should never feed the animal with it. A balanced diet for a domestic cat should include meat, offal, cereals, and vegetables.

Health

Outbred domestic cats that are provided with good care and proper nutrition from a very early age rarely suffer from any diseases.

They usually have naturally strong immunity and excellent health. However, after purchasing such a pet, the very first step should be a visit to the veterinarian.

Pros and cons of content

These ordinary-looking pets are not much different from their purebred counterparts, in some ways even surpassing them.

They have a certain character, are not predisposed to genetic diseases, and from a small fluffy ball picked up on the street, a real handsome man and a reliable friend for the whole family may well grow up.

In matters of education, the owner will have to show maximum patience and perseverance, gradually, kindly and gently accustoming the animal to hygienic procedures and rules of behavior.

Photo gallery

The majority of all cats living in people's houses and apartments are ordinary mongrel cats. Of course, the affordable price and ease of maintenance play an important role, but we must admit that they give their owners no less pleasure than their titled relatives. Most people get a cat in order to have a good-natured, cute animal in the house; they are not at all interested in the pedigree and breed standards. They love a cat simply for what it is, and it doesn’t matter if just recently it was a homeless, mangy kitten. Outbred cats are no less beautiful and funny than their purebred counterparts.

Character of mongrel cats

They are distinguished by a huge variety of colors, appearance types and characters. It is believed that northern cats are stockier and heavier, their color is darker, and their undercoat is thicker, while their southern counterparts are light, graceful, almost devoid of undercoat and are distinguished by lighter tones. The most common colors of ordinary cats: tabby, various shades, tabby in combination with white, black, black and white, red. Three-haired cats are often found. Outbred cats are mostly short-haired, although there are also long-haired specimens.

Today it is impossible to discount this numerous category of pets. Many people prefer exclusively simple domestic cats and take care of them no less than owners of purebred animals take care of their noble pets. An ordinary cat can be a source of pride and adoration for its owner, despite its “wrong” appearance or outright defect.

As a rule, outbred animals are purchased from friends, through an advertisement in a newspaper or on the market for a purely symbolic cost, or even for free. Very often, homeless animals, chosen out of pity, and as a result of good care, turn into beautiful and very loyal friends, become beloved family members.

It is generally accepted that outbred animals are healthier, hardier and more resilient. In fact, all cats, both purebred and ordinary, can get sick. The health of a cat depends primarily on its living conditions. A wandering lifestyle can significantly undermine health, and it is not always possible to completely restore it, even if the animal is lucky enough to find a home. They say that domestic cats are smarter than purebred cats. This statement is not controversial. Often, the intelligence of a mongrel animal is acquired during homeless life on the street, while purebred brothers, as a rule, do not have such experience.

As it turned out, domestic outbred cats that do not have a pedigree can also take part in exhibitions like their titled brothers and even receive awards for victory. Exhibitions are needed not only for obtaining titles and selling purebred kittens. Exhibitions are necessary in order to simply admire the beauty and diversity of any domestic cat and for communication between the owners of these wonderful creatures. Not only the owner of a purebred animal wants to show off his cat, but also the owner of a simple cat.

Today domestic cats have the opportunity to show themselves. There is a domestic cat class for them, and any outbred animal can take part in exhibition competitions and win. An exhibition of outbred cats is a very serious event with certain rules that must be followed.

Only neutered domestic cats with a certificate confirming this fact are allowed to participate in the exhibition. This rule applies only to adult cats and does not apply to kittens under eight months of age.

When preparing for an exhibition, you must take care of all the necessary vaccinations in advance and have a veterinary passport with you with the appropriate marks.

Who wins the competition of simple cats? By what criteria do judges evaluate outbred participants?

When assessing domestic cats, exhibition preparation and general condition are taken into account. That is, the cat should be well-groomed from the tips of the ears to the tip of the tail and not be too thin or, conversely, overfed.

