Serengeti vs LaPerm - Breed Comparison | MyCatBreeds

This is a cat breed that was deliberately bred to resemble the Serval cat. It was developed by crossing a Bengal cat and an Oriental Shorthair.

The cat was developed by biologist Karen Sausman in California in 1994. The breed is still under development.

The idea with this hybrid cat was to produce new domestic cat breed that would look like a wild cat but not have the wild characteristics.

The cat is recognized by TICA – The International Cat Association.

The LaPerm cat hails from the United States of America but you’ll find him in many other countries around the world.

The cat has a dominant gene which results in the unusual curly coat of the cat. This means he is part of the rex breed. This is a term given for the naturally occurring genetic mutation that gives the cat its wavy coat.

It’s not an old cat breed this and it seems to have come about in the early 1980s for the purposes of controlling rodents. The breed founders were Linda and Richard Koehl from Oregon. They started a formal breeding program and the breed was named after their curly coat.

After the cats got the name LaPerm, it was in 2002 that they got recognition from the Cat Fanciers Association.

These are spotted cats with long legs and large, round-tipped ears. The neck is long and the body lithe, lean, and muscular.

They are medium to large in size and can weigh up to 7 or 8kg. The coat is tan and cream with silver or grey coloring as well as black spots and stripes. Some Serengetis appear to be black but on closer look, you see that they have what is known as ‘ghost spotting’ – a black-spotted pattern that can scarcely be seen.

You may even think you are looking at a black panther. The coat is short, silky, smooth, and sleek. The eyes of the cat are round and are usually amber or gold.

Temperament:

The Serengeti is a friendly, social, and confident cat that is quite capable of forming a strong attachment to its human family. It is a loving, loyal cat. The cat can become bored and will need plenty of puzzle toys to keep his mind and body physically active.

You will need to provide him with a scratching post too as he is a lively, energetic cat. This isn’t only an indoor cat. Cats like the Serengeti will need an outdoor enclosure and the Serengeti cat will need branches and perches to leap up onto.

He is an active cat and can become bored if left indoors. They are capable of making a good family pet and are vocal too – telling you all sorts of things.

The LaPerm is a medium-sized cat that can weigh anything between 3 and 7kg. They’ve got an athletic build. The legs and the neck are fairly long.

It is thought that they are more hypoallergenic than many other cats but no cat is truly hypoallergenic. The coat is the cat's most exceptional feature, with loose curls. The coat can be long or short. All colors and patterns are acceptable, with red, tabby, and tortoiseshell being more common.

There is no undercoat. The eyes of the cat are medium-sized and almond-shaped.

Temperament:

These are affectionate cats with an outgoing personality. He has a sense of humor so becomes an entertaining cat.

He gets on well with children in the home. People who have owned the cat describe him as clownish. He is playful and that means providing him with some interesting toys.

It’s an intelligent cat and learns to use his paws to open doors and tap you to take notice. He is also fairly active and will willingly retrieve small balls. He is gentle, loving, quiet, and affectionate towards his human family.

The Serengeti is both a friendly and affectionate cat even though he is a bit shy and overwhelmed in new surroundings.

He is a cat that talks quite a bit and if he is happy and content he enjoys 'chatting' to you about his day.

He is able to get on well with children in the home as well as with other pets. He is an athletic cat and just loves to climb, and this is why he will certainly need an outdoor enclosure as he loves to dart around madly from time to time, and doing that in your home could be quite dangerous.

He is capable of being a loving cat breed and can form a strong bond with his human family.

The LaPerm cat is known for its loyal, loving personality. It’s a cat that thrives on being involved with its human family and can easily turn into a lap-cat.

They’re active and also intelligent, and will love you to play some games with him. He will become quite vocal when he demands your attention.

Provide him with a climbing tree as he is active and loves to climb where he can survey the room and decide which human being’s lap he has in mind.

Hybrid Cats such as the Serengeti are a combination of a wild breed and a domestic breed. With good care he can live to be up to 15 years of age and possibly longer.

Hybrid cats are always controversial because people who have owned them have got both good and bad to say about them. They have some behavioral issues and many of them have an aggressive side, they’re aloof and they refuse to use a litter box. The cat can’t be blamed though because they have that wild side.

They also come with some health issues such as premature birth, miscarriage, diarrhea, and irritable bowel disease. You may just find yourself more often at the vet than you’d like.

You will need to ensure that your Serengeti gets all his vaccines and de-worming treatments.

La Perms are generally healthy cats. However, any cat owner needs to recognize the signs of some of the common cat illnesses there are.

Cancer, feline immunodeficiency virus, diabetes, and heartworm are all diseases that your healthy cat can at some time succumb too.

Keep an eye on your furry friend, and if he is lethargic and no longer his happy self, get him to the vet immediately for a check-up.

Grooming is easy for the Serengeti as it is a short-haired cat and will require a brush just once a week. Trimming the claws will also be necessary.

A cat such as the Serengeti has been developed by crossing the domestic cat with a wild breed. This means that there will be concerns with the temperament and behavior of these cats in a home setting. Apart from being allowed indoors, they will need an outside enclosure.

Having a wild side, while every cat is a carnivore, these cats are even more so. Their diet has to be strictly protein – meat. Wild cats would have a diet made up of birds and lizards. You want to avoid commercial cat foods that are of lower quality and have less meat in and more carbohydrates. This just spells ill health for your cat. Cats also need some fresh raw meat in their diets.

It is important to keep up your Serengeti's veterinary checkups to make sure there aren’t any health concerns.

The LaPerm’s unusual coat is easy to care for as it isn’t a big shedder. You’d think that the curls would tangle but they don’t. You can gently comb or brush the curls once or twice a week. Just like with a human perm, you can mist the cat’s curls and comb and fluff them out with your fingers.

Cats are particularly prone to periodontal disease, so look into your cat’s mouth occasionally to see that the teeth are as they should be. Brushing the teeth can stress a cat out and make it miserable and the dry cat foods help to keep the teeth clean.

Pet groomers and the vet can check out the teeth for you and make sure they are in tip-top condition.

Make sure your cat’s eyes are clear and bright and free of discharge. Trim the nails as required – something the vet or the pet groomers can also do for you.

Provide your LaPerm with a litterbox and keep it spotlessly clean, ridding it regularly of the cat’s droppings.

Even though there are excellent commercial cat foods on the market, some cats develop finicky eating habits. Don’t start feeding your cat human foods and snacks to coax him to eat. It can cause a host of digestive problems.

Cats are carnivores and require foods high in protein to remain healthy. A veterinarian will need to examine your cat if he is refusing to eat and is losing weight.