Skookum is the smallest cat breed.

The Skookum cat breed was developed relatively recently, in 1996. Its author is breeder Roy Galusha from the United States of America. Roy spent 10 years trying to create a new breed of cat that would be small in size and have fluffy, wavy hair. Before starting work, Roy Galusha came up with a name for the future new breed - poco chino, which translated from Spanish means "small curly", a little later, working on developing a new breed, he renamed it, giving the name "skukum", which is translated from Indian adverb means “brave”, “unbending”, this name especially accurately reflects the character of this non-standard cat. DescriptionCharacterCareCost

Description of the breed

Skookums were created by crossing two breeds of cats: Munchkin and La Perm. From the Munchkin, Skookum received a small body size and short legs like a dachshund, and from La Perma he inherited fluffy curly hair and a bushy tail. The body of Skookums is strong, muscular with a powerful chest. Skookums' legs are short, the front ones are slightly shorter than the back ones, the fur is curly, especially fluffy on the chest and tail. Skukum has a small head, ears can be of different sizes, a short neck, and medium-sized eyes. Because of their curly coat and fluffy collar, Skookums are sometimes called “dwarf La Perm.”

Character and behavior

Cats are funny, agile, playful and inquisitive. Skokums love to run around the apartment and chase anything movable. They are loving and affectionate. Skookums are distinguished by their silence; loud cats are rare in this breed. They adore children, dogs and other cats. Despite their short legs, skokums are very agile and can move quickly. They are not afraid of water, so there are no difficulties with bathing them.

Character

The appearance of this cat is completely in tune with its character. Short, ugly legs emphasize playfulness and a cheerful disposition, a strong muscular body with a large chest is combined with a bold and courageous character, curly hair conveys its tenderness and love. Skookums love to jump and play with toys; they are incredibly dexterous despite their short legs and can easily catch any prey. It’s very touching to watch how they quickly run after a toy, fiddling with their short legs, while their wavy fluffy fur on the tail and chest looks especially impressive in motion. Skookums are very sociable cats; they easily get along with all family members, but they especially get used to their owner, being distinguished by devotion and affection throughout their lives. Skookums are quiet cats and you rarely hear them express emotions out loud.

Characteristics of the Skookum breed

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//data-ad-slot=”2475549904″ $ads_google = empty($ads_google) ? false : true; ?> if ($ads_google == false) {?> $ads_google = true; ?> } ?> Truly happy is the person who decided to have a small curly-haired Skookum kitten . This especially cute creature captivates at first sight. At first, timid and careful attempts to explore an unfamiliar large territory with short legs evoke a desire to help the baby feel at home. Such cats will purr quietly in the arms of an attentive and caring owner, feeling his protection.

The character of the Skookum cats that were once so persistently bred is remarkably reflected in the very name of the breed. Despite such compact sizes, cats have a brave soul and a strong body. Timid attempts by Skookum kittens to get acquainted with the new territory quickly turn into an invasion of a formidable furry army. Any toys will be received with delight.

The Skookum cat can easily decide for herself what she likes to do and will have a good time alone. Although it is unlikely that she will find the strength to refuse communication with her owner. These animals faithfully look into the very soul of their owner. But if suddenly the owner cannot find time to communicate with his pet, then it is unlikely that she will bother him much. Fluffy pets quite calmly wait for time to be found for them. This breed always makes contact easily and knows the value of communication.

An interesting character trait is the reluctance of this breed to meow loudly. It is very rare to hear a Skookum kitten meowing loudly. From childhood, these animals do not allow themselves to “raise their voice.”

The cheerful playfulness of Skookums will amuse the household more than once. You shouldn’t think that since the legs are short, the cat is clumsy: on the contrary, the turns of Skookum kittens are reminiscent of gymnastic tricks.

Care

Skookums are easy to care for; they love to take water treatments, so to maintain the beauty of their coat, it is enough to periodically bathe them using a special shampoo. After bathing, you need to thoroughly dry the coat with a towel, and in order to keep it fluffy and curly, you need to periodically spray it with water. Particular attention should be paid to the curly collar and bushy tail, brushing them regularly. There are no genetic diseases in this breed. They are in good health and rarely get sick, provided they receive careful care and proper nutrition. They suffer from the same diseases as ordinary cats, so on a regular basis it is necessary to carry out examinations by a veterinarian, carry out grooming procedures, worming and vaccinations. To preserve the characteristics of the breed, these cats need to be bred only with representatives of the same breed.

