The article contains up-to-date information on various issues related to mongrel cats, kittens and cats, which will be interesting to read for any lover of these cute furry creatures.
Outbred cats in an apartment, reviews from owners, do they live longer than purebred cats or not at home?
The average lifespan of a cat at home is 11-15 years. As a rule, outbred specimens live longer than their purebred counterparts, sometimes living up to 30-35 years. It all depends on the cat’s genetics, its immunity, health and many other indicators.
Pedigree cats require more care and attention and can be susceptible to various diseases, unlike mongrel animals.
Owners say that a purebred cat is no worse in character than its purebred counterparts; it is more resilient, dexterous, and cunning.
Ultimately, everything depends on the individual abilities of the animal, it is not so important whether it is purebred or not.
— Outbred cats take part in cat shows, winning prizes.
- They are more resilient, dexterous, cunning.
— There are short-haired and long-haired.
— Cats cannot taste sweets.
— A cat's brain is similar to a human's. They have areas similar to those of humans that are responsible for their emotions.
— A cat’s sleep can be up to 20 hours a day.
— The largest offspring from one cat is 400 kittens.
Short-haired and long-haired mongrel cats
Distinctive features of shorthaired mongrel cats:
The color can be any, mostly tabby, the coat is short, with a short, stocky body, and a rounded muzzle. The ears are short, often wedge-shaped with tufts of hair, green eyes, stocky paws, and a thick tail.
Distinctive features of long-haired mongrel cats:
Any color, long hair, often thicker around the neck and on the breeches, with a dense and strong body, a wary expression is inherent in the muzzle. The ears are short, often wedge-shaped with tufts of hair, greenish eyes, woolly paws, and a bushy tail.
Outbred cats weight norm, pros and cons
The average weight of a purebred cat is 3.5-5.5 kg. The advantages of outbred cats include:
- Price. You can get it for free, or for a nominal fee.
— Outbred cats are not spoiled in their diet, they can eat anything, and rarely have indigestion.
— Outbred kittens are more hardy and viable (even the smallest ones).
The disadvantages include:
“It’s unknown who will grow up from a little homeless lump.”
— A kitten picked up on the street must be treated for many “street” cat diseases.
— It’s difficult to raise kittens if the mother grew up on the street.
— According to the rules of cat breeding, an outbred animal must be sterilized.
- They do not have the necessary “status”.
Characteristics of a mongrel cat
Outbred cats are easy to keep. They have an easy-going character. They are well accustomed to hygiene, have a variety of coat colors, are hardy and resilient. The owners note the playfulness and sensitivity of the animals, persistent and strong immunity.
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Is it worth taking a mongrel kitten or is it better to buy a pet of noble blood? This question probably worries many cat lovers. Some people prefer purebred animals with a passport and pedigree, while others pay attention to those animals that are born on the street. Sometimes an adult pet comes into the house and has street experience. Are there any advantages to purebred cats?
Advantages of purebred cats
Experts say that such pussies have advantages. For example, outdoor cats live longer. We are talking specifically about wild animals whose parents are also wild. If a kitten was born from street parents, then its likelihood of living a long and happy life in a city apartment increases. On average, such pets can live up to 18-20 years. This is already a good result. True, owners will need to monitor the pet, give it high-quality animal food and purchase reliable pet supplies that will not harm the pet’s health.
Outdoor cats usually do not live that long; they rarely reach the age of seven. But their life expectancy is determined by extreme living conditions. Cats (and cats even more so) are forced to starve, compete with other members of the cat family, flee from dogs and sometimes from people. The street is fraught with many dangers, but it is thanks to such strict selection that many long-livers are found among street pets.
Wild cats are more resilient; they can survive in extreme situations and quickly adapt to any conditions. Moreover, they live 3-5 years longer than purebred animals.
This pattern can be easily explained. Weak animals do not survive on the street at all. They have no way to pass on their genes. In the wild, there is strict genetic selection (according to Darwin). And as a result, only the most tenacious, cunning and dexterous of cats give offspring.
Noble cats - their pros and cons
Among purebred cats, hereditary diseases are more common. Noble animals may even suffer from diseases that have long been considered unique to humans: obesity, diabetes, oncology and others. In addition, purebred cats can transmit diseases that are characteristic of a particular breed to their offspring.
If some breed of animal is bred artificially, the situation becomes more complicated. These pets require constant care. For example, Persians need to be brushed thoroughly to prevent them from swallowing their fur. Representatives of this breed can have a lot of problems because of their fur.
The advantage of purebred cats is that when buying a kitten, the future owner can know in advance some of the signs of an adult animal. For example, characteristics such as fur length and the absence of certain diseases in the family are passed on to kittens. In the case of a wild animal, this is impossible to predict.
