Kimrik: description of the breed, features of maintenance and care

History of the Cymric breed

The Cymric, or Welsh cat, is considered an indigenous breed, as it was formed in the wild with minimal human intervention. The history of the breed began back in the 11th century on the Isle of Man, when cats were brought there to fight small rodents. Until the 16th century, new animals constantly arrived on the island and interbred with the purrs already living on it. As a result of a natural mutation, tailless short-haired cats - Manxes - appeared on the island. They interbred extensively with British and Norwegian forest cats. Thanks to this, some tailless animals got fluffy coats. Later they were taken to Wales, where even more Norwegian cats lived. This is how the long hair became permanently established among the future Cymriks. But regardless of the length of their fur, all tailless cats were called Manx.

Cymric means "Welsh" in English.

In the 1960s, Manx tailless animals came to North America, where they were actively selected. Short-haired and long-haired cats were not separated and considered one breed. But if everything was successful with the selection of the first, then difficulties arose with the second: in most cases they were born with tails, and the mortality rate of kittens was very high. Through experience, breeders have found that the tailless gene is recessive in long-haired Maine natives, and dominant in short-haired ones. It was then that the Canadians decided to fight for the right of the Cymric to be a separate breed. The activists were breeders Leslie Foltsake and Blay Welsh. In 1976 they achieved championship status for Cymrics from one small club, Lovebunny Cattery. After some time, the breed was recognized throughout America, and the Lovebunny Cattery became the International United Cymric Association.

Previously, Cymrics were considered long-haired Manx.

Nature of Shorttails

Mentions of this breed date back to the end of the 18th century. The Isle of Man is very small and none of the cats that lived on it in those days had a long enough tail. Almost all pets were tailless.

During the evolution of the breed, the tail remained short, and the coat remained thick and long. It's all about the climate. Not to say that it is very harsh, but the undercoat was very useful for these cats in the cold season.

Everyone is used to seeing dark gray, “marbled” and silver-gray cats of this breed. But there are also red Cymrics, as well as cream colored ones. They are very beautiful. In addition, they have a very learned appearance and are calm.

You can admire a photo of the Cymrik cat below. The most striking varieties of colors with characteristics characteristic of the breed are presented.

Breed standard

Cymrik is a medium or large cat (from 3.5 to 6 kg), recognized as a separate breed by the CFA and WCF organizations. Standard:

1. The cat's body is dense and rounded with a short back, a rounded sacrum, strong and slightly sunken sides, strong and muscular thighs.
2. The forelimbs are set wide apart and the bones are massive. The hind legs are longer than the front ones.
3. The back arches from the shoulders to the sacrum.
4. The paws are round and neat.
5. The head is large and round, the cheekbones protrude.
6. The neck is thick and the chin is strong. The nose is medium, graceful bridge.
7. The vibrissae pads are round in shape, with a clearly visible depression at the base of each vibrissae.
8. The ears are large and wide, slightly narrowing and pointed at the tips, set high on the head, and have tassels at the ends.
9. The coat is double, medium or long.
10. The undercoat is thick and soft.
11. The coat is very silky and shiny.
12. Many colors are allowed, as well as their combinations, for example, white and tabby. But chocolate, lilac and Siamese colors are not allowed by the standard, as well as their combinations with white.
13. The tail is completely absent, there is a depression at the end of the spine. A residual tail is a defect.
14. The eyes are large, round in shape and very expressive, located at an angle to the nose (the inner corner of the eye is slightly lower than the outer).

The main difference between the Kimra cat participating in exhibitions is the complete absence of a tail. The cat should be shaped like a hare, it has a short back, long hind legs, and its paws form a square with its body.

Cymrik can be any color except color point, lilac and chocolate

Types of tailings

In total, the Cymric has four types of tail:

• rampi - complete absence of a tail, in its place there is a small hole, such cats are the most valuable;
• riser - 1–3 vertebrae, a length of no more than 2 cm is considered acceptable, for a longer length the cat will be disqualified;
• Stumpy - tail from 4 to 13 vertebrae, can be twisted, broken or with knots;
• Longies are a common cat's tail, but slightly shorter than those of the tailed breeds.

