Skookum vs American Bobtail - Breed Comparison | Petzlover

Bobtailed cats have a naturally shortened tail due to natural genetic mutation. The cat’s original appearance genetics were modified so as to bring about an improved strain that comes in all colors and coat types.

The cat descended from a short-tailed kitten, Yodi. His kittens also had a short tail. Two women selectively bred the cats to be large and strong with a wild look but with a pleasant nature.

The cats used in the development of the breed were domestic shorthairs and longhairs. They are now pedigreed cats without tails.

In 1989, the International Cat Association accepted the American Bobtail into its new breed category, giving it full recognition in 2002. They were accepted for registration by the Cat Fanciers’ Association in 2000. This is the world's biggest registry of pedigreed cats.

Skookums 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.

The American Bobtail is a cat that came about in the 1960s. It is well know as the cat with a bobbed tail. It’s not as vocal as many other cat breeds. It’s not a slender cat but is sturdy and and strong weighing between 3 and 7kg. Their double coats can be short- or long-haired. The coat comes in different patterns and colors, including orange, cream, black, brown, chocolate etc with a shaggy texture. He sheds quite a bit. The body of the American Bobtail is faily long. Its ears are medium-sized and wide-based with rounded tips, the eyes are almond shape. The eyes can be gold, yellow, green or blue. What is interesting is that the hind legs are much longer than the fore legs, and the feet are round.

Tmperament:

Bobtails are friendly cats, enjoying being in the company of their human family as well as with strangers. They are loving and affectionate to the entire family as opposed to just one person.

They’re quiet cats but will chirp when happy and excited. They get on well with all members of their human family and that includes children and the dogs.

They’re intelligent cats too and they can be taught to walk on a leash and to also perform some tricks. There are some people who say that their Bobtails act more like dogs than cats. These cats are sensitive and can sense when their owners are happy or sad and will come and sit with you when you're feeling sad and alone.

The 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.

Many people want a dog as a pet but aren’t able to keep one and then the American Bobtail becomes the ideal alternative. These cats aren’t known for their solitary personalities like the many other cats there are and they genuinely love to spend time with their human family. Some will even behave like a dog and be there to meet you at the door when you arrive home.

He is a fairly large, amicable cat and is affectionate and adaptable to your lifestyle. He enjoys all kinds of lifestyles and loves to curl up next to you on your travels, being the perfect road trip companion.

The American Bobtail is a therapeutic cat and is sensitive to the moods of its human family. He gets on well with children and other pets in the family and just wants to be a family member.

By bringing an American Bobtail into your home and your heart, you’ll have discovered the most wonderful feline companion there is.

Because 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.

When you buy a kitten from a breeder, always do research on the breeder so as to avoid a host of health issues down the line.

Apart from the typical cat health problems, the Bobtail is a healthy breed of cat. With proper care from you at home as well as veterinary care, these interesting looking cats can live up to anything between 12 and 20 years.

Because 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.

Keep a close eye on your cat’s weight.

Keep the litter box of your Bobtail scrupulously clean.

Your American Bobtail needs the best quality food there is full of vitamins and minerals if he is to remain healthy. The cat’s diet will depend a lot on his activity levels and general health, but it should always be high protein food. Your vet will always help you with some guidelines on feeding your cat.

Every cat needs exercise, and even though these cats aren’t as energetic as other cats, they are active indoors and out and are also playful. You will need to provide it with some puzzle toys and a climbing tree to keep him mentally and physically active.

Brush his medium-length fur twice a week to keep it shiny and silky.

Trim his nails carefully and check his eyes and inside his ears for abnormal discharges.

Vaccinate your cat to keep it protected from life-threatening cat diseases and take him to the vet immediately you suspect something is wrong.

Even 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.