Seeing stubby little legs carrying a lot of personality is what a Dwelf cat looks like. You can easily mistake this bundle of joy for a pint-sized Sphynx, but it is not. The Dwelf is much more than that. A notable breed beginning from the way how to care for them to specific personalities. This cute small cat offers a lot to be talked about.
History of the Dwelf Cat
This very new cat breed has been accepted by the International Cat Association (TICA) recently and is under its Experimental New Breeds category which shows how new this cat breed is.
Dwelf cats first appeared in the USA and this can be the only fact declared with full confidence. Everything else regarding this breed is a mystery. These cats appeared in 2005, almost the same time as the Bambino breed very similar to Dwelf. The origin of the name of this cat is a combination of two words, dwarf and elf and there you have Dwelf. The name is closely connected to the looks and stature of these Dwelf cats. They are small in size as a dwarf, and as cute as elves.
Dwelf Cats are very interesting hairless cats. The breed was developed when the Munchkin, the American Curl, and the Sphinx were crossed. If you look at the Dwelf it seems that the Sphynx’s features are the most apparent. Dwelf Cat is considered a designer cat breed because breeds with multiple mutations were combined to get it. This is the main reason for the controversies connected to this breed according to which it is very unethical to develop these cats.
Scientists assume that they can show skeletal problems and it is very important to choose the right breeder to be sure that your pet will be healthy. Anyhow this dwarf-like structure and elf-like features cats are very popular.
Dwelf Cat Character
This breed makes a great feline companion. Dwelf cats are very social and interactive with a dog-like personality. They are adorned by families who have plenty of free time to devote to their pets. When Dwelf cats’ kittens like to be around people and prefer to be included in the family activities. Being left alone is very hard for them.
They are playful and giving them many toys will help release the energy and keep them entertained. Dwelf cats are assumed to be very intelligent which means that they require mental stimulation as well.
Appearance of a Dwelf Cat
What you will immediately notice is that they are hairless although there can be a peach fuzz all over their bodies. It is a very strange feeling when you pet them and touch their skin. Their whiskers as the eyebrows may be very short or even absent. Because Dwalf cats do not have hair you will be able to see their wrinkles on the shoulders and the legs. A bit of hair can be noticed at the end of the ears, on the nose area, and on the tail.
One more distinctive feature from the other breeds is their curled ears which curve towards each other. The legs of a Dwelf cat are long and their legs are short thanks to the Munchkin blood mixed when the breed was developed. Their hind legs are a bit longer than the front legs. The Dwelf cat no matter how old it is will remain small.
Dwelf cat has a muscular neck and legs and a rounded abdomen. Their feet are large and oval. They have a long slender tail with a little hair on the tip. They keep their tails pointed. The head of a Dwelf cat is long, a bit less wide with prominent chick bones. They have very beautiful almond-shaped eyes which are a bit shunted, and their muzzle is short and very strong.
The life span of a Dwalf cat is 9-15 years of age which depends on their heritage. Well, this is a detailed description that can be made of the appearance of the Dwel cat.
Since the Dwelf cat does not have hair, the kittens may be skin color or black. Some cats have darker markings on the face and body.
Care and Diet for the Dwelf Cat
Skinless cats have exposed and delicate skin. The Dwel Cat should be kept indoors because exposure to sunlight could damage its skin and they can get sunburned. Cold temperatures are also not appropriate for Dwelf Cat.
It is good to bath them once a week because they do not have any fur to absorb the oils that naturally occur on cats’ skin. If you do not bath your Dwelf regularly it will collect all the oils on its skin and your cat will feel greasy when you touch it.
This cat breed is not at all fussy with food and does not need some special diet or strictly defined intake of minerals. Dry kitten food will be the best choice if you take yourself a Dwelf kitten.
Health Issues of Dwelf Cats
As all cats do the Dwelf cats have some specific genetic heritage issues. You may notice some or they may never occur. The common health issue with the Dwelf Cats is spinal Lordosis when the spine curves inward. There might be some other issues like Pectus Excavatum which is a deformity appearing in the chest. It is sunken in if this happens.
The HCM Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is also a problem that can occur with this breed as with all other cats. In this case, the heart muscle thickens and it provokes lethargy and weakness in Dwel cat.
The Dwelf cats are hypoallergenic although many will think differently since they do not have fur. These cats do not shed any hair around the house, but they still have allergies present in their saliva. The main cause of allergy is the Fel D1 Protein in Dwelf cats.
This protein covers the whole body of cats so despite they do not have fur it is still present. Some allergies happen from the fur, but some happen due to this protein.
Adjustment of Dwelf Cats
When you own a Dwelf Cat keep in mind that there must be plenty of cuddles, lots of baths, and playtime. They like to bathe so let it be a part of your play time with your pet.Dwelf cats are social pets and they will get along well with all the members of the family.