Owyhee Bob vs Chartreux - Breed Comparison | Petzlover

Hailing from France, the Chartreux cat is a rare cat breed but is still recognized by a number of cat registries around the world.

It’s not a new breed of cat, and in fact, the Chartreux is mentioned for the first time in 1558 in a poem and later on in paintings. There are quite a few legends as to the origins of the Chartreux and while some believe that the cats were brought to France by monks others believe that the Chartreux's ancestors were feral mountain cats from Syria.

European breeders kept the breed from extinction, especially after the 2nd world war, and the first Chartreux were brought to the United States in 1971. In 1987 the Cat Fancier’s Asociation advanced the Chartreux breed to championship status.

This breed of cat is a cross between two fantastic cat breeds – the Manx and the Siamese. It’s a cat breed that is recognized by the Rare and Exotic Feline Registry.

The Owyhee Bob is also just casually referred to as the Owyhee and it's an experimental feline breed.

It’s from the USA and is polydactyl, which means that the cat carries the genes of the Manx while the other breed used to create them is the Siamese.

The Chartreux is a large, strong, stocky, muscular cat that can weigh anything between 4 to 7kg while some can weigh as much as 9kg.

He has short legs when compared to the large body. He is known for his blue-like, silver-gray coat. In fact, the color can be any shade in the region of blue-grey. The coat is short, dense and double-coated and he has gold or copper-colored eyes.

People who have owned these cats say that they can take 3 to 4 years to reach maturity. Some people get mixed up and think this cat is very similar to the British Blue but they are two different breeds altogether.

Temperament:

The Chartreux is a real lap-cat just loving being able to settle down into his human owner's lap. It’s a cat with a 'smiling’ face because of the structure of his muzzle.

He is a very affectionate cat and will follow his people much like a dog. He is very intelligent and quiet and adapts well to a new situation. It's a cat that loves to climb so you will need to invest in a climbing tree for him as well as a scratching pole.

He is a good cat for first-time cat owners as well as being a good friend in homes with well brought up children. He is able to be friendly with other pets in the house.

The cat has spotted or marbled markings on his coat which can be long or short. In fact, the coat can be in all colors and patterns.

Its a medium to large-sized cat, muscular with a round head and medium to large-sized ears that have some feathering around the rounded tips.

The tail too can be long or short but the preferred look is the stumpy tail. The cat has large oval eyes that are wide-set and blue, like one of the parent cats - the Siamese.

Temperament:

The Owyhee Bob is a social cat and very playful. He likes nothing more than to be part of his human family. He is intelligent too and becomes a loving and loyal pet.

The personality of the Owyhee Bob is sweet-tempered and social. They are also these kinds of cats that follow you wherever you go and when you sit down, they’re eager to be in your lap.

These cats don’t do well in homes where their humans work all day, every day and they are left in solitude hour after hour.

Remember that the socialization you give your kitten as well as the environment it grows up in can play a role in the temperament of your cat.

Although this is a large, strong cat, he is actually a gentle feline in nature and he doesn’t like being part of any bickering among his human family, preferring to run away. He also doesn’t like being spoken harshly to when he has done something wrong.

This cat isn’t an extrovert by any means but he isn’t particularly shy either and enjoys spending time with his human family.

He isn’t a demanding cat but is easy-going, just wanting to get on in life and he promises to make you a steady, loyal companion.

The Owyhee cat in your home becomes a wonderful pet. They’ve got such playful, jaunty personalities and they’re clever too.

Social, sweet-tempered, and active, you won’t be disappointed by having such an awesome feline companion in your home.

After all, he has fantastic parent breeds – the Siamese and the Manx – and the two blended together brings out all the most amazing characteristics in the Owyhee Bob cat.

These cats are particularly prone to dental problems. The reason for this is that their incisors are closely set together and small.

Because of the heaviness of this cat, the Chartreux is also prone to a disease known as patellar luxation or kneecap displacement. This problem can eventually lead to lameness. One way to avoid this particular problem is to rather get your kittens from reputable breeders.

These cats are much inclined towards weightiness so you have to be watching his diet carefully, more so because the cat is prone to patellar luxation.

Every cat, regardless of how healthy can get ill. If you don’t want your cat to become a parent, he or she will need to be spayed or neutered as well which comes with a host of health benefits.

If you worry about the cost of vet bills, you can rather pay a small amount each month for pet insurance.

Certainly, as a cat owner, you need to recognize the signs and symptoms of some of the more common illnesses your cat could get so that you can get your feline pet to the vet before he gets too sick by neglecting it.

Cancer:

Cancer is a killer disease where cells grow uncontrollably so that the disease spreads to every area of the body. Cats can get different types of cancer but you need to know some of the symptoms to watch out for.

Your cat may lose weight, you’ll maybe notice a difficulty with swallowing, he has a sore that won’t heal, he doesn’t want to eat, he is losing weight and he may have a new, unusual lump.

Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV):

This is a tricky illness and cats infected with this disease may not show symptoms until years after they were infected. With this disease, the cat’s immune system is weakened and the cat is open to all kinds of other secondary infections.

Worms:

Parasites can make a cat seriously ill. It is why vets deworm kittens. Infestations of worms can cause a host of symptoms. Certainly, your cat is listless, dull and the hair may even fall out.

Your Chartreux cat’s dense, double coat will require brushing once or twice a week, especially in the cat’s seasonal shedding period.

This cat doesn't take well to changes in his diet, particularly when he finds a type of food that he likes, then he wants to stick to that. You want to feed your cat a top-quality food to encourage good health but you want to avoid overfeeding as obesity in cats comes with lots of problems. A cat is a carnivore and you therefore need to feed your cat a diet rich in protein. Speak to your vet or another cat expert who can advise you on feeding your cat if you are in any kind of doubt. Make sure your kitty kat has a never-ending supply of fresh, cool water.

Always make a point of checking inside your cat's ears as well as inside his mouth for bad teeth. Bad teeth can cause terrible pain and your pet has no way of communicating this to you.

Have your cat neutered or spayed if you don't want your cat to have kittens.

Your Owyhee Bob is a social cat so he will require interest and companionship from his human owners.

Choose the best cat food that there is. Your Owyhee Bob cat is a carnivore and he will require excellent cat food to ensure his health. Make sure he has a constant supply of fresh, cool water.

Provide a litter tray and clean it out every day.

Provide a warm, dry bed for your cat, stimulating toys, a scratching-post, climbing tree, food and water bowls, a collar and grooming accessories.

Get you Owyhee Bob to the vet when he shows any sign of illness. Make sure that he gets his kitten vaccines.