Hybrid cat? Discover 5 breeds that originated from wild cats

Do you know what a hybrid cat is? These cats are the result of crossbreeding between wild cats and domestic cats. Some strains emerged naturally and without human intervention, but others, such as hybrids, are the result of genetic modifications made in the laboratory.

Caracal

Visually, the bobcat clearly shows that it is not like other common cats. He has pointed and slightly tilted ears, and at their tips there is a kind of tuft of black hair, which makes them more distinctive. This trait was inherited from its ancestor, the bobcat.

The lynx is a feline famous for its long, black ears, which gave it the Turkish name Karakulak (black ear).

This breed arose from crossbreeding between the wild lynx and the domestic cat. The hypothesis behind its appearance is that domestic cats mated with a wild cat after invading a zoo enclosure in Moscow, the capital of Russia. In other words, and contrary to expectations, this was not a lab-made hybrid.

They are also known as “house lynx”. In addition to the ears, these animals also have colors similar to their ancestors, which had dark brown and caramel-colored fur. The eyes have a black outline that even resembles eyeliner. In terms of behavior, the domesticated lynx has a very sharp hunting instinct.

I point out

Surprisingly, this item can cost a hefty sum of up to R$ 500,000. This price is related to the fact that it was created in a laboratory, where it was planned entirely by humans. It is estimated that only 100,000 Ashira cats are bred annually by Lifestyle Pets, the company responsible.

It is considered the most expensive cat in the world because of its rarity and because it is sterile, meaning it does not reproduce naturally.

However, the ancestors of this animal also did not arise in nature. They were created in the laboratory by mixing domestic and wild cat hybrids, for example, the African serval and the Asian leopard cat. All of these crossings resulted in cats with this wild face.

Ashira can have different types of fur, as a result of many genetic combinations. The most common is cream color with brown spots, a characteristic the hybrid inherited from the leopard. Unlike others, he is not skittish and behaves like a house cat. It can reach more than one meter in length and weigh up to 15 kilograms.

Bengal

Cat or jaguar? This hybrid is known for having a coat with brown spots spread all over the body, a characteristic similar to that of tigers and leopards. But this is no coincidence, as the Bengal arose specifically from the crossbreeding of a domestic cat and a tiger.

The Bengal cat has cheetahs as its wild ancestors.

However, not all of them are a result of this transit. On the contrary, it is much more difficult for this to happen, as cheetahs are endangered. Furthermore, there remains the problem that wild animals do not always react well to domestic cats approaching to breed.

Therefore, Bengal cats are divided into four subspecies, and there is practically no generation of crossing with the tiger. Cats’ personalities are influenced by their closeness to their ancestors. In other words, temperament depends on how close it is genetically to a wild animal.

Chuzy

This is one of the cats that has the least different characteristics. Like the others, she inherited traits from her ancestors, but they are more subtle in the case of the Shuzi. It arose from crossbreeding between a domestic cat and a jungle cat, known as the swamp lynx, and is much smaller than other wild cats.

The name “Chausie” is derived from the Latin name of its wild ancestor, the swamp cat.

The coat can vary in shades of yellowish gray and reddish brown. The animal’s ears are medium in size and have a small tuft of black hair at the tip, similar to that of a serval cat. The detail that draws most attention to this cat is its slightly flattened nose, which is not common in cats.

In addition to these other colors, the Chausie can also have colors similar to the jungle cat, which are shades of gray or gray-beige. Regarding behavior, these animals have inherited a lot of behavior from their ancestors, they are full of energy and are good hunters.

Savannah

The appearance of this cat is enough to impress anyone. It is the result of a crossbreeding between a domestic cat and an African wild cat. These animals attract attention because they are much larger than pets, have a small head, large ears, like a bat, and a coat full of spots.

The Savannah cat is a hybrid of the domestic cat and the African serval. It is known to be one of the most expensive cats in the world, and is distinguished by its large size and strange appearance.

All of these characteristics were inherited by the Savannah cat, whose lineage is divided into different generations, with F1 being the closest relative to the ancestor. In this case, the animal may be of a large size and weigh up to 25 kilograms. They are famous giant cats.

Savannah also adopts servant behavior. He is a hunting cat with excellent skills, as well as being skittish and suspicious. Of course, energy is what these cats do not lack. Another interesting fact is that, like its ancestor, it can jump almost 3 meters high and feeds exclusively on meat.