Smoke vs Skookum - Breed Comparison | Petzlover

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.

A Smoke cat is a domestic long-haired cat. The beautiful coat coloring usually comes with a silvery undercoat, with the topcoat having color points.

In effect, the Smoke cat isn’t a cat breed as such but is describing the color of the cat. It could be a Persian cat. It seems the Smoke cat has its origins in the 1800s in the UK from where it seems to have originated.

No one really knows the true origin of the Smokes cat but it would seem as though they evolved from breeding silver tabbies to blacks and blues.

While the early Smokes had green eyes, breeding has resulted in there being copper eyes as well.The Asian Smoke is a colour variation of the Asian that was created in the UK in the 1980s.

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.

When Smoke kittens are born they have gray and white markings around each eye and around the muzzle.

Essentially the Smoke cat can be black, cream, blue, red, or even tortie. Smoke actually means that the base of the hair is whitish and the rest of the hair is black, red or blue etc.

These cats can be different sizes but will no doubt be medium-sized and weigh in the region of 3 to 6kg. They are lean and muscular and can have different eye colors too – green or gold.

Temperament:

There are so many cat breeds and they have heaps of colors and patterns. The domestic long-haired cat is capable of a wide range of temperaments.

You can be sure that these cats are playful, fun, curious, and intelligent. Some will be more vocal than others but they will all thrive on the attention they get from their human owners. They are friendly, affectionate cats who will bond closely with their human family.

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.

Because the Smoke isn’t a cat breed as such but rather a color shade found in some long-haired cats you can’t be sure what your cat will really look like and how he will behave.

They could be energetic, playful, or quiet and relaxed. They might be more vocal and want to talk to you or they may be content just to be wherever you are.

When you bring a Smoke cat into your life, one thing is sure, with his friendly and loving nature your world will become meaningful, as any beautiful cat such as the Smoke is guaranteed to bring in lots of smiles, joy, and love.

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.

Just like it is wonderful to stroke and pet your pet for his health’s sake, it is also therapeutic for you to stroke your cat.

Vomiting:

Vomiting is one way that you can tell that your cat is sick. He will vomit if he has eaten something he shouldn't have or if he is feeling sick. You must keep an eye on his vomiting as he can become dehydrated and then he wlll need to get to the vet right away.

Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease:

FLUTD is often brought on by cats that are overweight or unhappy and stressed. It can cause a cat to be miserable, vomit and have a temperature.

You’ll see your cat battling to urinate, he will cry in pain when urinating and be pacing and unsettled. This is an illness that requires urgent veterinary attention.

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.

Smokes will require more care than other long- haired cats because their coats are fairly fragile and need to be treated gently and with care. Gentle brushing once or twice a week will keep the coat in top condition.

Keep the nails trimmed as required.

The trend today is to brush your pet’s teeth but this can be painful and traumatic for a cat and he can easily lash out in fear, resulting in bites and scratches. The pet groomer and vet can rather look inside your cat’s mouth and tell you if there is any bad tooth that needs attending to.

Provide your cat with good food. Your cat is a carnivore and he must eat meat to ensure his health. The best commercial cat foods are high in protein to ensure your cat gets a balanced meal to promote good health. If in doubt, speak to your vet about the best cat food there is for your furry feline friend.

Provide a constant supply of fresh, cool water.

Provide your cat with a comfortable, soft bed.

Provide him with a litter tray and ensure this is cleaned of the feces every single day.

Have him vaccinated against the major feline diseases. Ensure he goes to the vet when he is in pain or shows signs of illness.