Keetso

The Keetso is a very new cat to appear on the scene and they were bred to look like big cats. Their name is a Najaro word that translated means "big footed" which is one charming traits the breed boasts having. The Keetso was developed through careful and selective breeding to have larger physical traits than their average feline counterparts which together with their charming personalities really does make them stand out in the crowd.

The breed was only recently developed by Gaynor Jean-Louis and Amanda Poulton. For the moment the breed is not recognised by GCCF but it is still early days. The Keetso as previously mentioned was created by selective and careful breeding to look like big cats with the added bonus being they have charming and affectionate personalities. Being so new to the cat scene there are still very few of these charming cats being bred in the UK or elsewhere in the world. As such anyone wanting to share a home with one of these unusual and loving cats would need to register their interest with responsible breeders and agree to being put on a waiting list for the pleasure of doing so.

The Keetso is a large cat and one that boasts having rather big feet with six toes on each making them polydactyl. They are very handsome and unique looking felines with their large heads and lovely long faces. Muzzles are an inverted heart shape with cats having larger than average noses. Eyes are moderately large and well placed on a cat's face slanting nicely at the upper outer edges being beautifully rimmed. Ears are small with many cats having curled tips to them which adds to a Keetso's overall charmingly wild appeal.

They have large well-muscled bodies with powerful shoulders and strong thick necks. Legs are well muscled and powerful with cats having powerful sloping backs. Tails are long which cats carry high when on the move.

When it comes to their coat the Keetso boasts a short tight close lying coat which can be striped or spotted much like a Toyger. Their coat colours can be tawny and silver which is very reminiscent of the Cubbari.

The Keetso may be new to the scene but already they are earning themselves a great reputation for being confident laid back characters by nature. They love being part of the family and are particularly good companions loving nothing more than being the centre of attention. A Keetso is just as happy curled up on the sofa as they are playing interactive games with the people they love which makes it such a pleasure to share a home with one of these charming cats.

The Keetso forms a strong bond with their families and make wonderful pets without being too demanding. However they don't like to be left on their own for long periods of time much preferring to be with the people they love. One thing that Keetsos love doing is perching somewhere up high so they can watch the world go by below them.

The Keetso is known to be a highly intelligent feline and one that learns new things quickly. They enjoy playing interactive games and need to be kept occupied for them to be truly happy cats. Because the breed is still quite rare most owners like to keep their cats as indoor pets which means investing in lots of good quality toys and scratching posts for them to play with when they are not sleeping that is.

Keetso as previously mentioned are laid-back confident cats by nature and therefore are easy going characters that make wonderful family pets being particularly good around children. With this said it's always best to keep an eye on toddlers when they are around cats to avoid any accidents. They are also known to get on with other pets they have grown up with which includes the family dog.

The average life expectancy of a Keetso is between 12 and 18 years when properly cared for and fed an appropriate good quality diet to suit their ages.

The Keetso is considered a healthy breed although being so young more time would be needed to find out if they suffer from any hereditary health issues.

As with other breeds a Keetso needs to be groomed on a regular basis to make sure their coats and skin are kept in top condition. On top of this cats need to be fed good quality food that meets all their nutritional needs throughout their lives which is especially true of kittens and older cats.

The Keetso has a close lying short coat that only needs to be occasionally brushed to remove any dead and shed hair. A wipe over with a chamois leather helps keep a nice sheen on their coats too.

It's also important to check a cat's ears on a regular basis and to clean them when necessary. If too much wax builds up it can lead to a painful infection which can be hard to clear up. In short prevention is often easier than cure with ear infections. Cats often suffer from ear mites which can be a real problem which is another reason why it's so important to check their ears on a regular basis.

The Keetso is an energetic cat and one that likes to play interactive games whenever they can. This includes retrieving toys which they are particularly fond of doing and chasing balls around a room. They love any game where they get to interact with the people they love and although they only have short legs a Keetso can show a fast turn of speed when they want to.

Cats kept as indoor pets need to be given lots of things to do and places they can snuggle up for a snooze when the mood takes them because if there is one thing all cats love to do which includes the Keetso it's taking a nap or two throughout the day.

If you get a Keetso kitten from a breeder they would give you a feeding schedule and it's important to stick to the same routine feeding the same kitten food to avoid any tummy upsets. You can change a kitten's diet but this needs to be done very gradually always making sure they don't develop any digestive upsets and if they do it's best to put them back on their original diet and to discuss things with the vet before attempting to change it again.

Older cats are not known to be fussy eaters but this does not mean they can be given a lower quality diet. It's best to feed a mature cat several times a day making sure it's good quality food that meets all their nutritional requirements which is especially important as cats get older. It's also essential to keep an eye on a cat's weight because if they start to put on too much it can have a serious impact on their overall health and wellbeing. Like all other breeds Keetsos need access to fresh clean water at all times.

If you are looking to buy a Keetso you would need to pay from £600 to over £1500 for a well-bred pedigree kitten and you would more than likely have to go on a waiting list because so few Keetsos are bred every year. The cost of insuring a male 3-year-old Keetso in northern England would be £15.60 a month for basic cover but for a lifetime policy this would set you back £27.60 a month (quote as of April 2017). When insurance companies calculate a pet's premium they factor in several things which includes where you live in the UK a cat's age and whether they have been neutered or spayed among other things.

When it comes to food costs you need to buy the best quality food whether wet or dry making sure it suits the different stages of a cat’s life. This would set you back between £15 - £20 a month. On top of this you need to factor in veterinary costs if you want to share your home with a Keetso and this includes their initial vaccinations their annual boosters the cost of neutering or spaying a cat when the time is right and their yearly health checks all of which quickly adds up to over £600 a year.

As a rough guide the average cost to keep and care for a Keetso would be between £40 to £60 a month depending on the level of insurance cover you opt to buy for your cat but this does not include the initial cost of buying a well-bred kitten.