Skookum vs American Shorthair - Breed Comparison | Petzlover

Skookum vs American Shorthair - Breed ComparisonBoth American Shorthair and Skookum are originated from United States. Both American Shorthair and Skookum are having almost same weight. American Shorthair may live 5 years more than Skookum. Both American Shorthair and Skookum has almost same litter size. Both American Shorthair and Skookum requires Low Maintenance.

Basic Information

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United States
United States
Weight Male:
5 - 7 kg
11 - 16 pounds
2 - 3 kg
4 - 7 pounds
Weight Female:
5 - 7 kg
11 - 16 pounds
2 - 3 kg
4 - 7 pounds
Life Span:
15 - 20 Years
12 - 15 Years
Litter Size:
2 - 6
2 - 4
Other Names:
Domestic Shorthair
None
Colors Available:
Many colors and patterns
Range of colors and patterns
Coat:
Shortish hair
Soft and wavy or curly
Shedding:
Moderate
Minimal
Temperament:
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Curious, Docile, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Quiet, Responsive, Social, Sweet, Territorial
Alert, Cheerful, Curious, Docile, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Responsive, Social, Sweet, Territorial
Grooming:
Low Maintenance
Low Maintenance
Trainability:
Easy
Easy
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
Yes

History

american shorthairOften sailors of old would keep cats onboard to protect their stores from mice and rats, and so it was when settlers sailed from Europe to North America.

They had cats onboard and once onshore they interbred. But in the 20th century, a selective breeding program began to bring out the best qualities of these cats.

The American Shorthair is one of these cats – a pedigreed cat that is accepted by all North American cat registries. At first, the cat was known as the Domestic Shorthair but it was renamed in 1966.

skookumSkookums are a new cat breed – an experimental and rare hybrid dwarf cat breed, It was developed in the United States in the 1990s.

As a new breed, you’re not going to find too much information on their history, but is was breeder Roy Galusha who started crossing the Munchkin cat with the LaPerm.

Even today, some years later, the Skookum cat is still an experimental cat breed that is considered a rare dwarf breed. It is recognized as an Experimental breed by Independent European Registries as well as the Dwarf Cat Association.

Description

american shorthair kitten - descriptionThe American Shorthair is a large, sturdy cat with a round face and short ears. Their coats can come in many different patterns and colors. They shed so the fur will need to be brushed from time to time.

They stand at about 20 – 25cm in height and they weigh between 5 and 7kg.

Temperament:

The American Shorthairs are easy, no-fuss cats. They’re also low maintenance, healthy, amicable cats, ready to even be friends with strangers and your dogs.

He is an intelligent cat too so it will be important to provide him with toys that challenge him to think. These good-natured cats make perfect famiy companions.

skookum kitten - descriptionThe dwarf Skookum only weighs between 2 and 3kg. It is a new cat breed with a curly coat. The coat can be in a range of colors and patterns.

It is a small, lightweight cat with short legs and a broad head and stocky build. It has a muscular build. The eyes are large and walnut- shaped while the ears are large and pointed.

The neck is also thickish. The coat is soft and curly, standing away from the body and spiraling into ringlets. It can feature a number of colors and patterns such as solid, bicolor, and colorpoint. These cats can be long-haired or short-haired.

Temperament:

They are playful cats, full of energy and they love climbing and jumping. They’re intelligent, confident cats and are also loyal and loving towards their human family. They may be active, playful cats, but they still like to settle down into your lap.

Characteristics

american shorthair cat - characteristicsThe American Shorthair is a playful cat and is quite capable of amusing himself, but will welcome your games too. He’s a big cat so make sure he gets enough exercise to avoid him becoming obese.

He is a low maintenance cat and you don't have to be worrying about him too much as he just likes to get on with life. He loves being well-fed, getting your attention and lying in the sun.

This is one cat that doesn’t need a lot of attention so being easy to care for, independent, playful, and affectionate, you’re going to have one of a kind companion and friend.

skookum cat - characteristicsBecause the Skookum cat is still in its early stages of development if you want to know precisely what the characteristics of the cat are you would want to look at the Munchkin and the LaPerm cat.

One thing is sure the Skookum cat thrives on the attention of his human family and if you provide him with the love and attention he craves, you can be sure that he will turn out to be the right friend and companion for your family.

Health Problems

american shorthair kittens - health problemsWith good nutrition and a loving caring lifestyle, the American Shorthair can live to be 15 – 20 years of age and even longer.

Their flattish faces also make the American Shorthair prone to respiratory issues.

skookum kittens - health problemsBecause the Skookum cat is a new, experimental breed, health problems with the cat are not well known. However, every cat can succumb to some of the common cat health issues there are. As a pet owner you want to watch for and recognize signs that your cat’s health is in trouble.

Feline leukemia for instance is a disease that spreads through bodily fluids such as urine, saliva and nose discharge, and saliva. Mother cats can even pass the disease along to her kittens. Feline leukemia can also lead to a host of conditions such as diarrhea, respiratory tract infections, skin problems and eye diseases among others.

Feline panleukopenia is known to most people as feline distemper and it is a very contagious viral disease with kittens being most at risk.

The disease affects a cat's immune system and the cat will likely have diarrhea, vomiting and dehydration, and lethargy. It’s a deadly disease that requires a vaccine to prevent it.

