LITTLE KNOWN CAT BREEDS #3
SMERF
Named after the popular blue cartoon characters, the Smerf is a velour-coated, short-legged, polydactyl cat with a bobbed tail. It is bred only in bluish-grey (no white markings, tabby, ticking, colourpoint or smoke permitted). The look is complemented by large, round orange eyes, the rounded face of the Shorthair and small, prick ears set wide apart on the head. Only the "thumb cat" conformation of paws is accepted in order to resemble hands.
A very short tail is preferred, but cats with Manx ancestry have not been used in creating this breed as this could cause skeletal abnormalities. The muzzle and chin are well-defined, neither short like an Exotic not long like an Oriental. Due to recessive genes, some lilac cats and long-legged offspring occur. These "Smerf Variants" are available as neutered pets and have the personality as short-legged Smerfs.
Smerfs are lively, active little cats able to run, climb and jump. They are sweet-natured and mischievous and have a tendency to steal and hide toys and small objects. They also love to burrow under beds and couches and ambush their human playmates from those hiding places. Their sociable nature means they prefer to have other feline playmates and even adult cats will indulge in kitten-like games together.
Breeder: Paolo Flir, Smallkeyhole Cattery.
SMOOCH
A curly-coated Smerf variant, with fine curled semi-long fur that forms loose ringlets. In some cats, these ringlets entirely hide the short bobbed tail. Their round eyes, curled coats and sweet nature makes these the smoochable teddy-bears of the dwarf cat family.
Breeder: Paolo Flir, Smallkeyhole Cattery.
UMPA-LUMPA
When developing Smerfs, a blue-cream tortoiseshell female was used. This resulted in cream-colour males in addition to the desired blue-grey colour. Some of these males were very typy and rather than lose their excellent characteristics they were used in the breeding program. Since only the blue progeny could be registered as Smerfs, the cream males were registered as Umpa-Lumpas. Rather than unduly restrict the gene pools, blue-cream and cream cats may be used to maintain type in the Smerf breeding program and are registered as Umpa-Lumpas.
Shorthair Umpa-Lumpas and Smerfs may be outcrossed to each other with the offspring registered according to colour. Longhair Umpa-Lumpas may be crossed to Smooches and the the offspring registered according to colour. Blue-cream females may only be registered as Smerf variants, Umpa-Lumpa variants (if shorthaired) or Smooch variants (if longhaired).
Breeder: Avril Poisson, WonkaCatFactory Cattery.
THE PAKHET
INFORMATION
The Pakhet is the world's rarest domestic cat - so rare that they are only bred when an order is received. This exotic-looking, but wholly domestic, breed has been bred by merging the bloodlines of the African Serval, the Asian Leopard Cat and the Geoffroy's Cat to produce a leopard-like pet with large rosettes and contrasting stripes. Weighing up to 35 lbs and standing 24 inches at the shoulder, this muscular cat is available to carefully screened purchasers only. Legally defined as a domestic animal, there are no restrictions on owning this wild-looking feline in any US state. Because Costa Pakhet lawyers have defined the Pakhet as a domestic cat, it requires no special housing or licencing.
If you are contemplating the purchase of an Pakhet, or wish to become one of our franchised breeders, an advisor from our Costa Pakhet breeding facility will visit you in person to discuss all details regarding purchase and ownership and to answer any questions you may have. You will be required to sign a no-declaw agreement. This page provides general information on the purchase and care of your Pakhet.
GENERAL CARE OF THE PAKHET
In spite or its rarity and wild appearance, the Pakhet cat requires no different care than any other purebred domestic cat. No live prey or special cat food is required although the large size of the Pakhet means it requires approximately twice as much food as an ordinary purebred. A premium-quality canned or dried food is recommended. Full details of the brands recommended by Costa Pakhet are included with the Pakhet welcome pack. For each purchases from our recommended suppliers, Costa Pakhet will receive a donation towards the care of future generations of Pakhet cats.
Pakhets are fully housetrained and do well with automatic cleaning litter boxes such as the Litter-lout; though their large size necessitates the extra large model. Due to its warm climate ancestry, your Pakhet will appreciate an electrically heated cat bed, again in the extra-large size. These are available from Costa Pakhet in colours and patterns to co-ordinate with your cat.
