What’s not to love about the Bambino cat breed? These “baby” cats are unique, adorable, and incredibly affectionate. For pet parents who don’t mind adopting a so-called Velcro cat, Bambinos make excellent additions to any loving household!
Are you considering bringing one of these little guys home? Keep reading to learn everything you need to know about Bambino cats!
History of Bambino Cats
Bambinos are a relatively new breed. In 2005, the first Bambino kittens appeared when cat breeders bred Sphynx and Munchkin cats. Sphynx cats are notoriously hairless, while Munchkins have a genetic mutation that causes them to have very short legs.
Thus, we have Bambinos — hairless, short-legged cats.
These adorable cats forever remain looking like kittens, even once they’re full-fledged adults. Therefore, it shouldn’t be surprising to learn that “Bambino” means “baby” in Italian!
Because of their short legs, these cats remain somewhat controversial. While the International Cat Association (TICA) has recognized the breed as an “experimental” one, many other associations refuse to make this same recognition. So far, the Cat Fanciers’ Association (CFA) has not registered the Bambino breed, as they disagree with breeding the pets because of their genetic mutations (from their Munchkin parent).
Temperament of Bambinos
Do you love an affectionate cat? Maybe you even prefer having a Velcro cat — a clingy pet that really won’t leave you alone? Well, Bambinos may be for you!
This cat breed is known to be very cuddly and loving to its pet parents. Don’t be surprised if your Bambino prefers following you around your home. These loving creatures despise being alone and do best when they’re always around their loved ones.
Bambinos are also considered very social pets. While cuddling with their pet parents is great, they also enjoy hanging out with other cats – and even dogs!
Of course, as every cat owner knows (regardless of the breed), even the most cuddly of cats can be mischievous. And goodness, can Bambinos be playful little things!
Exercise For Your Bambino Cat
Because Bambinos are naturally adventurous and curious, it’s best to ensure you dedicate enough time to playing with your cat throughout the week. This breed does wonderfully when it has the opportunity to play every day.
Let’s remember that Bambinos are very social and affectionate cats. Therefore, they’ll love playing with their pet parents more than anything else!
Bambino cats are relatively small animals, and they are healthiest when they weigh about five to nine pounds. Despite their small size, these cats still enjoy running about, even with their short legs.
Though some Bambinos struggle to jump very high (similar to Munchkins) because of these short legs, others may not have any issue. Every Bambino cat seems to be different!
Grooming Your Hairless Bambino
Thanks to their Sphynx parent, Bambino cats are considered hairless cats. However, while it looks like they don’t have any fur, they actually have very short, fuzzy hair that can often feel like suede when you touch it. Some cats may even have little tufts of fur on their ears and tails!
Even with this fuzzy hair, Bambinos are still considered hairless cats. Unfortunately, this means these cats require a lot of grooming. Cats with normal fur can groom themselves daily, allowing their natural oils to keep their fur clean and healthy. Bambinos don’t have this, and they can often experience dirty skin.
To keep your Bambino cat as healthy as can be, you must bathe your pet regularly. Often, this means bathing your cat once a week. Sometimes, you can prolong bath days by using wipes on your cat, which helps eliminate some of the dirt their skin may collect.
Grooming these cats carefully is essential, as Bambinos can quickly develop serious skin problems if they are not bathed regularly.
Vet/Medical Care for Bambino Cats
Bambinos are a relatively healthy cat breed. However, because they are also quite a new breed and haven’t been around that long, veterinarians are still researching the diseases these cats may inherit from their Sphynx and Munchkin parents.
So far, experts have noted a few genetic conditions. For example, Bambino cats are similar to Munchkins regarding their short-legged nature. These short legs can often lead to joint problems, especially later in life. Their Sphynx genes have also led to unfortunate health issues, as severe skin conditions can also become a problem for these cats.
It’s always recommended that you take your cat to the vet for annual checkups to ensure its health throughout all stages of life!
Bringing Your Bambino Kitten Home
Are you ready to bring a little Bambino kitten home? These loving cats do wonderful in households where they can always be near their pet parent, another family member, or another animal. Once you become accustomed to this short-legged, hairless kitten, you likely won’t have to do anything too different from what you would when adopting a regular cat. Stay on top of their grooming schedule — and be sure to play with them daily — and you’ll have a lovely addition to your household!
It’s also worth noting that the weather affects these hairless creatures much more than other cats. So, during the colder days of the year, be sure to put a sweater on your Bambino to ensure they stay nice and warm. Meanwhile, hotter days of the year are great — but a Bambino who sunbathes consistently could end up sunburnt!
Are you looking for a hairless cat to adopt because you have allergies? While many have claimed that Bambino kittens are hypoallergenic breeds and, therefore, great for people with allergies, this isn’t entirely the truth. Though Bambinos don’t have regular fur, these cats do still produce dander, which can affect those allergic to cats. However, Bambinos do produce much less dander than your average cat. So, those with mild allergies may do well adopting one of these kittens!
Bambino cats are rare animals. So, prepare to pay more for these cats than usual. On average, you can expect to pay about $2,000 to $2,800 for a Bambino kitten.
Once you have your new furless addition to your family, we’re here to make your life that much easier! Check out our many pet services, all designed to help make you and your pet’s life the very best it can be!
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