Skookum vs American Polydactyl - Breed Comparison

Skookum vs American Polydactyl - Breed ComparisonBoth American Polydactyl and Skookum are originated from United States. Both American Polydactyl and Skookum are having almost same weight. Both American Polydactyl and Skookum has almost same life span. Both American Polydactyl and Skookum has almost same litter size. Both American Polydactyl and Skookum requires Low Maintenance.

Basic Information

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United States
United States
Weight Male:
3 - 6 kg
6 - 14 pounds
2 - 3 kg
4 - 7 pounds
Weight Female:
3 - 6 kg
6 - 14 pounds
2 - 3 kg
4 - 7 pounds
Life Span:
12 - 16 Years
12 - 15 Years
Litter Size:
2 - 6
2 - 4
Other Names:
Hemingway cat, Big-foot cat
None
Colors Available:
All colors and patterns
Range of colors and patterns
Coat:
Short or long
Soft and wavy or curly
Shedding:
Moderate
Minimal
Temperament:
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Docile, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Quiet, Responsive, Social, Sweet, Territorial
Alert, Cheerful, Curious, Docile, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Responsive, Social, Sweet, Territorial
Grooming:
Low Maintenance
Low Maintenance
Trainability:
Easy
Easy
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
Yes

History

american polydactylIt is believed that this unusual cat came to the United States on ships – kept by sailors who thought of them as a good luck charm and to keep the mice population under control.

These unusual cats became popular in the 1800s as ship cats but the cats soon began to be seen in port cities on the Eastern coast of the United States as well as Canada, and their numbers began to increase.

It is also believed these interesting cats were brought specifically to the Boston area.

skookumSkookums are a new cat breed – an experimental and rare hybrid dwarf cat breed, It was developed in the United States in the 1990s.

As a new breed, you’re not going to find too much information on their history, but is was breeder Roy Galusha who started crossing the Munchkin cat with the LaPerm.

Even today, some years later, the Skookum cat is still an experimental cat breed that is considered a rare dwarf breed. It is recognized as an Experimental breed by Independent European Registries as well as the Dwarf Cat Association.

Description

american polydactyl kitten - descriptionThe Polydactyl cat is unusual in that the cat has been born with something odd about it. It has more than the regular number of toes on just one or more of its paws.

Normal cats have a sum of 18 toes, with 5 on the front and 4 on the back but with Polydactyl cats you may find as many as 9 digits on their front and back paws.

American Polydactyl cats are medium to large in size with strong, muscular bodies. The cat can weigh up to 6kg. The head is broad, the ears wide-set and pointed and the coat can be any color, pattern and length.

Temperament:

These cats are easy-going, relaxed, and social. They’re hardy too and they’re able to enjoy being outdoors and indoors.

They’re affectionate with their human family and are also playful and energetic. It is prepared to be friendly with dogs and children too, but it is also able to act independently and get on with things. The Polydactyl cat is distinctive but also a very popular cat breed.

skookum kitten - descriptionThe dwarf Skookum only weighs between 2 and 3kg. It is a new cat breed with a curly coat. The coat can be in a range of colors and patterns.

It is a small, lightweight cat with short legs and a broad head and stocky build. It has a muscular build. The eyes are large and walnut- shaped while the ears are large and pointed.

The neck is also thickish. The coat is soft and curly, standing away from the body and spiraling into ringlets. It can feature a number of colors and patterns such as solid, bicolor, and colorpoint. These cats can be long-haired or short-haired.

Temperament:

They are playful cats, full of energy and they love climbing and jumping. They’re intelligent, confident cats and are also loyal and loving towards their human family. They may be active, playful cats, but they still like to settle down into your lap.

Characteristics

american polydactyl cat - characteristicsThe American Polydactyl cat is such a down-to-earth kind of cat that you can welcome him into your home with ease.

Easy to look after, this lively and interesting cat will fill your home with love and companionship, and just a few extra toe nails to clip!

skookum cat - characteristicsBecause the Skookum cat is still in its early stages of development if you want to know precisely what the characteristics of the cat are you would want to look at the Munchkin and the LaPerm cat.

One thing is sure the Skookum cat thrives on the attention of his human family and if you provide him with the love and attention he craves, you can be sure that he will turn out to be the right friend and companion for your family.

Health Problems

american polydactyl kittens - health problemsWith good care, these cats can live to be between 14 and 16 years of age. You need to be diligent with keeping this cat’s nails trimmed because depending on the placement of the toes, the nails could become a nuisance, growing in the wrong direction and cutting into he cat’s flesh.

Keep the nails trimmed as necessary. To avoid possible injury to your pet, your veterinarian can safely trim your cat’s claws.

Always pay attention to your cat's behavior as well as taking note of your cat when you groom him as both are good ways to discover whether anything is amiss with your polydactyl cat.

skookum kittens - health problemsBecause the Skookum cat is a new, experimental breed, health problems with the cat are not well known. However, every cat can succumb to some of the common cat health issues there are. As a pet owner you want to watch for and recognize signs that your cat’s health is in trouble.

Feline leukemia for instance is a disease that spreads through bodily fluids such as urine, saliva and nose discharge, and saliva. Mother cats can even pass the disease along to her kittens. Feline leukemia can also lead to a host of conditions such as diarrhea, respiratory tract infections, skin problems and eye diseases among others.

Feline panleukopenia is known to most people as feline distemper and it is a very contagious viral disease with kittens being most at risk.

The disease affects a cat's immune system and the cat will likely have diarrhea, vomiting and dehydration, and lethargy. It’s a deadly disease that requires a vaccine to prevent it.