It turns out that preparing a simple cat for an exhibition is not so easy, especially if the cat has a white color or long hair. Sometimes it takes a lot of time to find the right shampoo for your cat. If in the case of a purebred animal, breeders have long known about hair care products: for each breed and coat structure there is a certain set of products, then for a purebred animal, the selection of shampoo and conditioner occurs through trial and error.

The condition of the coat largely depends on the cat's nutrition. If a cat is not eating properly, there is no point in even thinking about a show career. Without a balanced diet, it is impossible to achieve excellent coat condition, and, therefore, become a winner.

A domestic cat can have absolutely any appearance, the main thing is that it does not contain obvious features of different breeds. At exhibitions, preference is always given to cats with a generally accepted outbred appearance over individuals with a “pedigreed” appearance.

Outbred cats may have disadvantages that are unacceptable for purebred cats: these are kinks in the tail or extra fingers. Traces of street life are also allowed: scars on the head, damage to the ears and tail.

It is unlikely that an animal that will show aggression due to an unusual environment will become the winner of the exhibition. Judges reward sociable and calm cats that show natural curiosity and allow themselves to be petted during competitions.

Any cat, regardless of breed and possible participation in exhibitions, must be kept in good conditions, well-groomed and loved. After all, pets have no choice; their lives are completely dependent on people. They will not be able to live without human participation.

Once upon a time, a wild cat came to a person’s home and became a friend and helper. Since those times, breeds of yard cats have been giving people their joy and love for thousands of years.

Cats have been with humans for more than 9,000 years, as evidenced by archaeological research and ancient writings. And in those days, no one thought about whether a cat belonged to a particular breed. In Ancient Egypt, cats were revered as sacred animals and were also valued as excellent rodent hunters. In the Middle Ages, in some countries they were credited with magical properties and connections with evil spirits, in others they were considered special creatures that were a symbol of goodness and peace in the home.

The history of the mustachioed tabby is very rich, but it takes on new colors when cats began to be seriously bred, endowing them with special characteristics.

Since the end of the 19th century, active breeding work has been carried out, which gives birth to more and more new breeds of cats. This produces extraordinary mustaches with varying lengths of fur or even hairless ones, with amazing colors and interesting character traits. Each representative that is recognized by a felinological organization is unique and finds its fans. But with all the variety of purebred purrs, yard cats remain the most numerous and popular.

Is there a yard breed?

The very concept of “breed” is very young – it is no more than 200 years old. Felinological organizations identify special traits and properties in individual cats, then prescribe and approve a standard with these unique characteristics, thereby giving the world a new purebred beauty.

Felinologists call yard cats outbred, although this statement can be considered erroneous, because the ancestors of all purrs were wild cats, which have different external characteristics and character, which is explained by different climates and ability to adapt.

Thus, native breeds with characteristic external data and character traits can be called yard breeds, because the distinctive characteristics of these purrs were formed thanks to nature, without the “selective” hand of man.

These native barn cats include:

• Turkish Angora.
• Celtic cat.
• Persian cat.
• Siberian cat.
• Siamese cat.

“Not purebred” or non-standard genotype

The appearance of an unborn yard kitten is very difficult to predict, because it is born from a mixture of two or even several breeds. Therefore, color, coat length, eye color and other characteristics are always a pleasant surprise.

Breeds of yard cats are varied. The variety of coat colors of mongrels can be the envy of any exotic purr participating in championships. This can be a single coat color or a combination of two or even several shades. The patterns and markings on the base color also vary. A common color is dark stripes on a light background. It is this pattern that helps the animal camouflage itself in natural conditions and hunt successfully.

The fur of yard cats can be long or short, but what you definitely won’t find is the complete absence of fur on the animal.

The mongrels are in most cases medium in size, and their weight ranges from 3 to 6 kg.

The character of yard cats, unlike purebred cats, is varied. They are not characterized by aggression and touchiness. They generally show emotions very carefully.

Mustachioed mongrels love active games and appreciate the attention of household members. They can become attached to someone in particular or love everyone with the same love at the same time.

These cats have a negative attitude towards the absence of their owners and can even fall into a kind of “cat” depression. This is manifested by refusal of food, hair loss, etc. But this condition mainly applies to “apartment” cats that cannot freely go outside.

