The ural rex cat is a very familiar feline, affectionate, sociable, intelligent and playful, as well as calm and balanced. It is an ideal cat for families, even if they have children or other pets. They love to be with people, they don't like to be alone and they rarely say no to the game. They are he althy cats and require the same care as any cat, but paying special attention to their characteristic curly coat with waves. Despite being a rex, it has nothing to do with other breeds with that last name, since the genes are totally different.
Origin of the ural rex cat
This breed originated in the area of the Ural Mountains of Russia, hence its name. His characteristic curly coat is believed to have arisen from a genetic mutation that had no human intervention. It was in 1988 when the first breed development program began, despite the fact that these cats already existed since 1940. Until 2011 they were only allowed to cross with celtic shorthair cats.
In the case of Ural Rex cats, their fur curls in a different pattern than other Rex breeds and genetic studies have determined that it is not related to any other breed that has the word "rex", since the gene is different.
In 1992 these cats participated for the first time in a feline exhibition in Yekaterinburg and in 1997 it was extended to Moscow, where they began to develop it until they achieved recognition in national and international feline entities. It is not a well-known breed, although it is very popular in Russia and Germany. The World Cat Federation (WCF) has recognized this breed since 2006, differentiating it into: ural rex shorthair and ural rex longhair
Ural rex cat characteristics
Ural Rex cats are characterized by being medium-sized, weighing between 3 and 5 kg. They are usually fine, but at the same time muscular and strong. Its legs are thin and of medium length, with rounded and small feet. The tail is thin and of medium length.
Its head is wide, short, wedge-shaped and curved in profile, with rounded and marked cheeks. The chin and jaw are well developed. The forehead is wide and flat and the nose is straight and wide. The ears are medium, with a rounded tip and wide at the base. His eyes are large, oval and match the color of his coat.
Now, if we talk about the most outstanding characteristics of the Ural Rex cat, we must focus on its coat. Its fur is soft, silky, elastic and dense with a double layer. The hair is characterized by presenting curls with waves throughout the body and the tail, which can be short in the ural rex shorthair or long in ural rex longhair The final wavy coat appears at two years of age, although they begin to appear at 3 -4 months.
Colors of the ural rex
The young are born with a grayish shade of fur that is lost when they go through the first molt. As for the recognized colors of the Ural Rex, except cinnamon and chocolate and their lilac and beige dilutions, they are all accepted.
Ural rex cat character
Ural rex cats are calm, balanced and stable They are also characterized by being playful and affectionate. They are sociable and love the company of their keepers, and even other animals, and they tolerate children very well, especially for being as playful as they are.
They are not very independent cats, so they do not like to be left alone for a long time at home. They perfectly understand the emotions of their caregivers and do not hesitate to accompany them in their hard times. They are very patient and calm and endure almost without meowing when they want to eat or play.
Ural rex cat care
This breed does not require more specific care than any other cat. Of course, you should keep your characteristic coat in good condition, brushing it frequently several times a week and even, if you tolerate it well, you can bathe about three times year. All of this will help untangle any knots that may appear and eliminate dead hair that would be ingested during grooming, which can lead to trichobezoars or hairballs that will sometimes require surgery to remove. This is especially important for the long-haired variety, although this care must also be taken in the short-haired variety.
The rest of the basic care that every small feline should have at home are ear cleaning, control of parasites with the worming and feline infectious diseases with vaccination and eat a complete and quality diet that ensure all the necessary and essential nutrients, paying special attention to the percentage of protein, ideally it should be at least 40% of the food due to their condition as strict carnivores.
Ural rex cat he alth
The Ural Rex cat breed is characterized by very good he alth and a life expectancy of 13 to 15 years. There are no known diseases or genetic abnormalities or greater predisposition to any particular disease.
Despite having an iron he alth, that does not mean that he is immune to diseases that can affect felines, that is why veterinary check-ups are key for the early approach of any pathology in which it occurs. can be affected. Being a cat so close, it can be easier to realize that something is wrong and go to the veterinary center as soon as possible.
Where to adopt an ural rex cat?
If this breed has captivated us and we are aware of what it means to take care of a living being so that nothing is lacking, the next step is adoption. Specifically, the Ural Rex breed, outside European countries such as Germany or Russia, is quite difficult to find. You can always ask in local protectors or shelters, but surely the answer will be negative and some will not even know it. The best option is to ask associations that are dedicated to the rescue and subsequent adoption of this specific breed. Likewise, it is possible that you will find a mestizo kitten that meets some of the characteristics of the ural rex mentioned.