Stumpy and Long cats do not participate in exhibitions, but are used in breeding.

Photo gallery: types of Cymric tailings

The rampie type involves the complete absence of a tail

The Stumpy's tail is very similar to that of the Bobtail.

The longi tail is not much shorter than a regular cat tail. The riser tail type is almost invisible under the fur.

Welsh cat colors

According to TICA standards, the following colors of Cymric are allowed:

• pure white with blue, topaz or heterochromic eyes;
• blue with green and topaz eyes;
• solid black – amber and emerald eyes;
• red (red);
• cream;
• silver chinchilla;
• smoky (silver, silver-black or blue);
• tabby (blue, silver, red, brown, mackerel);
• bi-colors (harlequin, tabby with white spots);
• cake

All colors, except the first three, can have any eyes - green, amber, aquamarine. Blue - only when white predominates.

Chocolate, lavender and Himalayan colors are not allowed on Cymrik.

Character

Hunting and protecting their territory was what the wild ancestors of the Cymric did, living in small groups of one male and a pair of females. This cat is brave and even a little reckless when it comes to protecting her home and “pack” from potential danger. If the owner is afraid of something or angry with someone, the Cymrik is not afraid to attack - be it a dog, a cat, or even a person.

The animal is balanced and calm. His favorite pastime is to climb higher and proudly survey his “possessions.” When the owner is busy, the Cymrik prefers to sleep, but is not against games and affection. He adapts to the character of his owner: he will not cause any trouble for people who love peace and quiet, and with active owners he is ready to play and even walk on a leash.

Cymrics love hunting

With age, the character of the Cymric changes to more lazy and phlegmatic. The old cat will not play and frolic, but will remain just as affectionate and brave. The breed is tolerant of small children. It will get along with other pets only if they are friendly. The Welsh cat is not suitable for busy people, as it cannot stand loneliness: it is important for her to be in a pack all the time.

The peculiarity of the Cymric is the ability to quickly adapt to changes in environment, a calm attitude towards travel and a love of water. He doesn't like to swim, but to look at the flowing water and fish. Therefore, you need to protect the aquarium from the cat: a Cymrik will not miss the opportunity to feast on fresh fish.

Cymriks cannot stand loneliness

When you pick up a cat, support it with its hind legs. Do not pull the animal's tail, as this causes severe pain. Stroke his rump carefully.

Upbringing

Welsh cats have developed intelligence.
Teaching them the rules of behavior in the house is not difficult. They quickly remember where the litter tray and scratching post are, and how to use them. If desired, they can be toilet trained.

Usually babies are taught to go to the toilet by their mother cat in the breeder's house. In the apartment of the new owners, he just needs to show him where the pot is and put the kitten in it several times after eating or sleeping. If the short-tailed dog nevertheless relieves itself in the wrong place, under no circumstances should it be hit. The cat will associate punishment not with a mistake, but with a process. She will begin to hide, try to write in secret from people.

Another important point - the avid hunter Kymrik is initially prohibited from teaching him to play with his hands

If the baby begins to bite or scratch, his attention needs to be switched to toys purchased specifically for him. Over time, he will understand what he can play with and what he can’t.

Advice! Welsh cats should not be shouted at. They are very touchy, they will simply hide and will not come out of hiding for a long time. It is better to talk to your pet in a calm, firm voice.

Smart Cymriks can be easily taught simple commands. Training should be carried out in the form of a game, when the pet is in the mood, and stop the lesson if the cat gets tired of following commands. Then the furry predator will be happy to fetch and give paws

Shorttails appreciate the attention of their owner. Spending time together gives them great pleasure

Cymric health

As a native breed, the Cymrik is unusually strong, resilient and healthy. He does not suffer from any heart disease, is not susceptible to infections or colds, and has no intestinal problems.