Pet care

Yard cats also need the care and attention of their owners:

• Grooming. The coat needs to be brushed regularly. The frequency of the procedure depends on the length of the animal's fur. For short-haired dogs, it is enough to do this 2 times a month, and for long-haired dogs, once a week.
• Eye care. They need to be inspected and wiped with a damp swab when dirty.
• Water procedures. There are very few cats that favor this process, so you should not bathe your pet too often. Usually mongrels themselves monitor the cleanliness of their fur. If the cat returns dirty after active street festivities, you can give it a bath.
• Nutrition. It should be balanced and include both proteins (meat, fish, eggs, fermented milk) and carbohydrates (porridge, vegetables, crackers, root vegetables).

At the same time, yard purrs should be taken to the veterinary clinic for preventive examinations. It is especially important to do this when purchasing a pet, because... It is unknown whether he is healthy or not.

Strengths of mongrels

Each purebred cat is unique and valued for some of its exceptional characteristics. Yard mustaches may in some ways not be comparable to their purebred counterparts, but they have a lot of advantages:

1. Health. The life expectancy of mongrels is usually longer than that of purebred purrs, because the former have a stronger and more lasting immunity to most street infections. Selection work weakens the protective functions of the cat’s body.
2. Temperament. Domestic breeds have the most flexible and gentle character. If such a cat is picked up on the street, then its joy will know no bounds - it will become attached to its owner for life.
3. Knitting. Finding a partner for a yard pet will not be difficult. Most likely you will have many options to choose from. Waiting for a new offspring is always a mystery, because it is impossible to predict what coat color, color and eye shape the future kittens will have. It is quite possible that such a kitten will become the founder of a new breed.
4. Help with housekeeping. Catching an annoying rodent will not be difficult for a mongrel; they have a well-developed natural instinct.
5. Exhibitions. There are exhibitions for outbred pets, where the external characteristics of purrs and their grooming are assessed. It’s great that yard breeds also have the opportunity to show themselves in all their glory.
6. Price. Anyone can buy a yard pet. Usually they come to visit themselves, offering to leave themselves. In this case, it is almost impossible to refuse.

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Video

Modern cats are descendants of once domesticated wild animals living on all continents of the Earth. Before people began to deliberately breed purrs of the desired colors, separating animals into breeds and classes, simple “Vaseks” were loved for their ability to exterminate rodents and their ease of care. To this day, outbred cats are valued for their good health, and such pets also participate in exhibitions along with their purebred relatives.

There are many of them and they are wearing vests

Cats that do not belong to any particular breed make up almost 90% of the world's purring population. Tamed by the ancient Egyptians, these animals faithfully serve man to this day.

Outbred cats are the most numerous representatives of their kind

Since the purr was loved not only in the Nile Valley, but throughout the globe, in different parts of the planet domuses (as domestic mongrel felinologists call them) began to look different over time.

Currently, experts classify simple fluffy cats living in apartments as either a street breed (a cross between several breeds, in the formation of which humans no longer participated) or a street-aboriginal breed (when yard cats descend from wild local purrs). The latter are divided into the following varieties:

• Celtic cats (European shorthair);
• Siamese cats;
• Angora cats;
• Persian cats;
• Siberian cats.

Initially, people were not involved in the selection of street fluffies, so among these purrs there are both blue-eyed and green-eyed beauties. The tails of mixed-breed cats can be either long or short, which is also true for the ears and the body as a whole.

The appearance of outbred cats is influenced by their habitat and climate. Thus, northern murkas are distinguished by their massive build and long hair with a thick undercoat. And on the southern shores, graceful and slender seals with short, easily blown fur are more common. And the weight of smooth-haired Domus is no more than 6 kg.

The length of the fur of outdoor cats depends on the climate

The specificity of origin also affects the process of pigmentation of the coat of a mongrel cat. Among the representatives of the species there are both spotted and monochromatic purrs. The palette of colors amazes the imagination with its diversity - here you can find red cats, black, gray, and even happy tri-colored ones.