Skookum care

But when it comes to keeping them, these are not the easiest pets. A cat's curly coat requires careful care. In long-haired individuals, tangles occur every now and then. For this reason, matted wool is cut off once a month. A capricious cat needs to be brushed 1-2 times a week.

Skookums are calm about water. They bathe cats at least once a month and use special cat shampoo for curly breeds.

There is one secret how to emphasize the curly fur of a Skookum and avoid a large number of tangles. You need to spray the fur with water from a spray bottle from time to time. The eyes should be wiped with a clean damp cloth or damp disc every week. Nails are trimmed twice a month.

Feeding Skookum

The condition of the long wavy coat directly depends on the animal’s nutrition. If your pet lacks vitamins and microelements, the animal will look drooping, dull and even shabby. The fur will become more tangled, fall out, and lose at least some attractiveness. Be sure to take care of your cat's balanced diet. The best option would be to feed premium dry food for purebred cats. You can feed with natural products. The menu is based on lean meat. Offal and fermented milk products are useful. Do not give your skookum milk or raw fish. Additionally, it is necessary to give special vitamin complexes for cats. They will eliminate the lack of essential microelements.

Recommended Diet

If you want to not only pamper your beloved cat with a delicious treat, but also ensure her excellent health, active life and daily tone, then it’s hard to come up with something better than Sanabelle special food. Sanabelle dry cat food contains only natural ingredients, selected fresh meat, and no food dyes. No product contains soy, corn or GMOs. Such food will be a real gift for your furry pet and the best evidence of a caring attitude towards him and tender feelings.

Skookum is the smallest cat breed.

The smallest, and also the youngest and therefore the rarest cat breed. She appeared only 14 years ago.

Skookum is a breed of dwarf cat. Representatives are distinguished by a shorter body, significantly short legs and curly hair. Because of this, they look like grown kittens their entire lives. It looks incredibly cute.

The breed appeared, as mentioned above, 14 years ago as a result of crossing two other breeds - the Munchkin and the Laperm. The former are characterized by short legs, and the latter by curly hair. After much trying, Skookum got both. Attempts to create a new breed took more than ten years. This was done by cat lover and breeder Roy Galusha in Washington. As a result, the breed was recognized as experimental in 2006. Despite the fact that cats are sold in America and the United States, Skookums still have no official registration.

Then the name was chosen - from the Indian “strong, brave, unbending”. It is noteworthy that Roy originally planned to name the breed Poco Chino, as he thought it translated to “small curly.” However, it later turned out that the exact translation sounds like “a little Chinese.” Then the creator chose a name from the Chinook Indian dictionary.

But the fixed name accurately describes the character of the breed. Skookums, despite their appearance, are really strong, agile, and fast. They are capable of performing real gymnastic tricks. Animals are curious and playful. At the same time, they are very affectionate towards their owner. Skookums are also incredibly silent.

Weight does not exceed four kilograms. Skookums' fur is completely curly, but its length and color can be any. Moreover, the longer the cat’s fur, the more waviness the coat has. Accordingly, the longer the coat, the more often and longer it needs to be combed. Cats need to be washed approximately once a month. Fortunately, skookums treat water very calmly, even almost with pleasure.

It is important to feed your pets a balanced diet, since the set of vitamins and microelements directly affects the condition and appearance of the coat.

Surprisingly, this is where the problems with the cat end. Despite the fact that the breed appeared as a result of crossing, that is, roughly speaking, artificially, it does not have any genetic diseases. A pet lives on average 12-15 years.

Skookums love socializing and playing, but also have a great time alone. While the owner is at work, they do not get bored, but easily find something to do.

Buying a Skookum kitten today is very difficult, and in Russia it is almost impossible. There are no nurseries specializing in skookums in the territory. They are also not available in the CIS countries. Therefore, private advertisements on websites must be carefully checked. Officially, cats are bred only in European and American catteries. The average price for a kitten is 70 thousand rubles.