However, the Cymrics are characterized by some deviations associated with the structural features of their body; This:

• A mutant gene that is responsible for taillessness in Cymrics. It is recessive and penetrative (that is, it may or may not be present in both anurans and caudates). To give birth to healthy kittens, one of the parents must not be a carrier of the gene. If both are carriers, then the offspring will be born dead.

  For the birth of healthy offspring from a Cymric, competent selection is important

• Manx syndrome is a dangerous disease that can appear in kittens from birth to 6 months. It manifests itself in shortening of the spine, which leads to hernia, fusion of vertebrae and many other problems. Tailed Welsh cats are much more susceptible to this syndrome. Therefore, breeders often dock the tails of kittens at the age of a week. They do this for other reasons: in tailed Cymrics, at the age of 4–5 years, the spine may stiffen. Cupping at this age is dangerous, but kittens tolerate it without complications.

  Manx syndrome affects kittens under 6 months of age

Interesting Facts

Since the existence of Cymrik cats, a lot of interesting things have been associated with them: Among connoisseurs of these animals, there is a widespread joke that they had rabbits in their family, which passed on their bobtail to them. The gene responsible for the absence of a tail can pose a threat to the life of a Cymric. If a kitten inherits it from both parents, it will die before birth and dissolve without a trace in the mother’s womb. The name of the breed comes from the English word cymric, which translates as “Welsh”

Nutrition

Due to its nature, Cymrik needs a low-calorie diet. The diet should contain sufficient protein and as little fat as possible.

Brands of feed for Cymric

Holistic food is best suited for a Welsh cat, but super-premium can also be given. The main thing is not to overfeed the cat.

Top 5 feeds for Cymric:

• Bosch Sanabelle Light. Premium class. Low calorie cat food with 30% protein content. The amount of fat in the feed has been reduced, medicinal herbs and vitamin complexes have been added. Main composition: at least 20% chicken and duck meat;
• yellow millet;
• rice;
• flax-seed;
• dehydrated meat flour;
• marigold flowers;
• yucca extract;
• ground chicory root;
• vitamin and mineral supplements.

Photo gallery: food for Cymric

Carnilove Salmon Grain&Potato Free is a holistic food for cats Orijen Fit&Trim cat food contains fiber and reduced fat 1st Choice Vitality Indoor is one of the most affordable quality cat foods Bosch Sanabelle Light is a low-calorie food product for cats

40% of Carnilove Duck&Pheasant Grain&Potato Free is protein

Suitable for kittens:

• Acana Regionals Wild Prairie Cat & Kitten;
• Orijen Cat & Kitten;
• Carnilove Kitten Salmon & Turkey Grain-Free;
• Wahre Liebe "Junge";
• Duke's Farm Kitten Fresh Duck;
• NOW Fresh Grain Free Kitten Recipe;
• Almo Nature Legend Kitten Chicken;
• ROYAL CANIN Kitten;
• ROYAL CANIN Kitten Sterilized - for sterilized kittens;
• Royal Canin Pediatric Weaning Kitten canned - for kittens up to 4 months.

Natural nutrition

Natural food should also contain a lot of protein and less fat. The main products that a Cymric needs are:

• meat - lean beef, chicken fillet, rabbit - should make up at least 70-75% of the diet, you can add poultry liver, kidneys and heart, give it boiled or boiled;
• porridge - oatmeal, rice, buckwheat - approx. 10–15%;
• vegetables and herbs are required, you can give any, except potatoes, garlic and onions: usually they are ground raw into a paste and added to the main food (for 3 parts of meat, 2 - porridge and 1-2 - vegetable puree), vegetables and herbs should not be less than 10% of the diet;
• cottage cheese and fermented milk products are given 100 g per week, divided into 4–5 servings;
• raw quail eggs - 2 times a week, two, can be replaced with two chicken eggs per week;
• sea ​​white low-fat fish - 3 times a week, 20-40 g, hake is good.

You should not feed your cat human canned food, pork, fatty meat, sweets and sausages. No seasonings are added. Millet and cereals are not suitable for cats. No food from the human table should end up in the cat's bowl.