Caring The Pet

american shorthair cats - caringYour American Shorthair will benefit greatly from regular brushing and he looks forward to this grooming period and being pampered by you for a few minutes.

It helps to remove the dead hair from his coat and this is important so that he doesn’t ingest the loose hair. While you’re brushing him, you can also run your fingers over him to make sure there are no unusual lumps. Anything odd or any sign of illness you should take your cat to see the vet immediately.

Diet:

Make sure your American Shorthair has access to the best quality food there is. There are many commercially manufactured cat foods available and your vet can advise you on the best one to choose.

Cats are carnivores so aways choose food that is high in proten. Food must be provided in accordance with the cat’s age and energy levels. Certainly a generic cat or one with a medical condition will need a certain type of food than a young, frisky kitten. Make sure your cat always has access to fresh, cool water.

Make your cat comfortable:

Make sure your furry feline friend has everything he needs to ensure he is comfortable. This includes feeding bowls, toys, a litter box, soft bedding, nutritious food as well as scratching post and climbing equipment.

Desex your cats:

Have your pet neutered or spayed if you don’t want kittens from your cat. These procedures have enormous health benefits for your pet and it prevents even more kittens coming into a world that already has far too many unwanted pets.

Vaccines:

Make sure your cat is up to date with all his vaccines because without being vaccinated your cat can succumb to any one of the life-threatening cat illnesses there are. Kittens need to have their first vaccines at 8 weeks of age.

Transporting your cat:

If you have to take your cat to the vet you need a carrier basket so that your cat feels comfortable and safe inside it.

You can’t just put your cat on a leash and take him to the vet as inside the car he will lurch around and cause you to lose attention. A transport box that is familiar to your cat will be the best way for you and your cat to travel.

skookum cats - caringEven though the Skookum has curly hair, it’s not difficult to groom him. You want to brush the soft curls gently once a week. Keep it gentle so that you don’t make the curls frizzy.

Use some warm water in a spray bottle with some pet conditioner and spray the curls lightly and use your fingers to liven up the curls.

Cats like to nibble throughout the day and it is better for them to feed like this as opposed to a larger meal morning and night.

However, you will need to know what your cat is eating as you don’t want to overfeed your cat. Obesity comes with a host of health issues. As a carnivore, your cat requires meaty foods so make sure to feed him high-quality cat foods that have meat and protein as the top ingredients.

Your cat must have a constant supply of fresh, cool water.

Provide your cat with a litter box. You will need to clean out the box every day of cat feces as cats don’t like to use a box that is dirty. You get special cat rakes at the vet or the pet shop that makes it easy just to rake up the feces and dispose of them.

Comparison with other breeds

  1. Skookum vs Abyssinian - Breed Comparison
  2. Skookum vs Aegean - Breed Comparison
  3. Skookum vs African Serval - Breed Comparison
  4. Skookum vs Chausie - Breed Comparison
  5. Skookum vs American Bobtail - Breed Comparison
  6. Skookum vs American Curl - Breed Comparison
  7. Skookum vs American Keuda - Breed Comparison
  8. Skookum vs American Longhair - Breed Comparison
  9. Skookum vs American Polydactyl - Breed Comparison
  10. Skookum vs American Shorthair - Breed Comparison
  11. Skookum vs American Wirehair - Breed Comparison
  12. Skookum vs Applehead Siamese - Breed Comparison
  13. Skookum vs Ashera - Breed Comparison
  14. Skookum vs Asian - Breed Comparison
  15. Skookum vs Asian Semi-Longhair - Breed Comparison
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  20. Skookum vs Birman - Breed Comparison
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  22. Skookum vs Bombay - Breed Comparison
  23. Skookum vs Brazilian Shorthair - Breed Comparison
  24. Skookum vs Bristol - Breed Comparison
  25. Skookum vs British Longhair - Breed Comparison
  26. American Shorthair vs Abyssinian - Breed Comparison
  27. American Shorthair vs Aegean - Breed Comparison
  28. American Shorthair vs African Serval - Breed Comparison
  29. American Shorthair vs Chausie - Breed Comparison
  30. American Shorthair vs American Bobtail - Breed Comparison
  31. American Shorthair vs American Curl - Breed Comparison
  32. American Shorthair vs American Keuda - Breed Comparison
  33. American Shorthair vs American Longhair - Breed Comparison
  34. American Shorthair vs American Polydactyl - Breed Comparison
  35. American Wirehair vs American Shorthair - Breed Comparison
  36. Applehead Siamese vs American Shorthair - Breed Comparison
  37. Ashera vs American Shorthair - Breed Comparison
  38. Asian vs American Shorthair - Breed Comparison
  39. Asian Semi-Longhair vs American Shorthair - Breed Comparison
  40. Australian Mist vs American Shorthair - Breed Comparison
  41. Balinese vs American Shorthair - Breed Comparison
  42. Bengal vs American Shorthair - Breed Comparison
  43. Bicolor vs American Shorthair - Breed Comparison
  44. Birman vs American Shorthair - Breed Comparison
  45. Blue Russian vs American Shorthair - Breed Comparison
  46. Bombay vs American Shorthair - Breed Comparison
  47. Brazilian Shorthair vs American Shorthair - Breed Comparison
  48. Bristol vs American Shorthair - Breed Comparison
  49. British Longhair vs American Shorthair - Breed Comparison
  50. British Shorthair vs American Shorthair - Breed Comparison