Jaguarundi Curl vs Ginger Tabby - Breed Comparison

Found mostly in Central and South America, the Jaguarundi Curl has been bred to look like a wild cat. - the Jaguarundi.

It was in the 1940s that the cat was also found in Florida. It is a result of a crossing between the Hyland Lynx with Munchkins and possibly other short-legged domestic cats.

The Munchkin cat is a medium-sized cat and it also has very short legs – the result of a genetic mutation.

All ginger cats are tabbies – they have spots and stripes on their coat. The tabby pattern is a common wild type, and it is believed that medieval cats were tabbies.

Most paintings and medieval manuscripts show them to be tabbies. Many people believe that these ginger cats come from a particular breed but this isn’t the case.

Ginger Cat Appreciation Day takes place in September. These cats, known as Orange Tabby Cats are very popular and they can actually have a yellow-, orange or red fur.

This is a medium-sized, strong, muscular wild cat with short legs, a large head and small ears that are curled and set wide apart.

The eyes are wide-set and are large and expressive. The eyes can be gold, green or even blue.

The cat can weigh anything between 6 and 10kg. They can take up to years to reach their weight. The tail of the cat is long and thick, the body long and muscular.

The short coat is a ticked or a spotted pattern and can come in various colors. In most cats, the coats are tawny or solid like the Jaguarundi. In ideal specimens, coats will be tawny or solid like the Jaguarundi.

Temperament:

Maybe it’s the cat’s wild side but the Jaguarundi Curl cat is a shy, elusive and somewhat solitary cat. In the wild these cats only socialize to mate.

It is, however, a very vocal cat. The cat is also a good climber and swimmer and you will need to invest in climbing equipment.

If your Jaguarundi Curl has more Munchkin in him, you may find him far more sociable and actually seeking out the company of his human family.

Ginger cats have different patterns to the short or long silky coats – mackerel or striped, spotted, patched, ticked, and classic.

In fact the Ginger Tabby isn’t referring to a specific cat breed but rather a distinct color pattern. These cats get their ginger coloring from the pigment pheomelamin, the pigment red-headed humans also have.

The Ginger Tabby can range in size so generally they’re between 3 -6kg in weight. It also seems that a higher number of ginger or orange tabbies are male, put down to genetics. The eyes of the cat can be green, gold or copper.

Temperament:

The Ginger Tabby just loves being around his human family and to show his pleasure, you’ll hear loud purring.

They are affectionate cats and aren’t afraid to show you. These cats have a reputation for being friendly but you also have to bear in mind that a cat’s personality depends on their early socialization with people and other cats.

The Ginger Tabby is an independent, bold, courageous cat with a feisty nature.

The wild Jaguarundi is smallish cat that is a little bit larger than a house cat.

Some people like keeping these mixed-breed, hybrid cats, and they can make good pets, but they do tend to be reclusive. You have to remember that with these cats, part of their genetic makeup is a wild cat, and this just means that you can’t really be sure how they will turn out.

Think twice before you buy a cute little Jaguarunndi Curl kitten. Cat Rescue shelters are seeing a massive escalation in the number of hybrid cats who are just abandoned by their owners.

They wanted a ‘wild-type’ cat and ended up with behavior from the cat that they couldn’t handle. How cruel is that. Its the human's fault, not the cat.

The link between personality and hair color is a talking point among humans, and so it is with cats.

The Ginger Tabby, with its marmalade shade coat is feisty, playful, bold, courageous, and interesting.

Certainly, when you bring this cat into your home, not only are you going to have a beautiful cat but one that is full of character and charm.

Hybrid cats do have some health issues because of their breeding. Cat owners who choose these cat breeds need to know that they have special needs.

You should speak to your vet about the health of your cat. Domestic cats and wild cats have a different number of chromosomes. These cats wouldn’t normally mate so that when they are crossed during breeding, an abnormal genetic makeup is a result.

Reproductive problems in cats like the Jaguarundi Curl become a common occurrence and stillbirths can be the norm. Often you’ll find that some of the cats are infertile, whether male or female.

You've also got to be aware of vaccines as sometimes they don't work with these hybrid cats. Many times a cat like this is exposed to rabies and you'll find that the vaccine was ineffective.

Guard your ginger tabby against eating too much and guard against a diet that is nutritionally inadequate as this contributes to poor health.

Cats are carnivores and live on meat but you can speak to your vet about giving your cat the chance of a long life by feeding him proper amounts of a healthy diet.

Make sure he also gets plenty of exercise. Offer him things to climb on, such as an indoor climbing tree so that he can exercise when you’re not there. This is important for helping him stay physically and mentally fit.

Vaccines

All cats are susceptible to bacterial and viral infections. Deadly diseases like this are preventable through vaccination. Vaccines offer protection from other dangerous diseases like feline leukemia virus.

Parasites

All kinds of parasites – internal and external can invade your cat and make him miserable and sick and a trip to the vet is imperative.

Be prepared for the new arrival of your cat. Have food and water bowls, warm bedding, toys, litter box, and food all available and waiting.

Your Jaguarundi Curl doesn’t require a specialized diet. You can feed him much the same as your other domestic cats.

The food needs to be high-quality and can be wet or dry food, so long as it makes sure that meat is the top ingredient. Your cat is a carnivore and will require meaty meals to remain healthy. Dietary supplements or vitamins can only do your Jaguarundi Curl good.

You can brush the coat once each week to remove loose hair and to keep the coat shiny.

You want to provide your cat with a litter box and keep it clean too. These hybrid cats don’t easily learn to use the litter box as they should, and they may do their business around your home as opposed to using the litter box.

Get your pet a collar and tag to identify your cat in case he gets away.

Have your Ginger Tabby cat spayed or neutered. In females, the ovaries and uterus are removed and in males the testicles are surgically removed.

This common op has health benefits and decreases the likelihood of certain types of cancers in your pet. Very importantly it eliminates the possibility of your pet becoming pregnant or the male cat getting out and fathering unwanted litters. The world has too many unwanted kittens and cats as it is.

Grooming:

Brushing your Tabby cat will help with shedding. If you brush your Tabby once a week, you’ll remove all those loose hairs that gives your cat an ungroomed look. Cats shed more in Spring and Autumn and then you may want to increase your brushing to twice a week. Bear in mind that if your cat has shedding which is abnormal it could well be a nutritional thing. Diet is everything. He may not be getting the right mix of ingredients. Speak to your vet as your Tabby may be requiring more of certain vitamins in his diet.

Clip your cat’s nails and make a point of checking inside his mouth for bad teeth and inside his ears for wax and dirt buildup.

Your Ginger Tabby will need food and water bowls, litter box, sleeping place, collar, and toys as well as a carrier box for when he needs to get to the vet.