| A shorthair cat breed, California Spangled originated | | | | short and velvety and occurs in a number of colors |
| following a fateful visit by Hollywood script writer and | | | | including black, blue, bronze, brown, charcoal, gold, red |
| animal lover Paul Casey to Tanzania, Africa, in the | | | | and silver. Spots are dark, well defined and preferably |
| early nineteen seventies. Casey was shocked by | | | | rounded or blocked. At times they are arranged into |
| rampant poaching of leopards there for their skin and | | | | rosettes. Triangular and oval markings are also |
| after motivation by famed anthropologist Louis | | | | accepted. Tabby-like stripes often exist on head, |
| Leakey, decided to develop a breed that would | | | | chest, throat, legs and tail. Head is round with |
| resemble the spotted big cats in appearance and | | | | prominent cheek bones, almond shaped slanting |
| generate awareness among people regarding | | | | golden to brown eyes and high set ears. |
| conservation of great cats in the wild. The idea was | | | | The pretty cat, also known as American California |
| that if people own a spotted cat of their own, they | | | | Spangled Cat, has two other variants as well. These |
| would desist wearing of furs of other spotted cats. | | | | include the Snow Leopard Cat and the King Spangled |
| It was not until the mid nineteen eighties that Casey | | | | Cat. The Snow Leopard Cat is named after the big |
| was finally able to develop the breed from a number | | | | cat Snow Leopard of Asian mountains. It has a light |
| of different cats including American and British | | | | background and dazzling markings. The King Spangled |
| Shorthairs, Abyssinians, Angoras, Manx and Siamese. | | | | Cat derives its name from the King Cheetah. It has |
| Though the resulting Spangled cats gained initial | | | | stripes and markings that resemble those of the rare |
| popularity, they were not enthusiastically received by | | | | King Cheetah. |
| many cat fancies who were not so keen in adding | | | | Healthy and active animals, California Spangles |
| another spotted cat to their registry at that time. | | | | resembles the wild African cats as they move about |
| Today very few of these purebred cats remain. | | | | in a crouched low-slung posture during play. They are |
| Medium sized cats with short hair, California Spangles | | | | very fond of their toys and spend hours stalking and |
| are well muscled felines. They are lean and sculpted | | | | 'hunting' them. Like leopards, they like to perch on |
| and move like their wild cat cousins even as they | | | | high places and survey their domain from above. |
| have entirely domestic genes in their heritage. Fur is | | | | |