Last Updated on August 22, 2022 by Pets Feed
This cat breed with the fabulous name of the Elf cat is not an invention. For a long time, an animal with an unusual appearance brightens the life of many four-legged lovers. And those who have never taken hairless cats in their hands are delighted looking at the numerous photographs. A cute, touching and gentle creature – this is how the rare elf cat is characterized.
His appearance reminds many of the book heroes from fictional novels. Marble body, expressive look and sociable character are just a few of the positive characteristics of expensive cats. They are loved for their developed intelligence, playfulness and get along with other pets. Elf cats are still very little widespread in the world, but in the short period of existence of the breed, they managed to win the admiration of cat admirers.
Elf Cat photos
Description of the Elf cat breed
Body
The lean, but muscular body is flexible and strong. The volumetric chest is formed by rounded ribs, while it does not protrude beyond the general boundaries of the body. The elf cat’s smoothed nape passes into a graceful, slightly curved line of the back. The neck of the descendants of the sphinxes is long and graceful with a noticeable bend. Thanks to the rounded convex belly, the torso takes on a pear-shaped shape. The average weight of a cat-figurine is 7-8 kg. The tail is of medium size proportional to the body.
Limbs
Both the front and hind legs of the descendants of the sphinxes are very well developed. Strong joints and strong tendons allow pets to show strength, agility and agility. The shoulder section of the forelimbs is pressed against the body. The hind legs in cats are much longer than the front ones. Because of this feature, the gait of the animals is graceful and somewhat insinuating. The paw pads are soft, rounded.
Head
On the wedge-shaped head, prominent cheekbones stand out. The bridge of the nose, wide with a small depression, passes into an equally wide nose. One of the distinguishing features of the elf cat breed is its ears. They are wide enough at the bottom, and the pointed ends are slightly bent back. This nuance is taken into account in the developed standard. If the bending of the auricles is significant or, conversely, completely absent, then the elf kittens are discarded. The eyes of these unusual cats also deserve attention. They are distinguished by an almond-shaped and slightly convex shape. The look can be called expressive and deep. The color of the iris is green or blue. These hybrid cats belong to one of the breeds in which heterochromia occurs.
Skin
Due to the lack of hair, numerous skin folds are visible on the surface of the body. The texture of the skin is smooth with barely noticeable fine grain, which makes it appear cashmere when stroking. With the complete absence of hair in elf cats, a small presence of it on the lower limbs, tail and tips of the auricles is allowed. The predominant color is soft beige or light gray. However, in the population there are also animals with black skin and even a complete lack of pigmentation, which makes the cat completely white. Moreover, any color can be heterogeneous – spots of different tonality and size are allowed.
Character traits of the Elf cat
It is difficult to find in a motley family of cats more affectionate and gentle creatures than elf cats. They can rightfully be called the “tail” of a person – cats are ready to follow the owner literally on the heels, waiting for affection and attention.
Their reverent and attentive attitude extends not only to adult owners, but also to small children. Bald and pleasant to the touch cats delight babies. At the same time, the pets reciprocate – they are eagerly fondled and included in games with children.
The elf cats show the same peacefulness in relation to pets. They know how to find common language not only with other cats, but also with dogs. The elf cat is ideal for large families. These creatures do not tolerate the absence of people in the house. Therefore, it is advisable for single people who spend a lot of time outside the home to remember this before making such a friend.
Elf kittens are very mobile, inquisitive and playful. With age, cats become more sedate, but do not lose their feelings of affection for people. Unlike other breeds, the elf cat does not put any family member first. For her, everyone is equal, so she gives love to everyone equally.
Elf cats have excellent memory. They are very good at remembering both positive moments of life and negative events. But with a good attitude, this quality of character can even go unnoticed. The highly developed intellect of an elf cat is manifested in a quick habituation to the tray and the place of feeding. Even at a young age, big-eared cats quickly grasp the house rules set by man and follow them. Among other things, cats are very clean and do not create problems in the house.
Basic care
Since the elf cat is deprived of a warm fur coat, it is highly not recommended to walk it in the cold season. To maintain good health, these pets are more suitable for warm room conditions. In summer, kitties can be released into the fresh air, but it is advisable to do this on a leash.
In the house for an elf kitten, you need to make or buy a house. It should be equipped with a warm bed. If this is a basket, then it should have high sides. To avoid colds, bald pets should be protected from drafts.
Hygienic procedures consist of regular wiping of the skin with wet tampons. Skin folds require special attention, in which dust and plaque with an admixture of keratinized epithelium can accumulate. The same procedure is required for the auricles. An elf cat does not like water, so it is better to limit bathing of the animal.
Health
Elf kittens are born genetically healthy and, with a balanced diet, grow and develop safely. The adorable purrs are still little studied in terms of hereditary diseases, but the information available at the moment suggests that the elf breed is a strong hybrid line.
History
The elf cat breed is one of the extra-young in the cat family. More recently, naked cuties with bent ears did not exist in nature. But fate decided in its own way. In 2006, as a result of selection experiments between the Sphynx and Curl, unusual kittens were born.
The work was carried out by the American breeder Kristen Lead. The reason for obtaining a new breed was a tragic incident in a woman’s life. As a result of the disease, her beloved cat of the Canadian Sphynx breed died. Lead decided by all means to get a cat with an unusual appearance, lack of genetic abnormalities and high resistance to infectious diseases.
In the difficult selection of Kristen was helped by her friend and colleague Karen Nelson. Their creative impulse to obtain a new breed did not give the desired results for a very long time. And yet, after a few years, the problem was resolved and the hard work culminated in an amazing result. The wards had a kitten of the elf breed. It was the outward resemblance to the fictional character that gave rise to the name of the new variety.
The very next year, the unusual hybrid line was registered as an experimental breed in TICO. The rest of the international felinological organizations so far refuse to recognize the elf breed in any status. The number of newly born hairless cats is still very low. The overwhelming majority of individuals currently live in the United States.
Therefore, everyone who wants to buy an elf kitten in the cattery turns to American breeders. Although there are individual catteries in which you can buy a kitten, there are also in Russia.
Conclusions about the Elf cat
An elf cat is happy to give love to people. At the same time, she expects a reciprocal feeling. She desperately needs care, attention and affection. With this attitude, mysterious cats become real pearls of the house. They are not just interior decoration, they are devoted companions of man.
And although at present the number of fairytale elf cats is extremely low, there is every chance not only to increase it, but also to receive official recognition from professionals. This only requires time and continued breeding. An expensive and rare breed of elf will definitely appear in the competition lists of the cat elite and will delight with its beauty.