If fed naturally, the Cymrik will need additional vitamins:

• Excel Brewers Yeast 8 in 1;
• Anivital Feliimmune;
• Beaphar Irish Cal;
• Beafar Top 10 Cat.

A balanced diet is important for Cymric

Care and maintenance

Cymric needs as much space as possible. It will be difficult for him to live in a small apartment. If space allows, it would be a good idea to install playgrounds for cats, cat trees and other structures that will allow your pet to climb to heights. Kimrik loves walks on a leash, so he can be taken outside once every 2 days. The main thing is to accustom him to this from childhood.

Kymrik needs a lot of space, so it should not be kept in a small apartment.

Grooming and washing

The long double coat of the Cymric with a rich undercoat requires regular brushing and washing. To care for your pet you will need:

• combined comb;
• furminator for long-haired breeds;
• bristle and iron comb;
• rubber comb;
• antistatic spray.

It is enough to comb the Cymric once every 3-4 days:

1. First, use a comb to smooth out the wool, onto which an antistatic agent is first applied.
2. Using an iron comb, comb the wool again.
3. Use a rubber brush to remove dead hair.
4. Comb the fur with a bristle comb.

During molting, the procedure is repeated every day. Furminator is used after a combined comb and no more than 2 times a week. Cymrik is washed no more than once every 3–4 months with special shampoos.

Photo gallery: shampoos for Cymric

Jerob Herbal Shampoo - herbal shampoo for cats Tropiclean Papaya is designed specifically for long-haired cats Gentle Shampoo for long-haired cats gently cleanses the hair BioGroom Protein-Lanolin Silky Cat makes the cat's coat silky and prevents the appearance of mats Perfect Coat Concentrated Shampoo for cats is used sparingly

Care for eyes, teeth, ears, claws

Not only the fur, but also other parts of the animal’s body require constant care:

1. Cymric ears are cleaned using drops and cat ear lotion. First, drops are instilled, the base of the ear is massaged for about a minute, then the auricle is wiped with a cotton pad soaked in lotion. Repeat once every 4–5 days.
2. The cat's teeth are brushed once every 2 days. To do this, you will need cat toothpaste and a special toothbrush. Teeth should be brushed gently but thoroughly.
3. The eyes are wiped with a piece of natural fabric soaked in a caring lotion for cat eyes.
4. The Cymric's claws are longer and harder than those of many breeds, therefore, in addition to a nail clipper, you will need a nail file (not an iron one). First, the claw must be cut off without touching the pink sensitive part, and then carefully sharpened with a file to a rounded state.

Photo gallery: tools for caring for Cymric

A 2-in-1 comb with bristles and teeth smoothes out fur and removes fallen fur. A combination comb removes tangles.

The rubber brush produces a gentle massage and removes remaining hairs. Thanks to BioGroom Finisher AntiStat antistatic spray, the cat's fur does not become electrified during combing. A nail clipper is necessary for nail care

There are special nail files for cats and dogs.

A toothbrush for cats is softer than a human. Ear drops are designed for deep cleaning.

Cymric Breeding

Kymriks are very rare and few in number. There are nurseries for these cats only in Western Europe, the USA and Canada. It is prohibited to export uncastrated and unsterilized cats to people who do not own a professional cattery. Therefore, it is unlikely that it will be possible to breed these beautiful animals. However, several interesting details of their breeding are known:

1. You cannot cross two Cymrics with a rumpy tail, since the offspring are born dead (a side effect of the mutant gene): breeders solved this problem by crossing rumpy cats with longy and stumpy cats.
2. The percentage of completely tailless offspring rarely exceeds 25%.
3. 25% of kittens die in the first stages of fetal development, so a Cymric never has more than 4-5 babies in a litter.
4. Cymrics and Manxes, as related breeds, are allowed to be crossed. The offspring are considered Cymric regardless of coat length. Short-haired Cymrics (which are actually Manx!) are considered pet-class animals, even with a short tail.

Breeding Cymrics is not trusted by beginners and non-professionals