The most common color among outbred cats is tabby, and the rarest color is white. This can be explained simply - in outdoor conditions it is necessary to constantly camouflage and hunt.

Thus, despite the unflattering name, a simple street kitten may well grow into a beautiful and graceful animal with an unusual fur coat and bright eyes. The main thing is to show him due care and attention.

Photo gallery: typical types of outbred cat colors

Tortoiseshell color is not uncommon among outbred cats. Black street cats are clever night hunters Ginger cats have long been considered protectors from witchcraft. The gray color of the fur coat is an ideal way to camouflage Calico cats are a good luck charm for many pet lovers. White cats are the rarest among outbred cats

How do outbred cats behave?

Outbred purrs have personalities that vary as much as their appearance. Everything here is like with people - it is impossible to predict in advance what kind of temperament a newborn kitten will have in the future.

Outbred cats have an independent disposition

If a baby is picked up straight from the street, such a “mongrel” will grow into a loyal and affectionate pet. An animal saved from hunger and cold will retain a grateful attitude towards its owner and members of his family for the rest of its life.

Growing up, a cat that does not belong to any breed can please its owner with the following qualities:

• absence of hidden grievances and desire for revenge;
• indifference to the owner's furniture and flowers;
• love of life and positive attitude.

At the same time, street cats perceive even the slightest changes in life quite sensitively and with excitement - from home renovations to moving to another place of residence.

In general, outbred cats behave non-aggressively, they are quite calm and docile. However, this does not mean that all yard cats are gentle and affectionate. There are also such wayward “personalities” who rarely let anyone near them. There are both phlegmatic “loungers” and sporty-looking “activists” among the Domus.

An interesting feature of non-breed cats is the ability to quickly memorize commands, which is due to the high level of intelligence of this group of cats. Therefore, ordinary domestic cats are very easy to toilet train and even teach simple (and, if desired, not so simple) tricks.

Like many human-raised animals, outbred purrs do not tolerate separation from their owner well and can even become mopey or depressed. Therefore, you should not leave your pet alone for a long time, and in case of forced business trips, it is better to get a “companion” for your fluffy. And although conflicts between pets are not ruled out at first, after a week or two the tailed animals will find a common language and become friends.

Video: exhibition of outbred cats

Domestic cat health

Ordinary yard cats have long been valued by pet lovers for their good health and the absence of genetic diseases, which purebred purrs often cannot boast of. This feature was formed over centuries in the wild and remained with cats even after they settled under the same roof with humans.

Domestic cats are renowned for their good health

Good immunity becomes the basis for a long and interesting life for outbred cats. After all, these animals reach old age at 8–9 years, and the average life expectancy is 10–12 years. Often there are also long-livers, “reaching out” to 16–17 years of age.

However, when it comes to the health of domuses, you need to take into account some features:

• if among the pet’s ancestors there were purebred individuals, then you should be prepared for the manifestation of hereditary ailments;
• Tolerability of drugs is strictly individual and it is very difficult to predict the consequences of anesthesia or the effects of other medications.

Outbred cats are not protected from typical “street” diseases - ringworm, helminths and fleas. Therefore, after a yard kitten gets into your home, you definitely need to go with your baby to the veterinarian and save the fluffy from such misfortunes.

And to ensure your beloved mustache has a long and happy life, it is important to get vaccinated regularly. Moreover, after one year of age, vaccinations need to be done only once a year.

Content Features

As a rule, simple domestic cats do not require special care skills and are able to take care of their appearance on their own.

Despite their “street” origin, one can only envy the cleanliness of outbred purrs. As true representatives of their kind, domus carefully monitor the condition of their fur coat and the sharpness of their claws. Therefore, there must be a special scratching post in the house. The owner should also regularly trim the pet’s claws with special tweezers or a nail clipper.

Otherwise, keeping a purebred cat includes the following points:

• washing no more than once every six months, and for long-haired dogs - monthly;
• eye cleaning - once every 1–2 days;
• cleaning the ears - weekly;
• Tartar prevention and teeth cleaning - once a week.

