Dilute Calico 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.

The Calico isn’t a breed of cat but is describing a color and pattern of the cat. Many breeds of cats can be calico, and ‘Dilute Calico’ simply means that the color of the cat is less intense.

An example of this would be cream being the dilute shade of red, almost like strawberry blonde. People interested in the origins of the cat trace its history back to the trade routes in Northern Africa and Europe, and more specifically to the port cities along the Mediterranean Sea.

A Calico cat is described as having 3 colors - white, black, and red and Dilute Calico cats have ‘toned down’ shades of these 3 colors.

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.

These are beautiful cats that can essentially have any size and shape and can weigh between 3 and 6kg. Their coat too can be in different colors and patterns and these don’t have any effect on the cat’s persoality.

Your Dilute Calico can have a short- or long-haired coat. Also, because the dilute calico coloring isn’t linked to any particular cat breed, these cats can be any size or shape really.

They are also nearly always female. Remember that while genes do have an effect on how your Dilute Calico looks and behaves, socialization plays a big part, and where possible, to get your cat from a reputable breeder.

Temperament:

Because calico cats are a coat-color and not a breed, you can find long hair dilute calico cats. The personality of the Dilute Calico is described as colorful as well as they’re fun-loving, independent, spunky cats that are sweet and loving too.

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.

Because Dilute Calico cats can be found in many cat breeds, you can’t be certain how your feline friend will turn out.

Bring your pet up well though and treat him with love and care and you’ll have a devoted friend for between 13 and 20 years.

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.

As already mentioned, the Dilute Calico isn't a specific breed but rather a color. The calico can be any breed. The average lifespan of any cat is 12-16 years. The males are far rarer than the females and they live shorter lives.

Cancer is a terrible disease in cats and dogs and it is where cells grow uncontrollably, spreading to all areas of the body. For any sign of illness in your Dilute Calico, get him to the vet.

Make sure your cat is vaccinated against the deadly cat diseases there are such as Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV).

Both males and females can develop lower urinary inflammation, which is also called Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease (FLUTD). You’ll notice your pet straining to urinate. It’s time to get your pets to the vet with this terrible illness.

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.

Prepare for your cat – have food dish, water bowl, litter box, cat food, brush, climbing tree, scratching post, cat toys, and cat bed to welcome your pet.

When it comes to commercially manufactured cat food, there are many excellent ones on the market and you can choose from dry and wet cat food. If in any doubt about what is best for your cat, speak to your vet. Your cat is a carnivore and will need food that pays special attention to meat. A kitten will require 4 small bowls of food a day and by one year of age your cat can be receiving 2 smaller meals a day. Provide cool, fresh water around the clock..

Brush your Dilute Calico gently once a week. Some of the longer-haired Dilute Calicos will require brushing twice a week. At this grooming time, check that the eyes are nice and clear, free of discharge, check that the inside of the ears are free of wax and dirt build-up and check inside the mouth that there aren’t any troublesome teeth.

Whether your cat is an indoor cat or he goes outside occasionally, check for ticks and fleas and get him to the vet to check for internal parasites. Your cat will need to be dewormed and to receive all his cat vaccines to avoid some of the deadly cat diseases there are.

If your cat does go outside, make sure he has a cat collar and an ID tag.

Keep the litter box hygienically clean as cats won’t use a messy litter box. You can buy small scoops and rakes from the pet shop and rake up his droppings throughout the day.

Always have your cat neutered or spayed as there are way too many unwanted kittens in the world. Having them ‘fixed’ reduces lots of illnesses such as urinary inflammation.