Smoke vs LaPerm - Breed Comparison | MyCatBreeds

A Smoke cat is a domestic long-haired cat. The beautiful coat coloring usually comes with a silvery undercoat, with the topcoat having color points.

In effect, the Smoke cat isn’t a cat breed as such but is describing the color of the cat. It could be a Persian cat. It seems the Smoke cat has its origins in the 1800s in the UK from where it seems to have originated.

No one really knows the true origin of the Smokes cat but it would seem as though they evolved from breeding silver tabbies to blacks and blues.

While the early Smokes had green eyes, breeding has resulted in there being copper eyes as well.The Asian Smoke is a colour variation of the Asian that was created in the UK in the 1980s.

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.

When Smoke kittens are born they have gray and white markings around each eye and around the muzzle.

Essentially the Smoke cat can be black, cream, blue, red, or even tortie. Smoke actually means that the base of the hair is whitish and the rest of the hair is black, red or blue etc.

These cats can be different sizes but will no doubt be medium-sized and weigh in the region of 3 to 6kg. They are lean and muscular and can have different eye colors too – green or gold.

Temperament:

There are so many cat breeds and they have heaps of colors and patterns. The domestic long-haired cat is capable of a wide range of temperaments.

You can be sure that these cats are playful, fun, curious, and intelligent. Some will be more vocal than others but they will all thrive on the attention they get from their human owners. They are friendly, affectionate cats who will bond closely with their human family.

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.

Because the Smoke isn’t a cat breed as such but rather a color shade found in some long-haired cats you can’t be sure what your cat will really look like and how he will behave.

They could be energetic, playful, or quiet and relaxed. They might be more vocal and want to talk to you or they may be content just to be wherever you are.

When you bring a Smoke cat into your life, one thing is sure, with his friendly and loving nature your world will become meaningful, as any beautiful cat such as the Smoke is guaranteed to bring in lots of smiles, joy, and love.

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.

Just like it is wonderful to stroke and pet your pet for his health’s sake, it is also therapeutic for you to stroke your cat.

Vomiting:

Vomiting is one way that you can tell that your cat is sick. He will vomit if he has eaten something he shouldn't have or if he is feeling sick. You must keep an eye on his vomiting as he can become dehydrated and then he wlll need to get to the vet right away.

Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease:

FLUTD is often brought on by cats that are overweight or unhappy and stressed. It can cause a cat to be miserable, vomit and have a temperature.

You’ll see your cat battling to urinate, he will cry in pain when urinating and be pacing and unsettled. This is an illness that requires urgent veterinary attention.

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.

Smokes will require more care than other long- haired cats because their coats are fairly fragile and need to be treated gently and with care. Gentle brushing once or twice a week will keep the coat in top condition.

Keep the nails trimmed as required.

The trend today is to brush your pet’s teeth but this can be painful and traumatic for a cat and he can easily lash out in fear, resulting in bites and scratches. The pet groomer and vet can rather look inside your cat’s mouth and tell you if there is any bad tooth that needs attending to.

Provide your cat with good food. Your cat is a carnivore and he must eat meat to ensure his health. The best commercial cat foods are high in protein to ensure your cat gets a balanced meal to promote good health. If in doubt, speak to your vet about the best cat food there is for your furry feline friend.

Provide a constant supply of fresh, cool water.

Provide your cat with a comfortable, soft bed.

Provide him with a litter tray and ensure this is cleaned of the feces every single day.

Have him vaccinated against the major feline diseases. Ensure he goes to the vet when he is in pain or shows signs of illness.

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.