In addition, cats with long hair need to be brushed weekly, and during autumn and spring shedding, the procedure should be carried out daily. Thanks to such careful care, tangles will not form on the purr's coat, and the skin will not become inflamed and itchy.

Walking in the fresh air is also of considerable importance for yard mustaches. Therefore, if you live in a city apartment without free access to the street, it is better to accustom the cat to a harness and leash from childhood.

Mongrel cats love long walks

You should walk your fluffy away from highways and paved paths so that the animal can walk on soft grass and breathe in the aromas of nature. It is also recommended to avoid dog walking areas, since the latter can frighten the cat and “discourage” its desire to leave the walls of its home.

Video: how to care for a domestic cat

What to feed a mongrel cat

When deciding to get a purebred purr, nutritional issues come to the fore, because “noble” cats are distinguished by a sensitive and delicate digestive system. The situation is different with simple yard mustaches.

You can feed outbred cats either food or natural food.

The ancestors of simple Domus hunted mice and small birds, which provided their descendants with a strong stomach capable of digesting almost all edible foods. It is clear that it is unacceptable to give cats alcohol and soda, but a caring owner will in any case make sure that their pet’s diet is correct.

Here's what else you need to know about feeding outbred cats:

• You cannot mix ready-made industrial feeds and natural food;
• if the cat eats “natural food”, you should add vitamins and minerals to the menu;
• include cartilage and other solid foods in your diet to prevent tartar (or buy special bones at a pet store);
• Long-haired cats should be given a special herb to remove swallowed fur from the stomach.

In addition, you should not feed your homemade cat with raw milk, because the consequences of eating such a dish are diarrhea and indigestion. Feeding with spices, fried, salted and smoked foods, chips, pasta and sweets also leads to the latter.

To avoid health problems in your pet, it is better to give preference to the following products:

• fresh and cooked meat (beef, chicken);
• fish without bones (preferably sea);
• boiled and stewed vegetables (zucchini, carrots);
• low-fat fermented milk products (kefir, sour cream, cottage cheese);
• boiled chicken eggs (or, alternatively, quail eggs);
• greens (lettuce, dill).

In matters of nutrition, outbred cats are not always picky - there are both picky cats and “gluttons”. Therefore, the mustache should be fed twice a day in portions of 150–200 g. Veterinarians recommend giving food to your fluffy at the same time - this way the beneficial substances will be better absorbed. Kittens have their food bowls filled four times a day until they are 6 months old.

A prerequisite for a healthy diet for a mongrel cat is the round-the-clock availability of clean drinking water and the absence of contamination in the food bowl.

It is advisable that the dishes with food stand at some distance from the drinking bowl to prevent pieces of food from getting into the water.

Where to find a mongrel kitten

Despite the apparent simplicity and obviousness of the answer to the question of how to acquire a simple domus, there may be several options for getting a kitten without a breed into your home:

And although purrs of semi-noble origin will not be allowed to show for their respective breeds, this should not upset furry owners. After all, felinologists came up with special competitions for domestic cats, which are held according to strict rules. At such competitions, the appearance and behavior of the cats are assessed. Animals must be well-groomed and non-aggressive. In this case, defects in appearance (six-fingered, for example) and injuries (scars, broken tail) are allowed.

Important points that you should pay attention to when choosing a kitten you like from a private person or in a nursery:

• the cat should be cheerful and inquisitive, not get scared and not attack;
• the baby’s fur should be clean and fluffy, without tufts or bald spots;
• The seller must keep the ears, nose and eyes of the animal clean;
• the purr's tummy cannot be too swollen, this means that the furry has worms;
• There should be no unpleasant odor coming from the pet’s mouth, indicating diseases of the teeth and digestive tract.

The best age to purchase a mongrel kitten from your own hands or from breeders is considered to be 2.5–3 months of age. At this time, the baby begins to wean off mother's milk and socialize. Therefore, getting into a new family will be accepted by the fluffy without unnecessary stress and deterioration in health.

Video: how to choose the right kitten