Features of behavior

The character of Skookums can be described by looking at their appearance. In this breed, as they say, the internal content matches the external appearance. No matter how cute and fluffy they look, these characteristics correspond to their character.

From his closest relatives - the munchkins - Skookum adopted playfulness and love. These are very affectionate cats. Skookums quickly become attached to their owner; they are endlessly loyal animals. By nature they are curious and cheerful. Skookums are ready to poke their cute nose into all the cracks, so you need to be prepared for the fact that things dear to their owners may suffer from their curiosity - it is better to put them in places inaccessible to the animal.

Representatives of this breed are agile, energetic and nimble. They often jump on beds, chairs, and dressers. They love to run around the apartment. The best toy for Skookums is something that moves and can be chased around.

Cats of this breed are unusually silent. It is rare to hear them purr. You can be sure that in the absence of their owners they will not bother their neighbors by screaming.

Munchkin

The smallest cat breed does not necessarily have to have a dwarf body.

It is enough to have short legs, like a munchkin , to receive such a title.

All other body proportions correspond to an ordinary medium-sized cat.

Munchkin

Interesting fact! Due to the peculiarity of the structure of the limbs, this breed was nicknamed “dachshund cat”. These animals are indeed very similar to dwarf and rabbit dachshunds .

For a long time, they did not want to recognize this breed and believed that Munchkins were ordinary cats born with a defect.

The first documented records of the munchkin date back to 1940.

Then a description of a cat appeared, similar to an ordinary one, but with short legs.

During World War II, munchkins disappeared from sight.

But then cats with short legs were spotted in the USA and USSR, similar in description to those mentioned in the 40s.

Munchkins were first presented to the public in the early 90s of the last century, at a national cat show held in the USA.

But the breed was immediately branded, recognizing it as unviable.

After much debate, munchkins were included in the development program for new breeds.

“Dachshund cats” managed to obtain champion status only in 2003.

Despite the assurances and pessimistic views of critics, munchkins are in good health, cheerful and no different from full-fledged pets. Cats of this breed weigh up to 4 kg.

Cats are smaller and weigh from 1.8 to 3.5 kg. The shortest representative of the Machkin is a cat named Liliput from the USA, who was included in the Guinness Book of Records; his height at the withers was just over 13 cm.

The breed got its name in honor of the dwarf people who lived in the Magic Land of Oz in the book by Frank Baum.

Dwelf

The next breed of the smallest cat is the result of complex breeding work, which was bred by crossing the Munchkin, the American Curl and the Canadian Sphynx.

The result is a very cute creature with short legs, the body of a dachshund and the ears of an elf, who has practically no fur.

The breed received the name Dwelf, which is derived from two words dwarf - “dwarf” and elf - “fairytale”.

The photo cannot convey the extravagant appearance of this animal, which resembles a fairy-tale elf.

The breed originated in 2009 and today has experimental status.

In total, there are about several dozen Dwelf representatives in the world.

Dwelf

Despite their dwarf size and low weight, which does not exceed 2 kg, these cats have a very muscular and strong body.

Like all sphinxes, dwelfs are sensitive to temperature changes.

It is imperative to ensure that the pet does not become overcooled or exposed to drafts.

Once every two weeks, the Dwelf needs to be bathed using a special veterinary shampoo.

Contents and specifics of care

Each cat breed has its own maintenance nuances. It must be said that Sokoke do not require any specific care, so they are suitable for keeping for any “cat lover”.

Nutrition

Veterinarians recommend feeding Sokoke with food from the following manufacturers:

• Royal Canin (Feline Health Nutrition series);
• Perfect Fit (series “5 components of health”);
• Hills (Nature Best series).

The manufacturer separates food for sterilized and unsterilized animals, so it is important to select food taking into account the properties of your pet

Natural food should include lean meat (chicken or beef), as well as sea fish. It is prohibited to give sokoke the following products:

• boiled or fried potatoes;
• fat meat;
• milk and cottage cheese;
• sweets;
• river fish with bones;
• smoked products.

Breeders note that Sokoke needs additional vitamins for cats. For proper functioning of the cardiovascular system and digestive organs, you need to add taurine and vitamins E to your food.

However, due to the active lifestyle of Sokoke, this norm may be slightly increased - up to 10–15%.

