Dilute Calico vs Chausie - Breed Comparison | MyCatBreeds

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.

The Afro-Chausie came about from breeding a few individuals from a species of jungle cat which was native to India, Asia and the Middle East. In other words, this is a cross between a wild cat and a domesticated cat.

It was only in 1995 that the Chausie was recognized as a domestic breed, and by the International Cat Association.

The Chausie breed essentially began in the 1990s, when breeders name the breed Chausie and also developed a breeding program. They received registration status in 1995. Chausies are bred in North America and Europe and in 2003 became a new breed in the United States.

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.

The Chausie is a medium to large cat with a long body and long legs. In fact, the hind legs are somewhat longer than their front legs, and they’re able to easily leap into the air and up onto high perches. Some people say these cats look like Pumas.

The adult Afro-Chausie can weigh between 5 to 9kg and they stand in height from 35cm to 45cm and sometimes taller, both male and female.

The ears of the cat are broad and tall and the almond-shaped eyes are a yellow to green shade. The TICA Chausie breed standard says that the cat comes in 3 colors – a black/brown ticked coats, solid black and black grizzled tabby, but in fact, they come in quite a few other colors and patterns too.

Temperament:

Your Afro-Chausie is an intelligent, loyal, social and athletic cat that is also playful. They love their human companions and will form a deep bond with them, making it difficult to rehome him later on.

They don’t like being alone, in fact to such an extent that they will befriend dogs in the home too. This is such an active cat and you can even train him to walk on a leash.

It’s a cat that also loves water and Similar to Bengals and Savannahs, this breed, too, enjoys water. This cat will form deep bonds with owners, hence rehoming has been known to be particularly challenging with this breed

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.

The Chausie loves human contact and they love games with their human family.

They’re intelligent and are constantly looking for things to do. They are athletic and have plenty of energy. They’re social, playful and make great playmates for children who have been taught to respect animals.

When you bring an Afro-Chausie into your home, you can expect to have a lot of action and entertainment with this beautiful cat.

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.

With good health, your Afro Chausie can live to be anything between 12 – 16 years of age. These cats are prone to developing food allergies, and this is why it is important to feed your Chausie high-quality food.

They’ve got fragile digestive systems and many are gluten intolerant.

All kinds of parasites can invade your Afro-Chausie’s body – internally and externally so be sure to have your Chausie checked over for parasites such as tick and fleas, worms and mites.

Check your Chausie for putting on too much weight as these cats have a huge appetite.

You just have to bear in mind that these cats can develop any of the illnesses that other domesticated cats get

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.

Grooming:

With their short coats, they only need to be brushed once a week as they are moderate shedders.

General:

Provide your cat with a quiet place to sleep and which is comfortable and dry.

A cat tree can be useful for allowing your cat to climb and scratch.

Diet:

Chausies are essentially meat-eaters. They don’t want to eat fruit and nuts. One of the Chausie’s ancestors was a wild cat and this is why they don’t eat the same foods as what your dog does.

Every cat thrives on a high-protein, low-carbohydrate diet. A dog’s diet with scraps from the table as well as human food can be fatal for your Chausie if it becomes your cat’s regular food.

He requires a diet of quality meat – beef, chicken, fish and organs – all foods that are easily digestible for your cat. Cats also need taurine from muscle meat such as shellfish and fish.

Always make sure your Chausie has access to a constant supply of fresh, cool water.