Today, many pet owners prefer to have yard cats due to their omnivorous nature, ease of care, and strong immunity. It is not entirely correct to call such cats outbred, since all breeds from ancient times originated from wild animals and were subsequently modified depending on their habitat and lifestyle.
Overview of yard cat breeds
Yard cats can be of absolutely any color, with long or short tails, with brown or blue eyes, long-haired or short-haired.
History of cats
According to archaeological data and ancient chronicles, cats have been with people for more than 90 centuries. At that time, no one attached any importance to the belonging of their four-legged friend to one breed or another.
Interesting. It has long been believed that the first cats were first domesticated by humans in ancient Egypt, as evidenced by a tomb painting dating back to around 1950 BC. However, in 2004, scientists discovered a burial in Cyprus dating back to 9500 BC, where a cat rested with a man.
In ancient Egypt, cats were revered as sacred animals and were valued as excellent rodent hunters. In the Middle Ages, in some countries they were personified with kindness and tranquility in the home, in others they were considered magical creatures with connections with evil spirits. Cats were especially common in China, Japan and Russia, as well as several European and North African countries.
In Russia, yard cats have been popular since the birth of statehood in Ancient Rus', but domestic breeders began breeding purebred cats only at the end of the 18th century. At that time, the Russian Blue breed, which, according to some sources, was bred in England, became especially widespread.
Is there a yard cat breed?
In felinology, yard cats are classified as feral (or street) breeds. The ancestors of all representatives of the cat family were wild cats, which differ in appearance and character, which is explained by the difference in climate in the habitat and adaptive qualities.
Any native cat breed can be classified as a yard cat, since humans did not take any part in selection at the stage of formation of the animal’s characteristic qualities.
Based on this logic, we can distinguish some domestic-aboriginal cat breeds:
- Celtic cat (European shorthair);
Yard cats were not initially subject to breeding work. Of course, people selected cats with the qualities they needed for breeding: for example, in the Middle Ages they were especially valued. Later, representatives of the nobility preferred individuals with the most exquisite exterior characteristics, and the middle and lower classes also continued to look for “mousetraps”.
Not purebred or non-standard genotype
Having looked at the photographs of yard cats, we can unequivocally say that many of them are very similar to purebred individuals. Such non-standard genotype is one of their key features.
Yard cats can have a wide variety of colors.
It is impossible to predict in advance the appearance of an unborn kitten, since it is often a mixture of many breeds. Thanks to this variety of hereditary characteristics, animals can have a lot of colors, different sizes, eye colors and coat lengths. The only thing that a yard cat definitely cannot have is a complete lack of fur.
Street cats can boast a huge number of coat colors: no other known breed in the world has such diversity. It is believed that northern cats are massive and have fluffy fur, while representatives of the southern side are graceful, have fine hair and a small undercoat. This difference is due to the influence of climate and area of residence.
Among yard cats, there are often individuals with spotted colors, all kinds of patterns and markings. You can also find animals that have three colors (people call them lucky). But the most common color is considered to be a light base background with dark stripes on it. This coloring helps the cat to camouflage itself in nature and hunt effectively. White cats are very rare among mongrels.
Contrary to popular belief, it cannot be argued that purebred cats are superior to yard cats in terms of external characteristics and type of behavior. In addition, the powerful fusion of breeds from natural selection creates truly unique kittens. In the future, they grow into strong, handsome men with magnificent colors and a strong physique, which will be the envy of even the most “pure” breeds.
The character of yard cats is also ambiguous. Some of them are distinguished by absolute calm and meekness, others call themselves royalty with its inherent importance. Often, such animals are not characterized by touchiness and aggressiveness; they show their emotions quite carefully.
Pros and cons of barn cats
Pedigree cats are distinguished by their originality and are valued for their individual characteristics of character and appearance.
Domestic cats have a strong immune system and an easy-going character.
Yard murkas are to some extent incomparable with their purebred relatives, but they have no less advantages:
- Strong immunity. Street cats have a longer life expectancy than purebred cats. This is due to the fact that being in natural conditions, they became less susceptible to most street infections and acquired strong and lasting immunity. In addition, selection activities suppress the protective forces of the cat's body, especially inbreeding and genetic mutations.
- Knitting. It will not be difficult for a courtyard lady to find a gentleman; most likely the owner will choose a partner from an abundance of options. The birth of future offspring will also be a pleasant surprise, because it is impossible to predict the fur color, shape and eye color of an unborn kitten. Perhaps he will become the founder of a new exclusive breed.
- Character. Most yard cats have a soft and docile character. Such a dog will become attached to its owner with all its heart and become his devoted friend.