Kittens and pregnant and lactating cats need more frequent feeding. As a rule, they are fed 4-5 times a day in small portions.

Necessary living conditions

Sokoke do not like the street and extraneous noise. These are exclusively domestic cats. However, in order for them to live comfortably, some conditions will need to be created:

• spacious apartment;
• scratching post;
• houses and ladders for cats;
• a wide range of different toys.

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Cats are very active and playful, so they need spaces for their play and a variety of different objects.

In fact, photographing a sokoke is not easy, since the animal is constantly on the move.

Hygiene and care

As such, caring for a cat comes down to three steps:

• wool washing;
• ear cleaning;
• eye cleaning;
• claw care.

Suitable grooming products

It can be said that Sokoke cats require virtually no grooming. They have very short fur that rarely sheds. Therefore, it is enough to simply comb the cat thoroughly once a week to remove excess hair.

Most representatives of this breed love to swim. Therefore, once every two to three months, professional breeders recommend bathing your cat using special shampoos for short-haired cats:

Universal shampoo for softness and cleanliness of cat fur from domestic

How to properly clean your ears

Cleaning is carried out by gently pressing the stick on the inner surface of the ears. It is necessary to use several sticks until all dirt is removed from the auricle.

In general, it’s better to do without funds. as a last resort, you can use a little soda solution and a cotton swab! and if you suspect something serious, then run to the doctor, do not look for advice from incompetent authorities on such issues!

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Cleaning your cat's eyes

Sokoke handle hygiene procedures themselves. Cleaning your cat's eyes is necessary if your cat's eyes are watery due to a cold.

Routine care is carried out with a weak chamomile decoction or tea leaves, which are applied to a cotton pad. You need to wipe the cat's eyes until the surface of the disc becomes clean.

Not all cats can tolerate eye rubbing, so it will take a lot of patience to get your pet used to this procedure.

In normal life, a Sokoke cat does not need eye cleaning.

Nail care

The tool must be well sharpened, since the quality of claw care depends on this factor

External signs

Skookums are a dwarf breed. The average weight of an adult cat hardly reaches 3–4 kg. Females weigh on average 2–2.5 kg.

This is a compact but muscular cat. She has a well-developed chest, a fairly strong, slightly elongated body and muscular short legs with oval paws.

The Skookum's head is round in shape. The muzzle is softly contoured, without angles or excessive sculpture. The chin and whisker pads stand out well against the background of the overall picture. Skukum's eyes are not too large, but expressive.

The fur coat is characterized by a curly wool structure. This is especially noticeable on the collar and tail of the cat. As for the length of the coat, Skokums come in both semi-long-haired and short-haired varieties. But even short-haired Skookums have longer, more textured fur on their collar, panties and tail.

The standard does not provide for restrictions in the color and pattern, as well as in the shade of the cat’s eyes.

1.Skif-tay-don

A very rare breed of the smallest cat in the world appeared in 1988, thanks to a selection experiment by breeder Elena Krasnichenko, who was breeding Thai and Kuril bobtails .

A non-standard Old Siamese-type cat with a kink in its tail came into her cattery, and then a Thai cat with a tail resembling a donut.

As a result of crossing this unusual pair, a tiny kitten with a short tail was born.

The representative of the future new breed was named Kutsy.

Skif-tay-don

In 2009, the breed was registered with TICA as an experimental breed.

Skif-tay-don has a miniature size and looks like a four-month-old kitten.

Pets of this breed weigh no more than 2 kg.

Origin story

Skokum (skukum) is an unusual name for a very unusual breed of cat, and it is translated from the language of the Chinook Indians as “strong, unbending.” Skokum is a very young breed, we can safely say that we were present at its foundation and formation. And the American Roy Galush decided to breed these amazing animals. He conceived the new breed as small, affectionate and curious animals with curly hair. To realize his idea, Roy Galush decided to crossbreed munchkins (cats with shortened paws, peculiar dachshunds of the cat world) and curly laperms. Work on the selection of a new breed began in 1990, by 1996 the first results were obtained in the form of funny curly-haired cats and cats, and then for 10 long years the main breed characteristics were consolidated in the offspring. In 2006, Roy Galush approached the TDCA, where the Skokum was granted experimental breed status.