When cowboys rode out across their ranches, when wild mustangs raced over the prairie, when gold prospectors worked their claims, cats were always keeping a watchful eye on them! Some of those cats became the ancestors of a stunning breed: the California Spangled cat!
History of the Breed
The breed’s origin story is practically a ready-made Hollywood script, especially since the California Spangled was created by Hollywood screenwriter Paul Casey.
Roll the opening titles: “1971.” A young American named Paul (played by Clint Eastwood, of course) arrives in Africa. Fate brings him to the famous Olduvai Gorge in Tanzania. The soundtrack plays (light banjo chords). At that very moment, Paul Casey learns that poachers have just killed the last leopard living in the area. Silence.
In the Hollywood version, our hero would chase down the villains, charm Angelina Jolie along the way, catch and punish the bad guys, and deliver a lecture on the evils of poaching. Real life went differently. Shocked by the senseless killing, Paul Casey returned to California, inspired by his conversations with anthropologist Louis Leakey, and set out to breed a cat that looked like a leopard.
The goal was more than noble. Casey dreamed that people would stop wearing fur coats made from wild cats once they saw how much the fur resembled that of a house cat.
Eleven (!) generations of cats and years of selective breeding later, a mini leopard was purring in Paul’s lap. The new breed mixed the genes of Siamese, Angora, British and Abyssinian cats. As the cherry on top, Paul added a spotted street cat from Egypt (similar to the Egyptian Mau).
The banjo plays again, and the screen reads: “To be continued”!
Breed Description
The breed’s homeland gave it the best of both worlds: primal wildness and modern civility. Civility shows up in its personality, while its wild traits are what set the California Spangled’s looks apart.
- The head is medium-sized. The forehead and cheekbones are prominent, the jaws and chin well developed, the muzzle medium-length and full, with well-developed whisker pads:
- the ears are soft, set high, medium-sized and slightly rounded at the tips;
- the eyes are almond-shaped, large and set at a slight slant. Eye color should harmonize with the coat. Blue or gray eyes are allowed with matching coat colors, but green eyes are not acceptable in the California Spangled. A light stripe runs from the inner corner of the eye to the outer corner of the mouth;
- the neck is cylindrical, strong and long.
- The body is shaped like a rectangle.
The legs are also built differently from other breeds. The front legs form a 90° angle at the elbows, which makes the cat look like it’s always low to the ground. It seems to walk with a stalking gait, which adds to its predatory look. The paws are medium-sized and oval.
The tail is long and of even thickness throughout, with long, fluffy fur. A black tail tip and dark rings along its length are typical of the breed. A light tail tip is not allowed.
A California Spangled weighs about 9–18 lb.
- Coat
What does the coat look like? It’s mostly short, except on the belly and tail. The fur is soft and lies close to the body.
- Color
The characteristic wild spots are preferably round or rectangular, and the pattern must be clear and contrasting. Round, oval or triangular spots are allowed. Rings, scales or crescents are not.
The California Spangled’s color is its greatest treasure. All of its possible colors are on record. The breed standard allows several colors: black, blue, bronze, charcoal, red, gold and silver. Two more are welcome as well: snow leopard and royal spangled.
Put a picture of a California Spangled next to a wild leopard and the difference is minor. The spots can be evenly scattered over the body or grouped into striking rosettes; what matters is that the body is spotted. The head, chest and legs may have dark stripes.
IMPORTANT! Kittens are born dark, and the spots and stripes that mark the breed appear only with age.
Personality
What do we know about the American national character? That Americans smile at everyone, and value the American way of life, family, work and the Constitution. The California Spangled is no exception. It’s very friendly, energetic and observant. It may not lift its whisker pads in an American smile, but it will greet friends and strangers alike with its whole demeanor.
California Spangled cats are very easygoing and playful. Families with small children give this breed great reviews. They respect the “family constitution” and treat every family member equally, except dogs. They don’t accept dogs as part of their pack and, at best, ignore them.
The California Spangled is a good hunter (that’s its American way of life). It keeps all its instincts and will try them out at home, leaping high after “prey.” So these cats need plenty of space, and they won’t be comfortable in a tiny apartment.
They adore toys, especially ones with feathers, and active games. They also love to perch at the same height as their owner’s head. Because democracy! A true American!
Health
Good news for fans of the breed: these cats are rarely sick! Of course, common cat illnesses may not pass them by, but they have zero known genetic diseases!
A California Spangled kitten becomes a hunter from its earliest days and keeps those instincts for life, so take deworming seriously and do preventive treatment every six months. How can you tell if a cat has worms? The main symptoms are:
- lethargy and tiring quickly;
- alternating diarrhea and constipation;
- unusual appetite;
- pale mucous membranes (anemia).
These are only the obvious signs of infection, and it’s easier to prevent than to treat.
California Spangled cats can live long lives and even toast their 20th birthday with you, but the average lifespan is 12–15 years.
Care and Living Conditions
The California Spangled’s coat, ears, claws and eyes don’t need special care. A weekly wipe and trim is a normal, familiar routine for them.
Their physical energy, however, needs an outlet. Give them the chance to jump, climb, run and poke their noses everywhere. It’s best to set up a special corner with plenty of shelves and walkways.
Keep pet rodents away from them. If you already have a beloved hamster, rat or guinea pig, keep them in separate corners of the ring, because a California Spangled may not resist taste-testing its “prey.”
Feeding
The California Spangled isn’t a picky eater. A soda and a hamburger will do for lunch! Of course, that’s a joke. But only partly; the rest is the truth. There are no special food restrictions for this spotted beauty.
You can feed it either commercial food or a homemade diet. What matters is balanced nutrition. From time to time, offer your cat raw meat (previously frozen or scalded), cooked ocean fish and vitamins.
Photos
An interesting fact from the breed’s early days: its creator, Paul Casey, staged a promotional campaign for it. In 1986, he placed photos of the cats (priced at $1,400 each) in the Neiman Marcus Christmas catalog as exclusive gifts, alongside photos of fur coats made from wild animals. Everyone was outraged, from environmentalists to cat lovers. But the campaign did its job: America learned about the breed.
Where to Buy
That’s a question even breeders can’t answer today. The California Spangled has become extremely rare, and we couldn’t find an active cattery in the US or anywhere else. The major US registries (CFA and TICA) don’t currently register it.
There’s no current market price for the breed; the original kittens sold for $1,400 back in 1986. If someone offers you a “California Spangled” kitten today, ask for pedigree papers going back to Paul Casey’s lines and be very cautious. If you love the spotted, wild look, a registered Ocicat or Egyptian Mau is far easier to find through the CFA breeder directory or TICA breeder listings.
The California Spangled: a cat decorated with sequins!
