Ussuri vs British Longhair - Breed Comparison | MyCatBreeds

Not much is known about the Ussuri cat but it does seem to be a rare natural cat breed. The cat originates from Russia but is rare even in that country.

A breed standard for this cat was published in the 1990s, but nothing has been heard since and its breed status isn't clear. It does seem that the Ussuri's numbers are dwindling due to interbreeding with local domestic cats. Also, the cat doesn't have a breeding program and it is expected that the cat will just quietly disappear.

The British Longhair cat hails from Great Britain. The cat is a longer-haired variety of the British Shorthair.

These British Shorthairs were interbred with imported long-haired varieties with the idea being to bring about a cat that was more compact and stout and with a rounder face. Today the British Longhair is an established longhair breed in its own right.

The Ussuri cat can be described as a medium-sized cat that weighs between 3 and 6kg. The ears often have those tufts, similar to that of a lynx. The body of the Ussuri cat is muscular. The neck is firm, the legs medium length and muscular with rounded paws. The tail has a rounded tip. The coat is short and glossy and there is a thick undercoat. It has a mix of spots with lines around the face.There are also line on the legs and the tail is ringed. It definitely lives up to looking like a wild cat.

Temperament

The Ussuri has a wild heritage, and domesticated, they are smart and intelligent. Of course, being on the wild side, they like to hunt and will present you with mice, rats, and birds. They are quite capable of forming strong bonds with their human owners, and tend to gravitate particularly to one member of the family.

The beautiful British Longhair cat is a medium-sized feline, leaning towards being a large cat with semi-long hair.

The cat, whether males or females can weigh between 4 and 8kg. It is robust and muscular with round paws and legs of medium length. The ears are smallish and round at the tips.

The color of the eyes can be different - browns, greens, blue, and grey. The colors of the coat can be blue, white, black, grey, calico, tabby, bi-color and tortoiseshell. The coat can be a solid color or it can be in different patterns. The fur is always medium length and silky with an undercoat.

Temperament:

The British Longhair has much the same personality as the British Shorthair – being calm, amicable cats who appreciate their human owners.

They’re adaptable cats too and are willing to get along with any other pets in the home as well. They’re playful and affectionate with their owners but don’t particularly like being held for too long.

Even though this is a docile cate, it is intelligent and will require mental stimulation. You’ll need to invest in a few ‘intelligent’ type of toys to keep your cat physically and mentally active. Take a look at the kinds of games where your cat will be required to ‘hunt’ for his food.

Ussuri Cats are very smart cats and they are able to adapt fairly quickly to their surroundings. Think twice before you invest in a Ussuri as they have different needs to your regular domestic cat. These are cats that won't slot easily into indoor life and that is why you need to think carefully before you bring such a cat home as a pet. While they can be affectionate to their human family, they are restless cats, wanting to get away to that wild life they once knew.

The British Longhair makes an awesome pet and can live happily with children, other dogs, and cats and all of his human family.

He isn’t a cat that wants to be picked up too often – he is independent but is willing and loving towards his humans.

For the friendship he offers, you’ll want to reward him for the joy he brings by providing well for him.

These are strong, robust cats, but even so, for your own peace of mind, a visit to the vet every now and them can be a good thing to make sure everything is aright with your cat. Healthy they may be, but they can still pick up any one of the many common cat diseases there are. With a good diet, plenty of exercise and a caring environment, they can reach 16 years of age or older.

These beautiful cats can be prone to obesity if kept as an indoor cat only and a cat that doesn't get enough exercise.

Obesity, an accumulation of excess body weight, is a preventable disease. It is necessary to prevent this obesity as it can reduce your pet’s life expectancy. Fat tissue is active, secreting inflammatory hormones and creating oxidative stress on the body’s tissue, and this is precisely what contributes to so many diseases.

The British Longhair cat can also be prone to renal polycystosis. This disease is where many pockets of fluid or cysts form in the kidney and if they grow large over time they can actually interfere with kidney function and this can bring on kidney failure.

The short coat of Ussuri cats is glossy and close-lying, and a brush once a week will be fine for this cat. Provide your pet with an outside enclosure. These are cats with a wild side, and to ensure you don't get frustrated with him, an enclosure with climbing equipment will be a good idea. Ensure the cat gets plenty of exercise. You will need to invest in interactive toys that encourage this intelligent cat to think things out. Only the very highest quality meat-diet will be good enough for this cat. Ensure he has a constant supply of fresh cool water. In his outside enclosure, you can include a paddling pool, and in the wilds, cats like to paw at water and wade in. Provide your pet with a comfortable sleeping area.

Because of the long hair, the British Longhair is going to require brushing as the coat can easily become matted, particularly as the coat thickens in preparation for winter.

You’ll need to brush the hair once a week, but perhaps more in peak shedding times. A gentle but firm brushing keeps the cat’s fur and skin in good condition.

Have your pet spayed and neutered to avoid unwanted kittens.

Take your pet to the vet as soon as he is unwell. He is part of your family now and must be treated as such.

Provide your pet with human companionship especially if you buy one of the more social cats.

If your cat is an indoor pet, provide him with a litter box ad be prepared to clean it every day.

Provide a clean, dry, comfortable bed in a quiet area.

Provide your cat with stimulating toys.

Vaccinate your cat against the major feline diseases. Also, have your cat dewormed.

Diet:

In terms of nutritional requirements, make sure that your British Longhair gets the very best cat food there is, whether you provide him with homemade food or you give him some of the excellent commercially manufactured cat foods there are.

There are wet- and dry foods and it's for your furry friend to decide which one he prefers.

Learn to read labels and make sure your cat is getting foods high in protein, after all, your cat is a carnivore.

Be sure that the food has lots of vitamins and minerals for his health. A cat also needs a constant supply of fresh, cool water.