Torby vs Safari - Breed Comparison | Petzlover

The Safari Cat, hailing from the USA, is one of the rarest breeds of cats. There are only about 70 of these cats registered at the International Cat Association.

The Safari cat is a mix of a moggy and Geoffroy's cat. At first, the cat was used for research purposes by Washington State University but then cat breeders took over the development of the breed.

The name ‘Safari’ was chosen because of its wild look.

The Torby is a rare cat and the name ‘Torbie’ is shortened for Tortoiseshell-tabby. They are known for their tri-colored coats. In fact, when a cat has tabby stripes along with Tortoiseshell markings, the results are Torbie. Tortoiseshell cats are almost exclusively female. Males do exist but they are rare. They’re also referred to as Torties with their coat resembling that of the shell of a tortoise. The colors represented are usually red, orange and black. Just like the Tabby cat, the Tortie cat is not actually a breed, but is rather referring to the coat pattern. Pure breed cats such as the Maine Coon can also have a Tortoiseshell pattern.

The hybrid Safari cat is a medium to large-sized cat that at first weighed in the region of 15kg, but the cat now weighs roughly 11kg.

Its body is much like that of the wild parent, the Geoffroy – muscular and compact. The ears aren’t particularly large and are smallish, rounded ears with a fairly broad head.

It has a typical wild cat look and is a spotted or rosetted cat breed. Below the spots, the coat is a silvery grey shade.

The coat which is short actually comes in a variety of colors that come from both cat breeds. The eyes of this cat are either yellow or green. The Safari cat certainly has a wild cat appearance, because of the cross-breeding. This is a rare cat and because of this, there is no breed standard for it.

They can live to be between 17 and 20 years of age.

Temperament:

Even though one of the parent breeds is a wild cat, the Safari cat is described as an easy-going cat that can make a good pet.

The cat is very intelligent and playful and will enjoy swimming and climbing. It is for this purpose that he needs to have quite a large outside enclosure with a pool of sorts so that he can paddle.

There isn’t much information on their interaction with children and other pets in the home. While they are quite likely to make good pets where there are children, there would have to be supervision where there are small children. During play, these cats can bit. It would be extremely important to teach children to respect any animal and to be gentle and kind to them.

There is a type of tortie cat that is called a torbie and it comes with tabby-like features. They are striking looking cats and can be medium to large size, weigh between 3 and 7kg and be muscular and athletic. Essentially when there are tabby stripes you get a Torbie. Some people call them patched tabbies because they are a tabby with Temperament: No two Tortoiseshell cats have the same personalities, and because they can be any breed of cat, they have a wide range of personality characteristics. They can be energetic, docile, curious, lazy, playful, shy, reserved, aloof, social, friendly, angry, calm, or something else. Not every Torbie cat will have the same characteristics, but most make the most awesome pets. It is true that a cat’s personality and behavior are formed a lot by the people who own it and the lifestyle they provide for it.

As a hybrid cat, your Safari is interesting alright, but unfortunately, you can’t ever be 100% sure of a hybrid cat. It needs careful consideration before you bring one into your home.

Apart from coming into the home from time to time, hybrid cats need an outside enclosure too that is securely fenced and gated and with a roof.

You made a decision to buy a cat with a wild side. It may live up to all your expectations but it may not either.

When you do research you find that the biggest number of behavioral complaints from owners of hybrid cats are about aggression issues and the refusal to use a litter box when indoors.

There is still a raging debate going on as to whether hybrids make suitable pets, but when you bring any animal into your home, as a responsible adult it is your job to provide well for it to ensure its happiness.

Your torbie cat isn't going to turn out the same way as your friend's torbie cat. This is because torbie is just indicating the type of coat your cat has. Yes, they can be strong-willed, social and even angry sometimes, but they can also be quiet, sweet and content. Nothing is set in stone when it comes to a cat's personality. The type of personality you have and the lifestyle you provide your cat with can play a big part in how your Torby turns out. Give him lots of love and care and you'll be blessed with an awesome friend and pet.

The Safari cat isn’t a particularly well-known breed so there isn’t much information on their health. They can suffer from the same illnesses as non-hybrid domestic cats.

Certain hybrid breeds, such as the Safari, can sometimes have issues with reproduction as some cats are infertile. Domestic cats and wild cats have a different number of chromosomes and this results in reproductive problems, and stillbirths are quite common.

Torbie cats are such lovable felines and because they are describing the type of coat the coat has and not the breed, nobody can be sure how long these cats will live for. Some will only live to be 10 while others can reach 15 to 18 years of age. The diet and lifestyle you give your torbie can influence his health and longevity. Health issues in a torbie are certainly not connected to the color of the coat. No matter what cat breed you have, most of the common cat illnesses to watch for are issues that affect the kidneys, the eyes, the skin, and heart. Make sure you get your torbie vaccinated against some of the deadly cat diseases there are.

It is recommended that you brush this cat each week. He isn’t a big shedder but the brushing once a week keeps the fur in good condition, removing loose hairs and dust.

A high protein diet is imperative. Cats are carnivores and a meat diet is imperative. You can speak to your vet or a cat expert about feeding your Safari cat. Certainly, they need to be fed high-quality cat food. These foods are available in wet and dry form.

He will definitely need some raw meat. Make sure you understand the ingredients in some low- quality cat foods as corn for cats can be a problem for them, hard to digest and it could cause intestinal problems.

It can be difficult to decide which food to go with for your feline friend as the cat food manufacturers have provided pet lovers with a generous selection. With a cat, it may be tempting to choose the cheapest option, but in the long run, it will just increase your vet bills. Diet plays a massive role in the health of your cat. The important thing to remember is that your cat is a carnivore and he will require meat as the biggest part of his diet. If in doubt, speak to your vet about the type of food to give your cat and how much. Ensure your cat has a constant supply of fresh, cool water. All cats are low-maintenance, and your Torby isn’t going to require much grooming. Make a habit of regular grooming, even if it is only once a week. Your Torby will also need his claws trimmed regularly. You can visit your vet or pet groomer to do this for you. Just like human parents prepare for the arrival of a new baby, you have to prepare for the arrival of a cat in the home, whether it comes to you as a kitten or an adult. Make a list of the essential cat accessories you will need. Buy some fun toys for your Torby, more so if you are bringing a kitten home. Cats need to be stimulated to steer away from boredom. Essentially your Torby checklist will look like this - • Litter box and cat litter • Cat bedding • Veterinarian-recommended cat food • Bowls for food and water • Toys • Collar with tag and contact info etched in • Brush for grooming • Scratching post • Climbing tree