Sumxu vs Stone Cougar - Breed Comparison | Petzlover

Once again the Stone Cougar, also referred to as the Mountain Cougar or Chausie, is a cat that was developed to resemble a wild cat but that is actually a domestic cat. The Stone Cougar is a rare domestic cat that is a cross between a domestic cat and the wild Jungle cat. It is referred to as a wildcat hybrid.

The Sumxu is an odd-looking cat with its droopy ears or drop-ears. The truth is, the cat is considered extinct and the last reported Chinese lop-eared cat was way back in 1938.

According to reports, the cat seems to have first made an appearance in 1656 and was always described as a curiosity. It seems as if they were valued as pets but they were also used as food. A Polish man was the first Westerner to describe the Sumxu in his illustrated book Flora Sinensis. The breed was once found in and around Peking and resembled a long-haired Scottish Fold.

The Stone Cougar cat is thick-set with a thick tail. They are large cats too and can be anything between 7 and 13kg. The ears are small. The color’ stone’ is used to describe the color of this cat – a light fawn color. These cats can be a lot bigger than your regular cat and they are also referred to as Mountain Cougar or Jungle Curl. Because they are bigger than most domestic cats, they can take up to 3 years to reach maturity. Temperament: This is an active cat that is intelligent and adventurous. People who have kept this social cat as a pet say that he is trainable and also dog-like and even enjoys playing in water. Like many other hybrid cats, the Stone Cougar can have some endearing characteristics that tend to make it quite different from your regular cat.

The Chinese have always eaten this cat and because it has always been found in restrictive conditions the cat lost its keen sense of hearing because it no longer needed to hunt. The cat's ears lost their upright nature and became the hanging ears that are characteristic of the Chinese cat.

The cat had a long silky, shiny coat and was a dirty yellowy type of color. It had a ruff, a thick tail and blue, slanted eyes. It is thought that the size of the Sumxu was somewhat larger than the standard cat so he would have been a medium to large-sized cat, weighing in the region of 4 to 7kg. He was thick-set and muscular.

Temperament

It is thought that this cat wasn’t particularly active and that it seems to only become really animated when offered food, preferring to lie beside a warm fire than to be found outside. We can only assume that it was a fairly quiet cat.

When it comes to bringing a Stone Cougar into your home, you need to be well prepared for such a large cat. They are also very energetic and you may be overwhelmed by his darting around. It is why so many of these hybrids land up in shelters – people don’t believe that they are different from your regular domesticated cat. Nonetheless, they can make loving pets and they like lots of attention too. Don’t just get a Stone Cougar because it is an exotic cat. Think carefully if you are ready to be totally devoted to the cat for 12 – 16 years possibly.

Not much is known of the character of the Sumxu cat as it is now extinct. It doesn't matter what kind of cat you have because every cat needs to be loved and well cared for. If you can't do that, then why get a cat in the first place.

One wonders what kind of pet the Sumxu cat would have made?

The Stone Cougar is a fairly healthy cat and you aren’t going to have to worry about heavy vet bills if you look after him well. Remember that just like with humans, the health of a cat depends heavily on the food you give him. It needs to be high-quality food. Obesity is something you want to always watch out for as it can bring on a host of ailments of which joint problems and arthritis are ones to look out for.

The Sumxu cat should have seen the veterinarian every year for an examination and to make sure his vaccinations and deworming were up to date.

Every cat deserves to be taken to the vet when they are sick or injured.

It is never a good idea to give your cat medication that hasn't been prescribed by the vet. If the Sumxu cat had ingested a poisonous substance, it would have been kind to call the vet. It would have been dangerous for the Chinese to eat such a cat that had ingested poison.

While cats should be spayed and neutered, it is quite possible that the Sumxu cat was eaten before it ever had a chance to become a parent. Neutering and spaying a cat has health benefits for the cat and can prevent cancers.

The Stone Cougar is easy to take care of in terms of grooming as it has a short coat. You want to brush the short coat at least once a week to remove dust and loose hairs. It isn’t a heavy shedding cat. Keep his nails short. Invest in a scratching post for him as all cats are natural scratchers. As also mentioned, the Stone Cougar is a large cat and the correct diet is of the utmost importance. There are some cat owners who like to prepare their cat’s food, but then you just have to be 100% sure that he is getting in all the vital nutrients he requires for health. The best, most high-quality commercial cat food manufacturers make sure that the cat food they manufacture is packed with everything a cat needs, with meat being the top ingredient. Remember, when in any kind of doubt with your Stone Cougar’s diet, rather speak to your vet. The Stone Cougar is prone to food allergies, and it is for this reason that you will need to provide these cats with a high-quality diet. Make sure you read the labels carefully because you want to avoid some of the junk additives added into some of the more inferior cat foods. They can often be prone to digestive issues. The Stone Cougar is an active cat and he will need to be well exercised. Such a large cat will require en outside enclosure where he can run, jump and climb without fear of him getting out and running away. If you don’t have an outdoor enclosure, the next best thing is to train him to walk on a leash. Unless you intend to be breeding, be sure to spay or neuter your Stone Cougar.

One would have hoped that the now-extinct Sumxu cat received high-quality cat food. If you don't know what to feed your cat, your veterinarian will be able to advise you on the best diet. The cat food manufacturers always produce foods that take into account the cat's age and activity levels.

Certainly, every cat needs taurine, an essential amino acid, for heart and eye health. The food you choose for your cat should contain all the necessary vitamins and minerals.

You will need to provide fresh, cool water for your cat at all times. Wash and refill your cat’s water bowls regularly.

Take your pet to your vet for any signs of illness such as diarrhea, vomiting or lethargy.

The Sumxu cat would have required a brush every few days as the coat was long and silky. Brushing helps keep your cat's coat free of dust and loose hairs.

The Sumxu would have needed a warm, clean dry place to sleep.

Every cat that goes outdoors should have a collar and ID tag.

Your cat will need a litter box which should be placed in a quiet, accessible location. The Sumxu cat would not have liked feces in his litter box, and litter boxes of all cats should be kept clean.