Nebelung vs Farm Cat - Breed Comparison | Petzlover

Known also as the Barn Cat, this domestic cat is of a mixed breed. The very name ‘farm cat’ is referring to a general kind of cat that lives in an almost wild state on farms and agricultural properties.

Possibly, their role in keeping rodents at bay was how they came about – domesticated to keep rodents away from grain crops.

When you do research you find that there is archeological evidence to suggests that these farm cats have been around since about 7500 BC. Most barn cats fall under the domestic shorthair or domestic longhair categories.

These cats live in a variety of conditions and some of them get their food solely from the rodents they catch. Others are tame with access to supplemental cat food as well as veterinary care.

The Nebelung is a new breed of cat originating in the USA. It is a close relative of the short-haired Russian Blue.

The name Nebelung means 'creature of the mist' in German. This is because of the cat’s beautiful silver-blue coat.

It was in the mid-1980s that Cora Cobb had a domestic shorthair cat mated with a Russian Blue, with one kitten from the litter having long, blue hair. She started a breeding program and in 1987 the Nebelung was given status as an entirely new breed by The International Cat Association as well as the American Cat Fanciers Association.

Farms cats are also members of domestic cats but it’s just that they are usually not socialized and they run away from people.

Farm cats have different histories and there is really no one-size-fits-all description of them.

They can weigh anything from 2 to 8kg. They can live to be anything between 10 and 20 years of age. Some of them are large, some small, some are solid colored while others are bi-colored and patterned. Their coats differ too and you can find short- and long-haired varieties among your farm cats

Their eyes and ears will also be in any shades and sizes and these cats are usually not spayed or neutered and can produce kittens that nobody is sure how they’ll turn out.

Temperament:

If you were to stumble across a farm cat born of unknown parents, there is no knowing what the small feline will behave like. Socialization and lifestyle play a big role in determining how a kitten will turn out but farm cats left to their own devices could be quiet, aggressive, loving, naughty, reticent, reserved, playful, lazy, shy or nervous.

The beautiful Nebelung is a rare domestic medium-sized cat with a long muscled body and long legs. They weigh between 3 and 6kg. The oval-shaped eyes are green or a yellow-green color and the eyes are large and pointed. The coat of the cat is long and thick with an undercoat and grey in color with the males and some females having a ruff round the neck.

Temperament:

The Nebelung is a lively, playful cat that is good-natured and loves to be around his human family. People who have owned them say they behave a lot like dogs. It means you can have him trained to walk on a leash.

He is somewhat aloof with strangers. He is a gentle cat and very intelligent, forming tight bonds with some special members of his human family. They love to be petted and stroked by this favorite human being.

The cat also communicates well. They like their litter box kept nice and clean and they can be quite finicky when it comes to their food.

Because of their playfulness, make sure you have lots of puzzle toys for him. They’re cats that like things to remain the same – no sudden changes for them as they become stressful. Because of their quiet natures, they don’t relish the idea of wild, undisciplined children and would prefer to live in a home with a few adults,

Farm cats are such wonderful animals – they just need a good chance in life like other domestic cats.

Many of them have had a hard life and it can be marvelous to open your home and heart to one or two of them and see the pleasure they bring.

They’re full of character and if you provide them with good food and a warm bed and promise to love them, you’ll no doubt be starting a solid and meaningful friendship that can enhance your life.

The Nebelung is a gentle, quiet cat that simply wants to live in harmony with the human family he loves.

He prefers a quiet, consistent kind of lifestyle. He is active, social, and fun around them but is reserved with strangers.

He is a loyal and loving cat and can become dejected if he doesn’t receive the same amount of love and attention that he craves and which he is so willing to give.

Farm cats left to fend for themselves can suffer from a host of illnesses. Eye infections are one. The cause of these eye infections is usually a virus, of which herpes, chlamydia, and Calicivirus are the most common.

Your vet will certainly prescribe you some antibiotics for your kitten to help against secondary infections.

Check your farm kitten over as he is likely to have a nose full of snot as well and may even be sneezing. Take the kitten to the vet who can give him a good once-over and put him on the road to recovery.

These beautiful cats don’t have many health issues. They are generally healthy cats.

Don’t allow your cat to become overweight as this can bring on a host of health conditions. There was a time when cats didn’t get much older than 10 years of age, but with advancements in good nutrition and good veterinary care, a cat can reach 15 to 20 years of age.

Certainly, as your beloved pet starts to move into his senior years, he will face aging problems. Aging cats are susceptible to faltering vision, arthritis, hearing loss, thyroid problems gum and teeth disease, diabetes, incontinence, and even dementia.

Remember to continue feeding your senior cat the best quality cat food there is.

Barn cats or farm cats are not likely to have been neutered or spayed and they are just adding to the overpopulation of farm cats that can become feral cats.

The average fertile cat can produce three litters every year, and with as many as 6 kittens in a litter, you can imagine how a small colony of cats can get out of control.

Sometimes cat rescue programs do a steri-drive and spay and neuter cats like this to curb the numbers. Of course, spaying and neutering can prevent many diseases as well.

If you have farm cats that have been spayed or neutered, provide them with good food and water. You can put out wet, canned cat food or dry kibble – they’ll be so pleased as most times these cats don’t even know where their next meal will come from.

You see them drinking out of puddles of water. Unfortunately, these pools are often filled with contaminants and this can also make the cats sick.

Every cat just wants a soft, warm place to sleep, and if you can, provide some warm dry hay for these farm cats. Even a cardboard box can be a haven for a cat that has never known a bed.

If you have managed to catch a farm cat kitten and you want to offer it a home, make sure to start off with veterinary care and vaccines.

Diet:

This cat, as a carnivore, should be fed a high- quality cat food that is high in protein. The poorer quality foods won’t have the right mix of vitamins and minerals – so important for your pet.

These inferior foods often lack the right nutrients and can make your cat sick. Make sure you give your cat a top protein diet with ingredients that must have taurine, an important amino acid.

The Nebelung has a long, double coat and even though the cat isn’t a heavy shedder, it will require a brush every week to prevent the coat from becoming tangled.

Make sure you have everything you need for welcoming a cat into your home. He will need food and water bowls, warm, soft bed, litter box, climbing tree, scratching post, collar, grooming accessories, and a cat-carrying box for when he needs to go to the vet.

Ensure you take your pet to the vet as soon as he shows signs of illness. There are some terrible cat illnesses and they can cause a lot of discomfort and pain for your furry friend.