- Hunting for rodents. Thanks to their well-developed natural instinct, street cats can easily catch an annoying rodent.
- Independence and omnivorousness. Such cats go out on their own for a walk and return home with the same success. In addition, they are absolutely not picky about food.
- Exhibitions. Despite the lack of a breed title, special exhibitions are organized for yard muskies where their exterior characteristics and grooming are assessed. This is an excellent opportunity for the owner to show off his mongrel pet in all its glory.
- Intelligence. Yard cats are much tougher and smarter than their pedigree counterparts. They have more developed thinking, dexterity and natural instincts.
- Price. Anyone can become the owner of a yard pet; all you need to do is shelter a stray animal and make friends with it. Taking care of one of the millions of starving kittens roaming the streets is a noble cause.
Yard cats may also have some disadvantages, among which it is advisable to highlight:
- Excessive sensitivity. Such pets react painfully to any changes that have occurred in the house, be it rearrangement of furniture or the arrival of noisy guests.
- Impossibility of making good money. Many owners of purebred animals that do not have defects in color or anatomical structure have a profitable business in breeding and selling kittens. There are very few people willing to buy a purebred kitten at a high price.
Outdoor cats are very sensitive to changes that occur in the house.
Representatives of domestic breeds have a negative attitude towards the absence of an owner and loneliness. They fall into a kind of depression, which is manifested by hair loss, loss of appetite, anxiety and restlessness. Often this phenomenon occurs in “apartment” cats that do not have free access to the street.
There are a huge number of cat breeds. Owners of such animals treat their pets with special care. They take them to various exhibitions, trying to emphasize the exclusivity of their pet and its compliance with all breed standards. But there are also owners who are crazy about the simplest, yard cats. It is this type of animal that will be discussed in our article.
Are they mongrel?
In recent years, many animal lovers have preferred to have mongrel pets in their homes. There are reasons for this: yard cats are not picky about food, they have strong immunity and care for them is very unpretentious. And yet it would be wrong to call these animals outbred. Both street and purebred cats have common ancestors who lived in the wild. Their modification occurred due to domestication, when the usual habitat and way of life became completely different.
What does the term "breed" mean?
A breed is a group of domestic animals of the same species that differ from other members of the family by certain characteristics. This formulation appeared relatively recently, or rather about 2 centuries ago. Organizations involved in felinology (the study of anatomy and physiology, as well as the characteristics of the breed and selection), highlight the characteristic properties and traits of pets. After which all this data is formed into a certain standard that is suitable for a particular breed.
Street cats are considered to be outbred, but they also have their own characteristics. Most yard cats belong to aboriginal breeds, which are characterized by certain external characteristics and a peculiar disposition. All of them were formed naturally, without the intervention of breeders. These include the Turkish Angora, Siamese, Persian, Siberian and Celtic cats.
History of domestication of cats
The history of relations between humans and cats goes back several thousand years. Ancient chronicles and archaeological finds testify to this amazing neighborhood.
For a long period, scientists believed that the first who managed to domesticate cats were the ancient Egyptians. This conclusion was made after studying one tomb, which was built in 1950 BC. There were corresponding images on the wall paintings. However, studies of Cypriot burials in 2004 refuted these claims. The tomb, which dates back to about 9500 BC, contained the remains of a man and a cat.
In ancient Egypt, these animals were given special attention. They were treasured because they helped people get rid of mouse infestations. The Egyptians considered cats to be sacred animals. In the Middle Ages, attitudes towards them were ambiguous: in some countries cats symbolized kindness and tranquility in the home, while in others they were credited with magical properties and connections with evil spirits. Animals were especially widespread in some countries of Europe and North Africa, as well as in Russia, Japan and China.
In those ancient times, people did not attach much importance to cat breeds. This concept came into use about 200 years ago, when the rapid development of such a science as selection began.
On the territory of modern Russia, yard cats and cats appeared during the formation of Ancient Rus'. The breeding of purebred groups began only in the second half of the 18th century. In those years, the most popular breed was considered the Russian Blue, presumably bred in Great Britain.
Description of yard cat breeds
In recent years, keeping purebred pets in the house has become fashionable. But if you are not too concerned about the pedigree of your pet and you just want to have a devoted four-legged friend in your home, you should pay attention to street cats.
If you carefully look at the photos of yard cats, you will see that they have certain similarities with purebred cats. Since street animals quite often have admixtures of various breeds, it is very difficult to predict what appearance their offspring will have. Hereditary traits can affect the size and color of the animal; the length of the coat and eye color also depend on them.
