Help me decide on the breed

coldblooded

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Hello everyone. I am Awais from Pakistan. I am looking to add a new cat to the family. I am coming to States this December so I might purchase me a cat and bring it back here. Right now I have a 1.5 year old alley cat I have owned since it was about 3-4 months old.

Ok now I'll keep it short and cut to the chase. Jaguar is my favorite animal among larger cats and I am looking for something that has few of the Jaguar's trademark physical traits, minus the markings.

What i am looking for:

  1. Large muscular build. Not prone to obesity.
  2. Large/Massive head. Like in a Jaguar. Muscular Neck
  3. Hair length is not an issue


Energy level is not much an issue. it'll be staying at a house so its alright and it can flex all its vocal chords. No worries.

I've looked around a bit and initial research has thrown up Maine Coon or Siberian breed. I like Maine Coons but they apparently don't have muscular built..only very large?


Further research has thrown up Himalayan cat as a good alternative:


The Himalayan should have a round, massive head, attached to a thick short neck, with small round-tipped ears and large, round, wide-set eyes.
http://www.thecatsite.com/Breeds/57/Himalayan-Cats.html


I am also not averse to a mixed breed. Maine Coon x Himalayan with Maine Coon's size and Himalayan's muscular neck and wide head should be perfect combination. Are there any breeders who've worked on these lines? How much should I be looking to pay for such a cat?

TIA


PS: I think the resident male in my area is a cross between a Himalayan and a feral cat because it's got blue eyes, medium length coat and a large head. Much larger than the average alley cat.

This pic doesnt do it justice, but the best shot I have. Showed up at our wall last night:


 

siggav

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Are you sure you don't want the markings too?

Bengal cats fulfill pretty much what you want. They aren't always large cats though but they can be a good size and are incredibly muscular and athletic.

They should have a muscular neck and a big muzzle with prominent whisker pads. Gorgeous and spotted too.

However what the cat looks like can't be your only basis for a decision. For example Bengals are active cats. Very very active and can be quite a handful. If you decide that a Bengal is the cat for you, you need to be prepared to spend a lot of time playing with your cat every single day and they can get destructive when they get bored and can think up lots of different ways of keeping you on your toes.

If this sounds like fun rather than a chore this might be the right breed for you. Do lots more research though and really, be prepared for a spotted dynamo of fluff that will turn your life upside down for quite a while. If you care more about your belongings and the state of your house etc. than your pet it's probably not the right cat for you.

Here's my bengal girl, the exact colour and pattern can vary quite a bit within the breed. Nikita is quite dark, a lot of cats are a bit more yellow and some have brownish spots rather than black ones and others have more rosettas (i.e a dark outline with a brown middle in the spots). NB She's a female cat the males can be a bit bigger.





Are there no cat breeders in your country? It can be quite complicated and hard on cats to travel between countries, not that it can't be done but I'd look for breeders more close to you before planning to get a kitten from the States. You can expect to have to pay from 600-1000$ for a pet quality bengal kitten. Any bengals sold cheaper than that are most likely from backyard breeders and will usually not look as distinctive as properly bred cats. You'll also have to sign a contract and the cat will most likely come already neutered/spayed.

ETA: Another thing I just remembered, Bengals are actually hybrid cats, i.e a spotted wild cat called the Asian Leopard Cat was bred with domestic cats to develop the breed. Because of that it can be difficult moving them between countries. I.e some laws designed for exotic animals can apply to bengals even though they are usually many generations away from the wild cat. So you'd need to look into that and also to see if there are any laws in Pakistan that would require you to get special permits or just directly forbid to keep a bengal.
 

stacyd1987

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The first thing that popped up in my mind was a Bengal. But, you may want to do some research on them and ask others here about their... quirks. I've heard that the breed is particularly, 'wild' in nature. They are quite beautiful with their 'wild cat' fur patterns.
As for being prone to obesity, that depends on several factors. Some cats will eat and eat if the food is constantly out and filled while others are used to it and only eat when they need to. How they are brought up is crucial because most cats who are brought up starving from the streets will eat everything in site because they have the mentality of "Who knows when I'm going to eat again, better get my fill now". Of course there are some genetic factors from the parents, just as there are in humans but either way you look at it, you can control their weight with proper guidance by a vet.

I personally love the Maine Coons. We have a 5 month old male mix that we adopted. Maine Coons are the largest breed for domestic cats and are commonly nicknamed "Gentle Giants", so if you're looking for a big furry love ball, that's one for you. They also come in a variety of fur colorings so you could possible run into one that looks like a wild cat.
My husband thinks our Tiger looks like a lynx.

Hope this helps! And here's an early welcome to the U.S.!
 

lioness

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I was thinking that a bengal would be a good idea also. Sounds about right for what you are looking for.

By the way, Nikita is BEAUTIFUL!!!!
 

siggav

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Anyway Himalayan cats are effectively pointed Persians and need a lot of grooming. That's not necessary a bad thing but you would need to groom the cat every day or the fur will mat and the cat will be miserable.

They are usually quite placid and docile and very easy going.

Anyway other possibilities British Shorthair cats are very massive and cobby with a big muscular neck.

You can see some here: http://www.gccfcats.org/breeds/brself.html

They're also pretty easy going and get along great with everyone (on average anyway)

Ocicats are another spotted breed. They are also very active and quite muscular and athletic although they're not bred to have as much of a muzzle as bengals or for small ears. There are people with some gorgeous Ocis here in this forum.

