Stone Cougar vs European Shorthair - Breed Comparison

The European Shorthair is a cat breed that hails from Sweden but it also has roots that go back to the Roman Empire.

It is referred to as a natural cat breed, which means that the cat came about naturally without any human intervention.

The cat has had great hunting skills and this has what has made it sought after as a cat to keep rodents at bay. It became a famous housecat as well.

Once again the Stone Cougar, also referred to as the Mountain Cougar or Chausie, is a cat that was developed to resemble a wild cat but that is actually a domestic cat. The Stone Cougar is a rare domestic cat that is a cross between a domestic cat and the wild Jungle cat. It is referred to as a wildcat hybrid.

These domestic cats of Europe are a medium- to large-sized cat, weighing between 4 and 6kg, though some can be heavier.

The European Shorthair has a fairly large head and medium-sized ears. The body is robust and round shaped. The cat’s short coat without an undercoat comes in a range of colors and patterns such as white, cream, red, black and blue with eyes that are green, yellow, brown or copper or blue.

Temperament:

The European Shorthair is known for its adaptable nature and the cat is able to fit into different lifestyles with ease. It's a cat that will live happily with children, pets, adults and seniors.

The cat loves his human family and loves becoming involved with fun games and activities. It's an intelligent cat too and cat food puzzles help him to think about how to get his food.

Even though your cat is social with his human family, it becomes fairly shy and nervous of strangers.

The Stone Cougar cat is thick-set with a thick tail. They are large cats too and can be anything between 7 and 13kg. The ears are small. The color’ stone’ is used to describe the color of this cat – a light fawn color. These cats can be a lot bigger than your regular cat and they are also referred to as Mountain Cougar or Jungle Curl. Because they are bigger than most domestic cats, they can take up to 3 years to reach maturity. Temperament: This is an active cat that is intelligent and adventurous. People who have kept this social cat as a pet say that he is trainable and also dog-like and even enjoys playing in water. Like many other hybrid cats, the Stone Cougar can have some endearing characteristics that tend to make it quite different from your regular cat.

The European Shorthair is such a sweet cat and he is able to adapt fairly easily to new environments. It is such an ideal cat for households with singles, couples, families, and seniors as it adapts its personality to suit, getting on well with other pets as well.

The cat loves his human family and wants to please, but loves to play too, being active and playful. Having one of these cats in your home is like bringing in a treasured gem.

When it comes to bringing a Stone Cougar into your home, you need to be well prepared for such a large cat. They are also very energetic and you may be overwhelmed by his darting around. It is why so many of these hybrids land up in shelters – people don’t believe that they are different from your regular domesticated cat. Nonetheless, they can make loving pets and they like lots of attention too. Don’t just get a Stone Cougar because it is an exotic cat. Think carefully if you are ready to be totally devoted to the cat for 12 – 16 years possibly.

Even if your European Shorthair appears to be well, it is a good idea to get used to taking your cat to the vet for an annual check-up.

To provide your cat with the best chance to remain healthy, good diet and exercise is imperative. Look out for an itchy skin too as this could well be a sign that your cat is being plagued by parasites. Parasites can be a terrible problem and it will need to be attended to by your vet.

Parasites and an itchy skin can be a nightmare for your pet and make him most miserable with excessive scratching and licking as well as thinning of hair.

A new kitten will also require being vaccinated to ensure he remains healthy. These injections protect your cat from life-threatening diseases. Usually, vets start vaccines at between 8 – 12 weeks of age to protect your cat against the likes of Feline Leukaemia Virus, Feline Infectious Enteritis and Cat Flu.

There are also other vaccinations you might want to consider such as rabies and chlamydia.

The Stone Cougar is a fairly healthy cat and you aren’t going to have to worry about heavy vet bills if you look after him well. Remember that just like with humans, the health of a cat depends heavily on the food you give him. It needs to be high-quality food. Obesity is something you want to always watch out for as it can bring on a host of ailments of which joint problems and arthritis are ones to look out for.

European Shorthairs like to groom themselves, but even so, you want to brush your cat once a week to keep the hair shiny and healthy. Make sure to trim your cat’s claws at the same time. It’s your time to feel for any unusual lumps or scratches on your feline friend’s skin. Check his eyes and make sure they are still bright and clear, look inside the ears to make sure they aren’t becoming clogged with dirt and wax and look inside the mouth to ensure no signs of gum- and tooth disease.

Your cat may well be outgoing with his human family, but his nervousness with strangers will require you providing him with a safe haven of his own. This might be his own bed which should be in a safe, dry, quiet area where he can retreat and feel more secure.

European Shorthairs love being outdoors and particularly if you have a female you’ll want her spayed to avoid her becoming pregnant. Cat shelters are already full of unwanted kittens and you don’t want to add to the burden. Also, have your male neutered too as he is ar less likely to want to roam. Spaying and neutering come with many health benefits too.

Be very careful of your cat’s diet. This is because the domestic cat is a carnivore and still essentially a predator, liking to hunt for their meat. They require a meat diet. However, cats have special dietary requirements and they require a balanced diet. All cats are individuals and they have different food likes and preferences, but they all need the best food there is to remain in peak condition. If you feed your cat commercially manufactured food, always follow the instructions on the label.

Provide your feline pet with cat accessories – food and water bowl, collar and tag, soft bedding, a climbing tree, scratching post, litter box, grooming accessories and toys.

The Stone Cougar is easy to take care of in terms of grooming as it has a short coat. You want to brush the short coat at least once a week to remove dust and loose hairs. It isn’t a heavy shedding cat. Keep his nails short. Invest in a scratching post for him as all cats are natural scratchers. As also mentioned, the Stone Cougar is a large cat and the correct diet is of the utmost importance. There are some cat owners who like to prepare their cat’s food, but then you just have to be 100% sure that he is getting in all the vital nutrients he requires for health. The best, most high-quality commercial cat food manufacturers make sure that the cat food they manufacture is packed with everything a cat needs, with meat being the top ingredient. Remember, when in any kind of doubt with your Stone Cougar’s diet, rather speak to your vet. The Stone Cougar is prone to food allergies, and it is for this reason that you will need to provide these cats with a high-quality diet. Make sure you read the labels carefully because you want to avoid some of the junk additives added into some of the more inferior cat foods. They can often be prone to digestive issues. The Stone Cougar is an active cat and he will need to be well exercised. Such a large cat will require en outside enclosure where he can run, jump and climb without fear of him getting out and running away. If you don’t have an outdoor enclosure, the next best thing is to train him to walk on a leash. Unless you intend to be breeding, be sure to spay or neuter your Stone Cougar.