Active: California Spangled cats a highly active cat breed that love to play, climb, leap and hunt. Give them plenty of safe places to climb and explore (away from the valuables!) such as a cat gym or climbing post.
Size: California Spangled cats are medium in size, weighing between 8 - 15 pounds.
Characteristics: California Spangled cats have long, strong, athletic bodies. While they do not look overly large, they are surprisingly dense. These shorthair cats look like they have just been plucked right out of the wild with their gorgeous spotted tabby pattern that comes in black, brown, blue, bronze, charcoal, red, gold, silver, and white. The spots can be a variety of shapes but the preferred look is round spots. They also have a signature moderate-length tail with a black tip. They walk like a jungle hunter with a low slung back, using their muscular body and strong legs to glide gracefully. California Spangled cats have a face that will endear you to them immediately. Their head is rounded with a prominent chin and cheekbones, a powerful jaw, as well as high-set ears that sit completely upright. What will truly draw you in are their small, almond-shaped eyes that range in color from amber to copper and coordinate with their coat color.
Temperament: If you think you are in love with the beautiful appearance of the California Spangled cat, wait until you get to know one. They are a sweet, affectionate, playful, loving cat breed that is happy to socialize and loves to be with people. They are an active and curious cat breed that loves to explore, climb and perch themselves in various locations and, because of their intelligence, enjoy challenging games, toys and puzzles as well. They also are skilled hunters and will enjoy toys that allow them to pounce and get their energy out.
Care: The shorthair coat of the California Spangled cat only moderately sheds and is relatively easy to maintain. Simply brush or comb weekly to keep the coat looking and feeling its best. Routine nail trimming and ear cleaning are also an important part of cat care.
Coat: The unique and beautiful coat of the California Spangled cat is short and does not shed much.
Origin: The California Spangled cat breed is a relatively new cat breed that looks incredibly similar to a leopard. Physicist and screenwriter Paul Casey had a conversation in the 1970s with anthropologist Dr. Louis Leakey about the diminishing population of leopards in Africa due to poaching and the need for conservation. After the conversation, Casey decided to create a domestic cat breed that looked similar to a leopard to help raise awareness for and promote conservation of leopards and other wild cats. Only domestic cats were used in the breeding program which included Siamese, Angora, British Shorthairs, American Shorthairs, Manx, and Abyssinians. Casey used a very carefully planned program, more specifically - an 11-generation blueprint, to introduce each breed with the hopes of scientifically creating the spotted wild cat look in a domestic cat.
Towards the end, street cats from Egypt and , attracted more breeders and formed the CSCA (California Spangled Cat Association). In 1986, a California Spangled cat was featured in an advertising campaign in the Neiman Marcus Christmas catalog and soon after many inquiries were made about the new, beautiful and unique breed of cats. In fact, they were in such high demand after the feature that they actually did not have enough California Spangled cats to meet the demand which unfortunately slowed the progression of the breed down. The breed is still incredibly rare but as breeders and California Spangled cats increase, more recognition will be granted from various organization and associations.