Lovely communicative chocolaty kitties—that is how the York Chocolate cat breed is known!
It is a relatively new and uncommon cat breed. In recent years, York Chocolates have experienced a surge in their popularity because of their fluffy, long-haired chocolate-brown coats and friendly temperament. They are also getting famous on social media for their fascination with water and their ability to express their feelings to their owners in various ways.
There is a lot to learn about this amiable feline! Keep reading to discover more about their natural characteristics, history, caring requirements, and more.
York Chocolate Cat Breed Overview
York Chocolate Cat Breed Overview
Other Name:York
Height: 8 to 10 inches
Weight: Male: 14 to 16 pounds Female: 10 to 12 pounds
Life Expectancy: 13 to 15 years
Coat Color: Chocolate brown, lavender, or a mix of the two
Eye Color: Green, golden, or hazel
Temperament: Chatty, sociable, intelligent
Suitable for: Families with children, families with other pets, houses with a pool
York Chocolate Cat Breed Scorecard
|
Adaptability: |
Affection: |
||
|
Friendliness: |
Energy: |
||
|
Intelligence: |
Grooming: |
||
|
Shedding: |
Vocalization |
York Chocolate Appearance
The York Chocolate can be classified into medium to large cat breeds. Their body is muscular with a round chest and sturdy boning structure. Their legs are long, and the hind ones are comparatively longer. The paws are also large but round. On the back, the tail is almost equal to the length of the body, and its thickness decreases moving towards the end.
Their head is neither large nor small and has a wedge shape. The skull and muzzle are somewhat round. The ears are large, pointed, and forward tilting. Likewise, their eyes are also slightly large and almond-shaped and separated by the length of an eye.
Their chocolate brown colored coat makes them one of the rare brown cat breeds. That said, they can also have a lavender coat or a mixture of chocolate brown and lavender.
Male Vs. Female
York Chocolate Queens and Toms are very similar in almost every aspect except their size. Like most cat breeds, male York Chocolate cats are bigger than their female counterparts. Where male York have an average weight of around 14 to 16 pounds, females weigh only 10 to 12 pounds.
York Chocolate Cat Personality
The most prominent feature in the York Chocolate cat personality is communication. They communicate with the people around them by hissing, purring, meowing, and body language. For instance, the York Chocolate kitties purr when they are happy, in pain, or have an empty food bowl. Similarly, they tend to meow when they want something. Furthermore, the cat wagging tail to and fro when you come back home indicates that she is excited to see you.
These cats are very friendly, even-tempered, and affectionate to their owners. However, they usually form close bonds with only one person and try their best to follow their best ‘hoomans’ wherever they go. While they just have one favorite, they are friendly towards all family members.
They might act a bit shy around strangers—pets and humans—at first, but as they are quite sociable, they will get along with other pets as well as will be okay with guests in the house. So if you have another cat in the house, worry not, they will get used to each other. Similarly, your dream of cat and dog living together can also be achieved with York chocolate cats.
That said, you should be a bit cautious leaving your Yorkie around smaller pets. Actually, York Chocolate is a farm breed with a strong prey drive. So you should never leave them unsupervised around small pets like parakeets, hamsters, and guinea pigs.
Where most cats hate water, York Chocolates are fascinated by water and love playing with water. This makes bathing them quite a fun activity.
Did You Know?
The York Chocolate cats transfer their scent to mark their territory and their favorite human being. They do so by stroking their scent glands against such territories and people.
York Chocolate Cat Breed History
In 1983, Brownie, a female brown kitten, was born at the farm owned by Janet D. Chiefari in the New York State as a result of mating between a black female and a black-and-white male cat. Brownie was attractive and distinct because of her long-haired brown coat. The next year, she was mated with one of her offspring named Minky, who had a deep, brown undercoat.
By 1989, she had 27 more of these chocolate brown kittens, and thus it was a perfect time to register these unique kittens as a separate cat breed—York Chocolate. The York Chocolate breed was eventually granted the championship status in 1992 by the Cat Fanciers Federation (CFF).
York Chocolate Cat Care
To protect your York Chocolate kitty from any complication and to keep her fit, consider managing and thoroughly maintaining the following factors:
Grooming
The York Chocolate cats do not require much grooming. However, due to the plush and long coat and to keep the coat dapper and formation of mats at bay, consider brushing your pet at least three to four times a week. Furthermore, regular brushing can get your cat rid of dead hair.
You can also bathe them occasionally as they are not afraid of water. Moreover, regular cleaning of ears is also recommended. And it goes without saying that you should be brushing your cat’s teeth daily or at least four to five times a week.
Exercise
York Chocolate kitties are extremely energetic and active creatures. Hence, they need regular exercise to expend their energy and stay healthy.
To do so in the best possible way, consider getting your York Chocolate a cat tree with multiple scratching posts, on which she can jump from one level to another.
Engaging your kitty in a play with a laser beam is also a great idea. While trying to catch the spot, she will jump around while you are seated and relaxed.
That said, if you have an active lifestyle, you can leash train your cat using clicker training and then take her out for walks around the block and hiking and other adventures.
Training
The York Chocolate cats are neither good nor bad at training because of their intelligence and independence. While they can learn different commands fairly quickly, their independent nature can cause them to only follow a limited number of commands. But if you have a hand full of delicious cat treats, you can have productive training sessions.
Diet
Like other cats, York Chocolate cats are obligate carnivores, and, hence they require meaty proteins to stay healthy. Before getting cat food for them, you should make sure that it has a healthy source of proteins. You can also offer them several fruits and vegetables that are safe for cats to eat but only in small amounts as a treat.
The amount of food you should be feeding your York Chocolate cat depends entirely on her activity level and the food brand. When it comes to quality, make sure that the food fulfills the nutrition requirements of your York Chocolate, and it meets the criteria set by the American Association of Feed Control Officials (AAFCO). Also, ensure the provision of enough water to keep her hydrated.
Health Issues
Being a new breed with no hereditary ailments, the York Chocolate cat is overall a healthy cat breed with a lifespan of 13 to 15 years.
However, they are prone to problems commonly prevalent in felines, such as urinary tract problems, fleas, obesity, periodontal issues, tapeworms, and diarrhea. In addition, you should always keep an eye for signs of sickness in cats and contact the vet immediately if you notice any abnormality.
The Pros and Cons of Having a York Chocolate Cat
Have a look at the following pros and cons in case you have decided to buy a York Chocolate furry friend:
Pros
Great Partner: Due to the chattiness and friendliness of the York Chocolate cats, they make a great partner.
Health: The breed is generally healthy.
Grooming: They have low maintenance needs.
Cons
Expensive: The York Chocolate kitties have a hefty price tag owing to their rarity.
Exercise: They are active and need enough daily exercise.
Not hypoallergenic: If you have pet allergies, York Chocolate is not the breed for you.
FAQs
Are York Chocolate Cats Hypoallergenic?
No. The York Chocolate cats cannot be classified as hypoallergenic. If you suffer from allergies, you might have a hard time keeping this cat. However, the impacts can be brought to naught by regularly grooming your cat and vacuuming your home. But still, if you have pet allergies, you should drop the idea of getting a York Chocolate and instead look into hypoallergenic cat breeds.
Are York Chocolate Cats Rare?
As an American breed of show cat, the York Chocolate cats are uncommon. In fact, a few years ago, the breed was considered to have gone extinct. So one can say that it is one of the rare cat breeds of the feline world. Nevertheless, a lot of breeds akin in looks to that of the York Chocolate are found today.