Caring The Pet

american polydactyl cats - caringKeep an eye on your cat’s paws as their extra toes can make it that they are at a higher risk of hooking on a carpet or some other material, but this can be managed with regular nail trimming.

Daily needs:

Provide your cat with all the things he needs to make his life pleasant while in your care. He’ll need feeding and drinking bowls, a nice warm, dry bed, a litter box, stimulating toys, and things such as a scratching post and cat climbing tree.

Diet:

Cats are meat-eaters, and they need protein from meat for health. Some cooked chicken and beef can be a real treat for your pet. Grains and carbohydrates should only play a very small role in your pet’s diet. Too many grains can lead to malnutrition and obesity as well as problems with your cat's organs.

Always take into account your cat’s age because different life stages mean different energy levels and therefore different nutritional needs.

Take your sick cat to the vet when you see he is not his usual self. Make sure you keep up to date with all his vaccines and anti-parasite treatments.

Spaying and Neutering:

One of the most important health decisions you’ll make for your Polydactyl cat is to have your pet spayed or neutered. The procedure is common and performed in your vet’s office every day.

It offers lifelong health benefits. It improves your pet’s behavior and keeps them close to home too. Spaying a female cat will prevent uterine infections and breast cancer, and for males, it can prevent testicular cancer.

Best of all, it helps to prevent yet more kittens into a world overrun with stray cats and rescue centers jam-packed with unwanted kittens and cats.

skookum cats - caringEven though the Skookum has curly hair, it’s not difficult to groom him. You want to brush the soft curls gently once a week. Keep it gentle so that you don’t make the curls frizzy.

Use some warm water in a spray bottle with some pet conditioner and spray the curls lightly and use your fingers to liven up the curls.

Cats like to nibble throughout the day and it is better for them to feed like this as opposed to a larger meal morning and night.

However, you will need to know what your cat is eating as you don’t want to overfeed your cat. Obesity comes with a host of health issues. As a carnivore, your cat requires meaty foods so make sure to feed him high-quality cat foods that have meat and protein as the top ingredients.

Your cat must have a constant supply of fresh, cool water.

Provide your cat with a litter box. You will need to clean out the box every day of cat feces as cats don’t like to use a box that is dirty. You get special cat rakes at the vet or the pet shop that makes it easy just to rake up the feces and dispose of them.

Comparison with other breeds

  1. Skookum vs Abyssinian - Breed Comparison
  2. Skookum vs Aegean - Breed Comparison
  3. Skookum vs African Serval - Breed Comparison
  4. Skookum vs Chausie - Breed Comparison
  5. Skookum vs American Bobtail - Breed Comparison
  6. Skookum vs American Curl - Breed Comparison
  7. Skookum vs American Keuda - Breed Comparison
  8. Skookum vs American Longhair - Breed Comparison
  9. Skookum vs American Polydactyl - Breed Comparison
  10. Skookum vs American Shorthair - Breed Comparison
  11. Skookum vs American Wirehair - Breed Comparison
  12. Skookum vs Applehead Siamese - Breed Comparison
  13. Skookum vs Ashera - Breed Comparison
  14. Skookum vs Asian - Breed Comparison
  15. Skookum vs Asian Semi-Longhair - Breed Comparison
  16. Skookum vs Australian Mist - Breed Comparison
  17. Skookum vs Balinese - Breed Comparison
  18. Skookum vs Bengal - Breed Comparison
  19. Skookum vs Bicolor - Breed Comparison
  20. Skookum vs Birman - Breed Comparison
  21. Skookum vs Blue Russian - Breed Comparison
  22. Skookum vs Bombay - Breed Comparison
  23. Skookum vs Brazilian Shorthair - Breed Comparison
  24. Skookum vs Bristol - Breed Comparison
  25. Skookum vs British Longhair - Breed Comparison
  26. American Polydactyl vs Abyssinian - Breed Comparison
  27. American Polydactyl vs Aegean - Breed Comparison
  28. American Polydactyl vs African Serval - Breed Comparison
  29. American Polydactyl vs Chausie - Breed Comparison
  30. American Polydactyl vs American Bobtail - Breed Comparison
  31. American Polydactyl vs American Curl - Breed Comparison
  32. American Polydactyl vs American Keuda - Breed Comparison
  33. American Polydactyl vs American Longhair - Breed Comparison
  34. American Shorthair vs American Polydactyl - Breed Comparison
  35. American Wirehair vs American Polydactyl - Breed Comparison
  36. Applehead Siamese vs American Polydactyl - Breed Comparison
  37. Ashera vs American Polydactyl - Breed Comparison
  38. Asian vs American Polydactyl - Breed Comparison
  39. Asian Semi-Longhair vs American Polydactyl - Breed Comparison
  40. Australian Mist vs American Polydactyl - Breed Comparison
  41. Balinese vs American Polydactyl - Breed Comparison
  42. Bengal vs American Polydactyl - Breed Comparison
  43. Bicolor vs American Polydactyl - Breed Comparison
  44. Birman vs American Polydactyl - Breed Comparison
  45. Blue Russian vs American Polydactyl - Breed Comparison
  46. Bombay vs American Polydactyl - Breed Comparison
  47. Brazilian Shorthair vs American Polydactyl - Breed Comparison
  48. Bristol vs American Polydactyl - Breed Comparison
  49. British Longhair vs American Polydactyl - Breed Comparison
  50. British Shorthair vs American Polydactyl - Breed Comparison