It is known that most yard cats living in northern latitudes are more massive in size and have thick, fluffy fur. But their relatives from tropical regions have much less fur, and these animals are more graceful. In addition to heredity, such external signs are determined by climatic influences and habitat.
Ordinary yard cats have one more feature - they always have fur; the absence of fur is characteristic only of certain breeds. Also, among their street relatives, individuals with a white color are rarely found.
The colors of the fur of yard cats are so varied that purebred individuals can envy them. There are animals that have a spotted color, which represents entire patterns. Among outdoor cats you can often see tri-colored ones. This suit has been considered lucky for a long time. Despite the variety of colors, the most common is light wool with dark stripes.
Personality of street cats
The character of non-pedigreed pets cannot be called unambiguous. Some cats have a calm and meek character, while others have an important appearance and consider themselves royalty. In most cases, these animals are insensitive and non-aggressive.
Advantages and disadvantages
Despite the fact that yard cats do not have such exclusive characteristics as their purebred counterparts, they nevertheless have many advantages.
- Lasting immunity. Breeding breeds using selective breeding methods has greatly weakened the immune system of animals. This is why the life expectancy of street cats is several times higher than that of purebred pets. Yard cats have strong protective functions of the body and are able to resist many infections.
- Temperament. Such animals tend to be docile in nature. They become very attached to the owner who picked them up on the street.
- Reproduction. Since yard cats do not need a purebred partner, finding a mate for them to reproduce will not be difficult.
- Indispensable on the farm. Outdoor cats are excellent mouse hunters. Nature endowed the animal with these qualities, and it is among the domestic representatives of the family that this instinct is much more developed.
- Price. You don't need a big investment to get a pet. You can pick up a cute, albeit not purebred, kitten on the street. Some cats even choose their own owner, coming to visit and “imposing” themselves.
- Exhibitions for barn cats. You heard right. Indeed, there are special exhibitions designed for outbred cats. On them, judges evaluate the external characteristics of the animal and its grooming.
The disadvantages include the inability to make decent money on the offspring of a pet and the excessive sensitivity of non-pedigreed cats. These animals very painfully tolerate any changes that occur in their usual habitat. Noisy feasts and even rearrangements in the house can negatively affect the pet.
100In the classification of felinological organizations they are referred to as outbred. However, this is not entirely true: initially, all cat breeds originated from wild animals and later changed in accordance with their habitat and lifestyle. According to historical data, the first cats were domesticated more than two thousand years ago in Ancient Egypt. Presumably the animals were wild and had no sympathy for humans. Subsequently, cats began to be domesticated on all continents. They have gained particular popularity in China, Japan, Russia, and a number of European and North African countries.
Yard cats in Russia have been known since the appearance of signs of statehood in Ancient Rus'. It is obvious that our ancestors were not too concerned about the origin of their pets: they began to take care of breeding purebred cats in Russia only at the end of the 18th century, at the same time the Russian Blue breed, supposedly bred in England, became widespread. But are there yard cat breeds, with characteristic features, phenotype, habits and distinctive features? De jure - no. De facto – yes. The fact is that any native cat breed can be considered a yard cat: humans did not take part in its selection at the stage of formation of the animal’s distinctive characteristics. Following this logic, we can distinguish some “backyard-native” cat breeds:
Yard cats (in felinology they are defined as “feral breeds”) were not subject to any selection. Naturally, man selected the most beautiful cats with the qualities he needed for breeding - in the Middle Ages, for example, the main thing was the animals’ ability to catch mice, and even better, rats. Later, noble people began to pay more attention to feline aesthetics, but the middle and lower classes were still looking for “mousetraps” for themselves.
Another feature yard cats– non-standardity of their genotype. Often this is a mixture of many breeds, which is why outbred animals have a lot of colors, different coat lengths, and different dimensions. The characters of yard cats are also ambiguous - some of them are calm and meek, and some have a royal importance, even if they live exclusively on the streets.
However, contrary to popular belief, it is impossible to say that purebred cats have clear advantages over outbred cats in terms of their character, habits and type of behavior. Moreover, an explosive mixture of breeds and natural selection creates unique kittens, which later grow into real beauties - strong cats, with stunning colors and powerful physiques, which will be the envy of show “pure” breeds. Of course, it will never be possible to officially register such a “breed”, no matter how similar in appearance it may be to a purebred cat. The external signs that appear in a cat will not necessarily appear in her kittens. That is why crossing purebred cats with yard cats is strongly discouraged, as well as buying animals without a pedigree.
At the same time, feral (mongrel) cats can become wonderful pets with proper care and education. The love for purebred animals is quite logical, but the “cat racism” characteristic of many modern breeders is completely inappropriate in the civilized world.