PURCHASING
The Pakhet is priced at $35,000, plus any applicable sales or importation taxes. Payment is due at time of order. Following payment, we will specially breed your Pakhet from carefully chosen parents. The delivery date from receipt of payment is therefore 9-12 months. Customers who simply can't wait to own an Pakhet may be offered selected kittens from other Pakhet purchasers' breeding pairings at an additional cost of $6,000. Why an additional cost and not a discount? Costa Pakhet is reluctant to home kittens and this additional cost is your promise to us that the kitten will be well cared for and not an impulse buy. It will also pay for special early age spay or neuter surgery using keyhole techniques that require a minimum of shaving so your kitten arrives with no unsightly bare patches.
All Pakhet cats and kittens are accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity and Genetic Health that will include an image of each kitten's DNA profile and by an itemised receipt showing how your $35,000 has been spent on the care of your Pakhet before it is delivered to you.
DELIVERY OF YOUR KITTEN
All Pakhet kittens are hand delivered to their new owners and hand carried on the transporting aircraft by a Costa Pakhet representative. For deliveries outside of the USA, airlines do not permit animals in the cabin. To ensure your prized Pakhet is not transported in the cargo hold, Costa Pakhet will hire a private charter jet.
The total cost of delivery within the United States is approximately $1,500; outside of the USA we will quote you by location including the hire of a private jet. You wouldn't want the rarest breed in the world to be treated as common cargo, would you?
The following are included in the purchase price of your Pakhet kitten:
Breeder: Ivor Ripoff, Costa Pakhet Breeding Facility
THE SAVANNUDE – IT’S LIKE A SAVANNAH, BUT HAIRLESS!
The breeders of the ultra-rare Pakhet are pleased to announce a new exotic domestic cat breed – the Savannude. This exotic-looking, but wholly domestic, breed has been developed from the African Serval and hairless Sphynx cats to produce a leopard-like pet with large rosettes and contrasting stripes on its skin. Weighing up to 35 lbs and standing 24 inches at the shoulder, this muscular, hairless cat is only available to carefully screened purchasers. Because Costa Pakhet lawyers have legally defined the Savannude as a domestic cat, it requires no special housing or licencing and there are there are no restrictions on owning this beautiful bald feline in any US state.
In spite of its exclusive and exotic looks, the Savannude requires no different care than any other purebred domestic cat. Its large size means it requires approximately twice as much premium-quality canned or dried food as other purebred cats. We recommend Costa Pakhet’s own specially formulated diet to keep your Savannude healthy. Samples are included with the Savannude welcome pack. All Savannudes are fully housetrained. Due to its ancestry and hairlessness, your Savannude will appreciate an extra-large electrically heated cat bed, obtainable from Costa Pakhet.
The Savannude costs $35,000, plus applicable sales or import taxes. Payment is due at time of order. Following payment, your Savannude will be custom-bred from carefully chosen parents. The delivery date from receipt of payment is 9-12 months. Customers unwilling to wait up to 12 months may purchase selected kittens from other Savannude purchasers' breeding pairings at no extra cost.
All Savannude kittens will be spayed/neutered before being shipped. We are committed to preventing pet overpopulation! Savannude cats and kittens are accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity and Genetic Health that will include an image of each kitten's DNA profile and by an itemised receipt showing how your $35,000 has been spent on the care of your Savannude before it is delivered to you.
Your Savannude kitten will be hand delivered to you and hand carried on the transporting aircraft by a Costa Pakhet representative. The total cost of delivery within the United States is approximately $1,500. For deliveries outside of the USA, if airlines do not permit animals in the cabin your prized Savannude will not be transported as cargo hold. Costa Pakhet will hire a private charter jet to ensure it travels to you in style and comfort, as befitting its exclusivity. We will quote you by location including the hire of a private jet. Upgrade to private aircraft delivery is available within the USA – please ask for quote at time of order.
The following are included in the purchase price of your Savannude kitten:
Remember, all Serval crosses might be considered Savannahs, but only ours are Savannudes!