California Spangled Cat Breed Profile

The California Spangled cat is known for its high energy levels and athleticism. With a coat resembling a wild cat, these ‘house leopards’ also love games which allow them to pounce on pretend prey or demonstrate their superb hunting skills.

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Image: Ian via Flickr

Appearance

The California Spangled is a medium sized cat carrying a long tubular body. They move gracefully in a slinking motion with a low slung gait very much like the movement you will see on the great cats who are moving in for the kill. This gives the California Spangled cat a wild appearance not unlike that of a leopard.

Prominently sculpted cheekbones and eyes of pale amber to deep copper are set in a medium sized head. The short spotted coat is made up of blocked or rounded spots with rounded spots being preferred but oval, round, or square spots also considered acceptable.

History

The idea for the California Spangled came about in the 1970s, when Hollywood scriptwriter Paul Carsey decided to to develop a cat which resembled a leopard, but in miniature and completely domestic. He was motivated to develop the breed after a trip to Tanzania and due to concerns for the plight of the leopards and other spotted cats who were poached for skins. He believed that breeding a ‘house leopard’ would help raise awareness in the general public and that people would refuse to wear a fur coat which resembled the coat of their pet.

Only domestic cats were used in the breeding program including: Abyssinians, American Shorthairs and British Shorthairs, and Siamese and spotted cats which originated out of Egypt and Malaysia.

In 1986 the breeding program finally proved fruitful and the California Spangled cat breed made its debut in the Neiman Marcus Christmas Catalog in 1986. While there was initially some interest in the breed it has been slow to takeoff and the California Spangled is still a rather rare and exotic cat, with only 58 ever being registered.

Personality

The California Spangled cat is an affectionate, intelligent and playful cat who enjoys taking an active role in family life. They will spend an ample amount of time entertaining themselves (and you) with their pouncing games and demonstrating their superb hunting skills.

They are known for their high energy levels and athleticism, which also means they can easily be trained to walk outside on a leash. Like the leopard of the wild, California Spangled cats will also seek out any high perches, such as a tree, a cat perch or even your shoulder, where they can survey their territory from above.

Did you Know?

It is thought that the popularity of two other wild looking cats – the Bengal and the Occicat, overshadowed the development and establishment of the California Spangled cat as a popular breed.

The California Spangled’s rarity may also have been impacted by their high price tag, they range in price between US$800 and $2,500.

Caring for your California Spangled Cat

California Spangled cats are an independent animal and accordingly they adapt well to life as an only pet. There are no known hereditary health problems related to this breed but weekly grooming is recommended as is lots of interactive play with their people.

If you have a California Spangled cat in your life, please share your experiences below.