Not a lot of things are known about the origins of American Keuda but it is thought that its ancestors came from Spain to Texas with the original settlers.
Although American Keuda (pronounced with long “u” and silent “e”) is from Texas the history of it is not clear. There are some studies currently being run but it seems that there is some time before the veil of mystery is lifted. The most important reason behind this lack of knowledge is that it is a rare breed therefore not a lot of professionals such as veterinarians see this kitty. Even the name Keuda is an acronym for “Kitten Evaluation Under Direct Assessment.”
The regulating body for American Keuda is American Keuda Cat Association (AKCA) which is dedicated to the preservation and quality control of these kitties, regulates breed standards for it and holds shows according to its own rules. American Keudas can also be registered through International Progressive Cat Breeders Alliance (IPCBA).
Physical Traits of American Keuda
The most distinctive physical traits of Keudas are their body shapes and the belly flaps they have. They are described as cats with semi-foreign build with a modified wedge head, slightly large ears and tea-cup muzzle which give their heads the triangular look they have. The belly flap or the primordial pouch allow them to hyperextend their legs while running, climbing or making defensive moves by flexing the loose skin. They also have loose skin around their elbows which is used with the same purposes as their belly flaps.
They are similar to Egyptian Mau in looks and although there is no evidence that shows a link between these two breeds, some think that they are related. These kitties are well-muscled with a bone structure that is medium to large. They have long tapering tails and straight medium to short hair with a ridge of longer hair along the back.
Their fur is silky soft and come in a variety of colors and patterns. The most common colors and patterns are black, white, smoke, blue, red, silver tabby, brown tabby, color point, and piebald. The texture of their coat is an interesting one which prevent unwanted plant materials from sticking in. Just like their heads, their ears are triangular but slightly rounded. Sometimes the ears are tufted and have medium length hairs inside them.
Personality of American Keuda
Being a barn cat, American Keuda is an excellent hunter specialized in rats and small pests. The belly flap help it cope with the speed of its preys giving it extra speed it needs. But they are not just land hunters because they have a fascination with water such that gives them the confidence to jump into shower while their humans are taking showers, splash in the sink, or jump into a ponds or swimming pools. So it is not really wise to leave them alone with fish bowls.
Although they are intelligent enough to be trained easily, they are stubborn cats and need a lot of positive reinforcement during training because they like to do things on their own terms. They have strong and insistent personalities. They are also territorial cats with a strong colony spirit which allows them to be good friends with other cats and family dogs if they are raised together with the dog. They are very protective of their family and territory and can often be seen chasing the neighbor’s dog if it tries to enter their yard.
Keudas are affectionate and social cats, too and form strong bonds with their human families and are generally good with kids, too but they will not tolerate teasing or tail pulling so it is important to supervise the small kids until they learn how to treat the cat with respect. Other than that American Keuda loves spending time with its humans no matter what they are doing. They can snuggle on the lap of a family member while the family watches T.V. or silently accompany a teenager during study time.
During their active hours, American Keudas are very energetic with a strong prey drive so they need plenty of exercise and toy stimulation. Since they enjoy climbing and jumping on the furniture, some boundaries should be set, otherwise they will be all over the tables and places where you don’t want them to be. At least 30 minutes of playtime each day is enough for the American Keuda to spend its extra energy or it gets bored regularly and after some time it gets lazy and starts gaining weight.
Grooming & Health
American Keuda does most of its grooming by itself and doesn’t really need human aid in grooming however you may want to comb or brush it during summer season to keep an already low amount of shedding to a minimum. Their ears should be checked regularly for dirt in order to prevent ear infections. You can clean the dirt inside the ears with a clean, damp cotton ball or cloth. While they don’t need to bathe, they love water so they may enjoy bathing.
American Keuda is a very sturdy and healthy breed with no known genetic health issues but this doesn’t mean all individuals in the breed are the same so regular visits to a veterinarian is strongly recommended just like all other cat breeds. They enjoy warmer climates since they don’t have thick undercoats so keeping them inside on cold climates is advisable to prevent any sickness.
Conclusion
American Keuda is the prefect cat for most people because they don’t require much from their humans. They sleep less than average cats, they are quite and they don’t demand a lot of attention from their humans but they want to spend some time with the family everyday and enjoy a good cuddle. They can be trained to walk on a leash and even start or stop meowing on command. They are good with children and other pets as long as early socialization takes place. What more can you expect from such an amazing breed?
