Ussuri vs Cheetoh - Breed Comparison | Petzlover

The Cheetoh is a beautiful cat whose parent breeds are the Ocicat and the Bengal.

It was in 2001 that these two breeds were crossed by breeder Carol Drymon. Drymon was wanting to develop a new cat that would have characteristics similar to that of a wild cat but that would behave like a domesticated cat.

The Cheetoh became a recognized and registered breed with the United Feline Organization in November of 2004.

Not much is known about the Ussuri cat but it does seem to be a rare natural cat breed. The cat originates from Russia but is rare even in that country.

A breed standard for this cat was published in the 1990s, but nothing has been heard since and its breed status isn't clear. It does seem that the Ussuri's numbers are dwindling due to interbreeding with local domestic cats. Also, the cat doesn't have a breeding program and it is expected that the cat will just quietly disappear.

For a housecat, the Cheetoh is a muscular and large breed. In fact, this is one of the largest breeds of all the domesticated cats, with males being bigger than females. They can weigh anything between 7 and 10kg.

People want to own an animal that looks like a wild cat and the Cheetoh looks like a Cheetah. The coat of the cat can be several different colors and can be in different patterns with spots and stripes. He gets the spots from both the parent cats - the Ocicat and the Bengal. He definitely getd the longer legs from the Ocicat.

The purpose of the Cheetoh breeding program was to create an exotic, intelligent cat with a wild look and that would also be larger than your regular domestic cat. You could say it's the cats wonderfully soft, a velvety coat that makes it such an attractive cat.

Also, another notable feature with the cat is the way it walks - it looks as though it is stalking and prowling.

The cats are bred in 6 colors referred to as the black- or brown-spotted sienna, the black-spotted smoke the black- or brown-spotted gold, the black-spotted silver and the gold-spotted.

Temperament:

Your fascinating Cheetoh is a fun-loving cat, being playful and energetic and he will require a large yard and require being exercised.

They’re gentle cats but are talkative, being quietly friendly and social.

They make great family pets. They become devoted to their human family, being loyal and companionable. He is an affectionate, loving cat and his intelligence allows him to learn some simple commands and tricks.

He is the kind of cat that will do well in a family with kids and pets as he loves playfulness and fun, but he also wants to receive lots of love and attention.

The Ussuri cat can be described as a medium-sized cat that weighs between 3 and 6kg. The ears often have those tufts, similar to that of a lynx. The body of the Ussuri cat is muscular. The neck is firm, the legs medium length and muscular with rounded paws. The tail has a rounded tip. The coat is short and glossy and there is a thick undercoat. It has a mix of spots with lines around the face.There are also line on the legs and the tail is ringed. It definitely lives up to looking like a wild cat.

Temperament

The Ussuri has a wild heritage, and domesticated, they are smart and intelligent. Of course, being on the wild side, they like to hunt and will present you with mice, rats, and birds. They are quite capable of forming strong bonds with their human owners, and tend to gravitate particularly to one member of the family.

Cheetohs are a wonderful breed of cat and will love a busy household of adult humans, kids, and other pets.

Remember that because of their wild side they have a high prey instinct and might like the idea of going after your small pets such as fish and birds.

Intelligent and playful you will need to keep your Cheetoh entertained and exercised with both mentally and physically stimulating puzzle-type games. One thing is for sure, with a Cheetoh in your home, you're never going to have a dull moment.

Ussuri Cats are very smart cats and they are able to adapt fairly quickly to their surroundings. Think twice before you invest in a Ussuri as they have different needs to your regular domestic cat. These are cats that won't slot easily into indoor life and that is why you need to think carefully before you bring such a cat home as a pet. While they can be affectionate to their human family, they are restless cats, wanting to get away to that wild life they once knew.

Whenever you buy a pet, particularly an exotic type of pet where you’ve spent a lot of money, make sure to check out potential health issues from the breeders.

Always make sure to buy your cat from a reputable source to avoid health issues that could drastically shorten your Cheetoh cat’s life.

As with all cats, there are potential genetic problems in their ancestry that might reveal itself in your cat.

Certainly, if you suspect something is wrong, get your cat to the vet immediately.

These are strong, robust cats, but even so, for your own peace of mind, a visit to the vet every now and them can be a good thing to make sure everything is aright with your cat. Healthy they may be, but they can still pick up any one of the many common cat diseases there are. With a good diet, plenty of exercise and a caring environment, they can reach 16 years of age or older.

Although the Cheetoh is considered to be a hypoallergenic cat, no cat is really so, but nonetheless the coat is lovely and velvety and is shiny and short, being low shedding as well.

He will need lots of exercise, but luckily with his dog-like attributes, he can be taught to walk on a leash,

Ensure your cat has a nice dry, warm sleeping area.

Diet:

These are energetic cats and he will need a complete commercially manufactured cat food that is high in protein, after all this is a carnivore and they require meaty diets.

If in any kind of doubt as to what to feed your Cheetoh, speak with your veterinarian if you have any concerns.

Make sure that your cat is never without a constant supply of fresh, cool water. A water fountain, with moving water, always encourages water drinking with cats.

The short coat of Ussuri cats is glossy and close-lying, and a brush once a week will be fine for this cat. Provide your pet with an outside enclosure. These are cats with a wild side, and to ensure you don't get frustrated with him, an enclosure with climbing equipment will be a good idea. Ensure the cat gets plenty of exercise. You will need to invest in interactive toys that encourage this intelligent cat to think things out. Only the very highest quality meat-diet will be good enough for this cat. Ensure he has a constant supply of fresh cool water. In his outside enclosure, you can include a paddling pool, and in the wilds, cats like to paw at water and wade in. Provide your pet with a comfortable sleeping area.