Oriental Bicolour vs German Rex - Breed Comparison

Oriental Bicolour cats owe their origins to Lindajean Grillo of Ciara Cattery. The cats hail from the United States. It was in 1979 that Grillo paired a Siamese and bicolored American Shorthair, selecting the best bicolored offspring to mate again with Siamese or Orientals.

This particular variety was granted recognition in 1983 by TICA. It was during the 1980s that European breeders started their own Oriental bicolor breeding lines. The first modern Oriental Bicolours were imported to the UK during 2004.

The cat originates from Germany and was developed in about the 1950s. Dr. Rose Scheuer-Karpin found a frizzy-haired black and white cat and chose to breed her.

So as to fix the frizzy hair gene, it was decided to mate the cat further and this was the start of the German Rex.

It was later crossed with the Cornish Rex. The cats were recognized by the International Feline Foundation, but the Cat Fanciers' Association still associates the breed with the Cornish Rex.

These cats with a triangular-shaped head and slender, long body have a fairly thin tail. The ears are widely set and are large. The eyes are green, but blue with the colorpoint varieties.

The coat is short, close-lying and sleek while the coat of the long-haired variety is fine and silky with no thick undercoat. The tail forms a plume. The coat is mostly white and the other part of the coat can be in any other color. You’ll always see quite a bit of white around the legs.

Temperament:

These cats are suited for singles, couples, families, and seniors - in fact, anyone still active enough to provide this cat with lots of attention.

These vibrant cats are known for their social, friendly and loving personality. They are intelligent, inquisitive, active cats that need to have plenty of interaction with their human family members. They love their human family and love to hold conversations with them.

They're entertaining too, and love nothing more to ve the center of attention. They're so into their human family that you may even have him waiting patiently for you to come home fro work. He shouldn't be left alone for hours on end and should rather have a pet friend to keep him company during the day.

This is a medium-sized, muscular domestic cat with a well-developed chest. The cat can weigh between 3 and 6kg.

The legs are fairly long and slender but strong and the tail is thick and furry with a rounded tip. The head is round and the ears are large. The eye colors are always related to the coat color. The coat is short and silky and in many colors and it has a tendency to curl.

Temperament:

These are friendly cats that form a strong bond with their human owners, although they are friendly towards strangers too.

They’re intelligent, lively, and playful too and will fit in well to homes with children.

Because of their playful nature, you want to ensure you provide them with lots of entertaining, stimulating toys.

They’ve got balanced personalities and are known for being sociable, adapting to the lifestyles they find themselves in. They will also get on well with other pets in the home, and enjoy being both indoors and outside.

The Oriental Bicolor is such a wonderful pet to have. They are intelligent, entertaining, loving, active, playful, and inquisitive.

They’re also athletic and energetic. These cats have got all the characteristics you want in a good friend. They make a fantastic companion to people who are active and happy. They’re also very vocal and have a lot to say to their human family.

Your German Rex is everything you want in a pet. He is a cat that loves his human family and is prepared to offer loyalty and love in exchange for the same.

He is adaptable and undemanding. Before you invest in such a cat, understand that interaction from you is highly important, so if you don’t have time for an adult pet, it would be kinder not to get this particular cat breed as they crave lots of attention,

Any cat can develop health problems. Even kittens that come with a certificate of health can develop illnesses that you never thought possible.

Orientals are generally healthy cats, but the health issues that may affect the Oriental are similar to that of the Siamese cat.

One of these is Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA). This is a genetic eye problem that can lead to blindness. Another disease to look out for is Asthma. The Siamese is susceptible to this disease which means your Oriental Bicolor will also be. You will have to get your furry friend to the vet who may precribe anti-inflammatory drugs.

With excellent care and lots of love and attention, your German Rex can reach up to 17 years of age. They aren’t prone to any particular diseases, but diet plays a massive role in their health.

Remember that obesity is a major disease and it in itself can contribute to a host of other illnesses in cats and shorten its life. Excess weight contributes towards arthritis and diabetes and just losing a bit of weight can contribute towards increased mobility.

Dental disease is a common, chronic problem and you need to ensure your pet’s diet promotes dental health. It can be extremely stressful for your cat to have his teeth brushed, but in the case of chronic dental infection, get your pet to a vet.

The Oriental Bicolor will require a brushing once a week. A good idea is to also take a warm, damp cloth and to wipe your cat down. It’s an excellent way to rid your cat of loose hairs as well as dust. The cat has a sparse coat, so brush him gently.

Other grooming requires nail clipping and checking inside his ears. If you clean his ears, be careful not to go deep into the ear. It is precisely why so many cat owners take their cat to the pet groomers where they can do these things professionally.

It’s very important to keep your Bicolor’s litter box spotlessly clean because like most cats, they won’t use their litterbox if it’s still got yesterday’s feces in it. It needs to be cleaned every day.

The Oriental’s diet is much like that of other cats – it has to be meaty. You can’t afford to not understand your feline pet’s dietary needs. Cats are carnivorous and they need commercial cat food that will be equal to fresh meat that they would normally find in the wild.

They need foods high in protein but they will still need some carbohydrates, amino acids, and vitamins, and minerals. Always go for the best quality pet cat foods because by buying the poorer quality ones you put your cat at risk of developing health problems. Never ever leave your cat without a constant supply of fresh, cool drinking water.

Supply your cat with all the things that make it a pleasure to have a cat. You don’t want to bring your pet home and only then start looking for things to make him at home. He’ll need food and water bowls, a nice warm, soft bed, a litter box, grooming accessories, collar, toys climbing tree and scratching pole.

Have your pet neutered or spayed to prevent unwanted kittens.

Make sure he is taken to the vet when ill. You shouldn't own a pet if you can't afford to pay vet fees. There are some cat illnesses that can make your cat very sick and uncomfortable. He should have his vaccines and also be treated for parasites.

The German Rex is a shorthaired breed so a gentle brush once a week will be quite adequate.

As you groom your German Rex, feel for any unusual lumps and make sure there are no signs of sores or rashes on your cat.

Check inside his ears for wax and dirt buildup and signs of redness for infection. If you don’t like to clean the inside of your cat’s ears, there are professional cat groomers and your local vet who will do this for you.

Make sure you feed your Rex the best cat food there is. When you look at the commercially cat manufactured foods there are, you’ll notice that there is dry kibble for cats as well as wet-type foods.

Through trial and error, you’ll learn what your cat likes, but your vet can offer valuable information on what is essential in a cat’s diet. Cats are carnivores so that means their diets have to be high in meat – protein – and low in carbohydrates.

Check out the best cat foods there are – the ones that have all the vitamins and minerals your cat requires to remain healthy.

Provide fresh, cool water for your cat around the clock.

Provide your cat with a litter box and keep it meticulously clean, scooping out the cat droppings every day and changing the actual sand or grit regularly.

Provide your cat with a warm bed, food and water bowls, toys, collar, and tag, climbing tree and scratching post.

Have your pet neutered or spayed to avoid unwanted kittens.

Your kitten must start their first vaccines between 8 and 12 weeks of age. Your kitten will also be dewormed.

Take your cat to the vet when he is sick.