Orlovia
Rather unknown in this country, the Ceylon cat is a wonderful pedigree cat that is an enrichment for every family. The cat breed, originally from Sri Lanka, is extremely popular in Italy, among other places, because the playful cats integrate perfectly into every household and are also known to be extremely child-friendly.
History and Origin of the Ceylon Cat
The history of the Ceylon cat as a recognized pedigree cat is closely linked to the Italian veterinarian Dr. Paolo Pellegatta linked. He was considered an animal expert who loved to travel and discovered cats with a characteristic appearance on a tea plantation in Sri Lanka in 1970. So the vet tried to take some of the cats with him to Italy to start breeding the cats there. However, it did not stop with the one trip, but Dr. Pellegatta traveled to Sri Lanka several times and on each trip, he brought more cats with him so that he could build up his breeding on a good basis.
In 1884 Dr. Pellegatta presented the cats for the first time at a cat show in Erba organized by the Italian Breeders’ Association. The cats with the exotic appearance and the lovable character quickly found lovers and the Italian fan club of Ceylon cats “Club Amatori del Gatto di Ceylon” were founded. He dedicated himself to preserving the naturally occurring cat breed. This ensured that even employees of the Sri Lankan embassy were listed as honorary members of the club.
The cat breed was officially recognized by the World Cat Federation (WCF and the Federazione Italiana Associazioni Feline (FIAFA) in 1989. Since then, the breed has become more widespread and more and more cat lovers are becoming enthusiastic about the Ceylon Cat.
Essence and Character
Agile and lively and at the same time extremely adaptable and open-minded, representatives of the breed are among the perfect family cats. The lovable velvet paws are also friendly and curious towards strangers, albeit a little more reserved than towards “their” people. The Ceylon cat is extremely friendly and affectionate towards children and enjoys getting their attention. The playful cats also get along very well with other pets and quickly make friends with existing animal roommates. It is correspondingly uncomplicated if you decide to take in a Ceylon cat as a new family member.
The Appearance of the Ceylon Cat
A small to a medium-sized cat breed, the Ceylon cat is distinguished by its distinctive appearance. Her elegant, slender body and her well-proportioned head with its relatively large ears create a harmonious overall picture. Compared to other breeds, the Ceylon has rather short legs, with the front legs being slightly shorter than the hind legs. The narrow face of the Ceylon, which is characterized by prominent cheekbones, is particularly striking. Above the short nose, the almond-shaped, wide-open eyes are emphasized by the characteristic M-shaped pattern on the forehead. The silky-fine fur caresses the wiry body of the Ceylon cat. The overall picture is usually rounded off by a typical tabby pattern, which is particularly noticeable on the legs, face, and tail.
Attitude and Care
If you can warm to a Ceylon cat, then he will benefit from the fact that the pedigree cat is relatively uncomplicated to keep and care for. Not only that the furry nose will easily fit into your household, but also in terms of care, representatives of the breed do not make any great demands. Nevertheless, you should deal with the issue of housing and care, as the robust and energetic Ceylon cats still require a lot of attention and the right environment in order to be able to feel completely comfortable.
Outdoor cat or indoor cat?
A Ceylon cat has quite a high energy level and can therefore be very lively. Accordingly, you should be able to provide a large apartment or house. A secured garden or a secured balcony is perfect. If the residential area makes it possible to grant freedom of movement, you will quickly notice that the Ceylon usually does not go far away, but always stays close to home. It is more important for the pedigree cat to have access to suitable climbing opportunities than to go outside because the animals have an enormous urge to climb, which they love to act out.
How much activity does the Ceylon cat need?
Ceylon cats, whether they are Ceylon kittens or fully grown Ceylon cats, love to be part of the family. Accordingly, you should allow the fur nose to use all the rooms in the apartment and thus be able to seek your closeness. The intelligent animals should be pampered with daily play units so that they can work out. Here you can use various toys and clicker training can also be implemented very well with the bright cats.
Games can also be a bit wilder because the Ceylon is very robust and likes to live out its playful instincts. Accordingly, she also likes to play with children and is not averse to challenging intelligence games. But cuddly units are also in demand, with the individual representatives of the breed being cuddled differently. Nevertheless, they enjoy the close contact and actively seek proximity to “their” people.
Grooming and Feeding
When it comes to grooming, the Ceylon will delight you with its short and silky fur, because the grooming effort is almost zero. You should brush your hair every week, but daily brushing is not necessary. Even when the fur is changing, regular brushing is sufficient, since there is no undercoat, and hair loss is therefore kept to a minimum.
When it comes to nutrition, you should focus on protein-rich food for the Ceylon cat. High-quality cat food with a high meat content is very well accepted and the animals are generally good boarders. You don’t have to worry about the weight either, since the pedigree cats are very active and therefore don’t tend to be overweight.