Norwegian Forest Cats are somewhat similar to Maine Coon cats, both are large wild looking long haired cats.
 

kluchetta

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Not sure if you can have Savannah cats in Pakistan, but they are a spotted breed that seem to be quite a bit larger than the Bengal.

I have a Ragdoll that is large and muscular looking, but is just a big fluffy butt. They do get quite large though - 20 - 25 pounds for the males. Here's a photo:
 
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coldblooded

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Thanx for the suggestions folks.

Siggav, Nikita is beautiful. How old is she? I had considered Bengal cats for a while but like u said they can be expensive. I read somewhere they go high as USD 1500. ma ma mia. I am shooting in the 300-500 dollars range. Plus I havent really seen any adult male bengal so I am not sure if it fits the bill. Let me know where I can find pics of Adult Bengals.

I like this cat :

http://www.flickr.com/photos/spartac...7594335075758/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/spartac...7594335075758/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/spartac...7594335075758/


I'll again post two questions that have gone unaswered:

Prospects of finding a himalayan or Persian X Main Coon? How much, roughly speaking? Or will I have to get a male main coon and a female persian myself



And what do people mean when they say Maine Coons r gentle giants? R they gentle with other cats or r they gentle with kids or strangers? Or is it just a nicer way of saying they r lazy
 

kluchetta

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Originally Posted by ColdBlooded

Thanx for the suggestions folks.

Siggav, Nikita is beautiful. How old is she? I had considered Bengal cats for a while but like u said they can be expensive. I read somewhere they go high as USD 1500. ma ma mia. I am shooting in the 300-500 dollars range. Plus I havent really seen any adult male bengal so I am not sure if it fits the bill. Let me know where I can find pics of Adult Bengals.

I like this cat :

http://www.flickr.com/photos/spartac...7594335075758/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/spartac...7594335075758/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/spartac...7594335075758/


I'll again post two questions that have gone unaswered:

Prospects of finding a himalayan or Persian X Main Coon? How much, roughly speaking? Or will I have to get a male main coon and a female persian myself



And what do people mean when they say Maine Coons r gentle giants? R they gentle with other cats or r they gentle with kids or strangers? Or is it just a nicer way of saying they r lazy asses
That cat is pretty! Looks like a flame point Himalayan. And yes, Maine Coons are...ahem...laid back, LOL.
 

epona

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As others have said, do check out any relevant laws before getting a Bengal or other hybrid to take back with you. In the UK at the moment all Bengals are supposed to be registered and licensed with the local authority, although it's not enforced and the law is going to be changed to exclude Bengal cats from that legislation, it is technically still a legal requirement! Same for other wild/domestic hybrids such as the Savannah. So if considering one of these breeds do check out import/export laws and any local regulations where you live first to make sure you won't be inadvertantly breaking any laws
 

alleygirl

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Breeders do not mix breeds such as a Maine Coon and Persion cross and no breeder is going to sell you a breeding cat with this in mind. Mixing random cats can cause SERIOUS health problems so please don't even consider it.

Persian and Himalayan really do not fit the standard you are looking for anyways. They aren't "big tough" looking cats at all.
 

coco maui

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Bengals are great cats, I would suggest maybe checking out a Bengal Rescue organization, you may be able to find one a little less expensive than if you bought him from a breeded. My bengal Sasha is really loving and really smart. He learns tricks. His favorite is jumping from the table to my shoulder and letting me carry him around
I also have a part Ragdoll cat, she is a strange ragdoll in that she is only 4.5 pounds. Her personality is one of a kind and she is a real people kitty. Both bengals and ragdolls would make great pets!
Although, if you go to the shelter you may be able to view all of the cats at once and pick your favorite

Good luck with your search,
Ginger
 
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coldblooded

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guys guys...how comke pixie bob is not part of anyone's recommendation? From the looks of it atleast, it's a perfect match. Check it out:















unless, there r some undesirable personality traits of the breed?
 

goldenkitty45

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I've never seen them in person. But if they are mixed with a bobcat or other wild cat, they may not be something for everyone. There are certain risks in owning a part wild cat.
 

catsknowme

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I have no knowledge of Pixie-bobs, but they do look more like what you are describing
JC is a MC mix and he is also a gentle giant - gentle with everyone, but if another cat jumps Joey, he will "clean house". He is high-maintenance because MCs are a working breed; bred as farm cats, they like to do the job of keeping the pests away; JC loves hunting ground squirrels and mice from the chicken's feed. He also loves stalking the hawks that swoop down to try to catch the wild quail that feed near the chicken coops. When he was strictly inside only, he got a bladder infection and the vet advised me that as a working cat, his body needs lots of exercise, so he does need a lot of very active play if not let outside - chasing a grandson dragging a rope works great! He's very, very affectionate, but not a lapcat - he'll be next to you, getting strokes and pets, but don't try to pick him up & cuddle him - aw, mom, he's not a kitten anymore

Also, MCs are very intelligent & strong - for instance, the box didn't get changed yesterday, so JC took it upon himself to get Joey's carrier out of the closet, dragged it to next to the box (I keep the doors opened, so they can always get into their carriers at will - makes it easier to get them to load up for travel), shredded the newspapers lining the carrier and put newspaper shreds into the sandbox!! He will do this behavior if someone poops in his pee-box (he likes one box for poop and one for pee & doesn't mix them up). they are great cats for entertainment but do need a family that interacts with them.
 
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