Sumxu vs Asian - Breed Comparison | Petzlover

Known also as the Malayan, the Asian cat is likened to the Burmese but just with different coat patterns and colors.

This particular cat breed was developed in 1981 in the UK. Apparently there was a mistake mating between a Lilac Burmese and a Chinchilla Persian and kittens from these were born in 1981.

So beautiful were they that a breeding program started with new coat colors and patterns. The breed got the name ‘Asian’ with all the varieties reaching GCCF Championship status.

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 Asian cat is medium-sized and muscular. The male cat is somewhat bigger than the female and weighs roughly 5 – 7kg while the female will weigh roughly 3 – 5kg although most times, there is not much difference in size between the males and females.

The attractive cat has a round head and wide-spaced ears with large green eyes. It’s a slender cat, but athletic with slender legs and medium thickness tail. Asian cats come in a wide range of colors such as fawn, chocolate, black, blue, cinnamon. The coat is short, fine, and silky and the Asian doesn’t require too much grooming.

Temperament:

These are friendly, playful cats and they get on well with children if the children are kind, gentle and respectful with him. This is a fairly dependant cat and he will actually follow his favorite human being, crying out for attention.

The Asian is a social cat and can fit well into different homes. However, because it is a social cat, they require an owner that is willing to spend time with them. They’re cats that are sensitive to the moods of their owners and make excellent companions.

They’re adventurous cats and enjoy exploring and traveling, voicing their opinion on different things as well. The Asian thrives on the attention it gets from their human owners. It’s a sociable cat and is quite talkative too.

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.

The Asian cat is such a sweet animal – gentle and affectionate and also very sociable. They are also curious and intelligent and vocal enough to let you know their needs. They're strong-willed if they want something.

The Asian makes an excellent companion for singles, couples, families or the elderly. They also get on well with children and with other pets in the home.

There are quite a few Asian cat varieties and each one promises to make you an excellent companion.

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?

Your Asian cat can reach up to 15 years of age with good care.

Although there are no specific health issues with this cat, because of it being associated with the Burmese, it may be more susceptible to diabetes mellitus than other breeds.

There are many cats in modern times developing diabetes mellitus – where they are unable to produce enough insulin to balance blood sugar. If the disease goes untreated it can lead to dehydration, vomiting, depression, weight loss, and even death. Your cat will be thirsty and urinating more frequently. There are various treatments and the diet for the cat will need to change too.

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.

Grooming:

To take care of the cat’s shiny coat, you can gently brush your Asian every week, not more, as they are short-haired cats, they’re not heavy shedders and they are low maintenance.

Diet:

Age and general health will influence the way you feed your Asian cat. You’ll want to be feeding your feline friend the very best food there is as this will contribute towards his good health.

If you opt to feed your cat a commercially manufactured cat food, higher protein levels in wet foods might be better for your carnivorous pet. You don’t want to provide your cat with a high protein diet that is deficient in amino acids.

That is why it is important to research cat foods and their ingredients and get to know what are the most important ingredients for your cat to be getting. At all costs, avoid your cat becoming obese.

Make sure your cat has access to fresh cool water to maintain his body temperature.

General:

Check your cat’s teeth, as he can’t convey to you that he is in pain – you need to check inside his mouth. Redness inside his ears might be indicative of an ear infection.

Whenever your cat seems to be ill, get him to the vet.

Provide your cat with a litter box that is kept hygienically clean.

Provide your cat with food- and water bowl, a brush for grooming and warm, dry sleeping basket.

Have your Asian neutered or spayed to prevent unwanted kittens.

Make sure your cat’s vaccines are up to date.

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.