MyCatBreeds
Both Safari and American Shorthair are originated from United States. Both Safari and American Shorthair are having almost same weight. Both Safari and American Shorthair has same life span. Both Safari and American Shorthair has same litter size. Both Safari and American Shorthair requires Low maintenance.
The Safari Cat, hailing from the USA, is one of the rarest breeds of cats. There are only about 70 of these cats registered at the International Cat Association.
The Safari cat is a mix of a moggy and Geoffroy's cat. At first, the cat was used for research purposes by Washington State University but then cat breeders took over the development of the breed.
The name ‘Safari’ was chosen because of its wild look.
Often sailors of old would keep cats onboard to protect their stores from mice and rats, and so it was when settlers sailed from Europe to North America.
They had cats onboard and once onshore they interbred. But in the 20th century, a selective breeding program began to bring out the best qualities of these cats.
The American Shorthair is one of these cats – a pedigreed cat that is accepted by all North American cat registries. At first, the cat was known as the Domestic Shorthair but it was renamed in 1966.
The hybrid Safari cat is a medium to large-sized cat that at first weighed in the region of 15kg, but the cat now weighs roughly 11kg.
Its body is much like that of the wild parent, the Geoffroy – muscular and compact. The ears aren’t particularly large and are smallish, rounded ears with a fairly broad head.
It has a typical wild cat look and is a spotted or rosetted cat breed. Below the spots, the coat is a silvery grey shade.
The coat which is short actually comes in a variety of colors that come from both cat breeds. The eyes of this cat are either yellow or green. The Safari cat certainly has a wild cat appearance, because of the cross-breeding. This is a rare cat and because of this, there is no breed standard for it.
They can live to be between 17 and 20 years of age.
Even though one of the parent breeds is a wild cat, the Safari cat is described as an easy-going cat that can make a good pet.
The cat is very intelligent and playful and will enjoy swimming and climbing. It is for this purpose that he needs to have quite a large outside enclosure with a pool of sorts so that he can paddle.
There isn’t much information on their interaction with children and other pets in the home. While they are quite likely to make good pets where there are children, there would have to be supervision where there are small children. During play, these cats can bit. It would be extremely important to teach children to respect any animal and to be gentle and kind to them.
The American Shorthair is a large, sturdy cat with a round face and short ears. Their coats can come in many different patterns and colors. They shed so the fur will need to be brushed from time to time.
They stand at about 20 – 25cm in height and they weigh between 5 and 7kg.
The American Shorthairs are easy, no-fuss cats. They’re also low maintenance, healthy, amicable cats, ready to even be friends with strangers and your dogs.
He is an intelligent cat too so it will be important to provide him with toys that challenge him to think. These good-natured cats make perfect famiy companions.
As a hybrid cat, your Safari is interesting alright, but unfortunately, you can’t ever be 100% sure of a hybrid cat. It needs careful consideration before you bring one into your home.
Apart from coming into the home from time to time, hybrid cats need an outside enclosure too that is securely fenced and gated and with a roof.
You made a decision to buy a cat with a wild side. It may live up to all your expectations but it may not either.
When you do research you find that the biggest number of behavioral complaints from owners of hybrid cats are about aggression issues and the refusal to use a litter box when indoors.
There is still a raging debate going on as to whether hybrids make suitable pets, but when you bring any animal into your home, as a responsible adult it is your job to provide well for it to ensure its happiness.
The American Shorthair is a playful cat and is quite capable of amusing himself, but will welcome your games too. He’s a big cat so make sure he gets enough exercise to avoid him becoming obese.
He is a low maintenance cat and you don't have to be worrying about him too much as he just likes to get on with life. He loves being well-fed, getting your attention and lying in the sun.
This is one cat that doesn’t need a lot of attention so being easy to care for, independent, playful, and affectionate, you’re going to have one of a kind companion and friend.
The Safari cat isn’t a particularly well-known breed so there isn’t much information on their health. They can suffer from the same illnesses as non-hybrid domestic cats.
Certain hybrid breeds, such as the Safari, can sometimes have issues with reproduction as some cats are infertile. Domestic cats and wild cats have a different number of chromosomes and this results in reproductive problems, and stillbirths are quite common.
With good nutrition and a loving caring lifestyle, the American Shorthair can live to be 15 – 20 years of age and even longer.
Their flattish faces also make the American Shorthair prone to respiratory issues.
It is recommended that you brush this cat each week. He isn’t a big shedder but the brushing once a week keeps the fur in good condition, removing loose hairs and dust.
A high protein diet is imperative. Cats are carnivores and a meat diet is imperative. You can speak to your vet or a cat expert about feeding your Safari cat. Certainly, they need to be fed high-quality cat food. These foods are available in wet and dry form.
He will definitely need some raw meat. Make sure you understand the ingredients in some low- quality cat foods as corn for cats can be a problem for them, hard to digest and it could cause intestinal problems.
Your American Shorthair will benefit greatly from regular brushing and he looks forward to this grooming period and being pampered by you for a few minutes.
It helps to remove the dead hair from his coat and this is important so that he doesn’t ingest the loose hair. While you’re brushing him, you can also run your fingers over him to make sure there are no unusual lumps. Anything odd or any sign of illness you should take your cat to see the vet immediately.
Make sure your American Shorthair has access to the best quality food there is. There are many commercially manufactured cat foods available and your vet can advise you on the best one to choose.
Cats are carnivores so aways choose food that is high in proten. Food must be provided in accordance with the cat’s age and energy levels. Certainly a generic cat or one with a medical condition will need a certain type of food than a young, frisky kitten. Make sure your cat always has access to fresh, cool water.
Make sure your furry feline friend has everything he needs to ensure he is comfortable. This includes feeding bowls, toys, a litter box, soft bedding, nutritious food as well as scratching post and climbing equipment.
Have your pet neutered or spayed if you don’t want kittens from your cat. These procedures have enormous health benefits for your pet and it prevents even more kittens coming into a world that already has far too many unwanted pets.
Make sure your cat is up to date with all his vaccines because without being vaccinated your cat can succumb to any one of the life-threatening cat illnesses there are. Kittens need to have their first vaccines at 8 weeks of age.
If you have to take your cat to the vet you need a carrier basket so that your cat feels comfortable and safe inside it.
You can’t just put your cat on a leash and take him to the vet as inside the car he will lurch around and cause you to lose attention. A transport box that is familiar to your cat will be the best way for you and your cat to travel.