Breed of the Week: California Spangle
Tuesday January 13, 2009
The California Spangle has one of the most interesting histories of any new cat breed. I've spent several enjoyable hours talking on the phone and corresponding with Paul Casey, the developer of the breed, who has shared the history of this magnificant cat, along with his personal photos. Paul, in his own right, has a fascinating history; he is a big-screen film tv, and stage producer, an explorer, inventor, animal advocate, writer, cat lover, and a true gentleman.
Like the Bengal, the California Spangle Cat is an "engineered" breed, which came to being from much the same intent: to publicize the cause of wild cats killed for their pelts. Unlike the Bengal, however, there is no wild stock in the genetic makeup of the California Spangled cat. This breed with the wild look was developed with a carefully planned program, using existing breeds selected for appearance as well as personality, and augmented with "street cats" from Cairo and Malaya.
The picture at right is one of the original California Spangled cats, an adult female of the snow leopard color. Click on the image to see a full sized photo.
Photo Credit: © Paul Casey, used with permission.
Learn more about this fascinating breed.
Comments
Paul C,
Remember when you told me you were doing this?
My wife, Pat, the TV anchor, and I, visited you at Lombard.
But many days before I married her we had lunch together at my little space in Venice; there you discussed the cats. I WANT ONE.
Paul Dileski
I read your book, would you read mine?
Nomad88@verizon.net
I’m glad that there’s no wild stock in this cat, but it’s interesting how they select the cats for breeding.
I knew I should have smuggled one of the street cats I saw in Dubai. They ran along the lines of the Egyptian Mau breeds, but they were just street cats. Beautiful coats, not unlike the one in the photo. Just skinnier.