Snikt! and Thwip! are brothers. They are both 31... (more) Added:...(More)

Snikt! and Thwip! are brothers. They are both 31... (more) Added: December 04, 2007 Snikt! and Thwip! are brothers. They are both 31/32 Cornish Rex and 1/32 Siamese. (It is important to introduce a different breed every 3rd or 4th generation in order to strengthen the gene pool and their great, great, etc , grandparent was a siamese). Thwip! is the black one, (well - chocolate really). However, technically both of them are black. Snikt! is carrying the albino part of the Siamese Gene which removes the colour from some of their black hairs - this is true of all Siamese). I adopted them from Linda Forster who breeds Cornish Rex. Their Pedigree Preefix is Auroradawn. I got them when they were 14 weeks old, (after their last lot of vaccinations). I will be taking videos every week to have a record of their development as they should over double in size from when I first got them. Once I have a few months worth of footage I will edit a better video together. (Just incase you are wondering, Snikt! is the sound made when Wolverine from the X-men unleashes his claws and Thwip! is the sound made when Spider-man shoots webbing from his wrist. If we were ever to get a third Cornish Rex we will be calling it Bamf!) Snikt! came to us with a slight chest infection which required Anti-biotics but this appeared to clear up. Later we found out he was infested with Roundworm. A couple of doses of Penecure sorted this out. Both cats were treated but Thwip! didn't seem to have any symptoms. As a result of the worms, Snikt! ate a lot in his 15th and 16th weeks and as such grew somewhat larger than his brother. While Thwip! is by far the smaller of the two, he is closer to the the physical definition of a Cornish Rex. The films are taken in our bedroom due to the huge amount of natural light which comes through the Southern facing windows. They are indoor cats. Regardless of people's thoughts on this matter in terms of indoor/outdoor cats, the Cornish Rex body temperture is one degree higher than other cats. Also, they are missing their gaurd hairs, (most cats have three layers of fur, Cornish Rex do not have the top coat and as such have a velvety feel to their fur). These two factors combined means Cornish Rex feel the cold much more than most other cats and as such it is important to keep them indoors. Snikt! & Thwip! cost £750 for the two and therefore are considered desirable to would-be thieves - another reason for keeping them indoors. They are yet to be neutured. I am trying to hold out as long as possible in doing this as the level of Testosterone created by their testicles adds to their size and build, (this is why Stud cats are usually much larger then neutured males). Of course, any practiced behaviour such as spraying and territotial marking could stay after the neuturing and so its all about getting the timing right. I spent almost a year researching Cornish Rex prior to getting them. Availability in the UK is limited, unlike the Eastern Block countries, Scandanavia and Northern America. Some British Breeders keep a very restrictive control over the gene pool in what they claim is essential to avoid unwanted kittens being born. Personally, I feel there is a great demand for pure Cornish Rex, (higher than the current supply), and the attitude of 'some' breeders is more to do with their own desire to make money than a genuine love for the breed. Otherwise there would be many other breeders and there would not be a need to bring in Cornish Rex from other countries to support the pathetically shallow British based Cornish Rex gene pool. In my experience, Cornish Rex are incredibly intelligent animals. I have already taught Snikt! & Thwip! to come when called, jump, sit, wait, lay down, etc on command. Not through being strict but simple distraction and reward techniques. They are also incredibly loving animals. Even after being fed, watered and a litter change they will come and lick our faces, jump on our laps/shoulders(by climbing from an ankle,up the leg, up the back to get to the shoulder or simply leaping one bound to get there), they sleep on our bed every night - choosing to lay by our heads sounding like road diggers as they purr. They need to be constantly stimulated, (the main reason for getting two instead of one) and luckly their is someone at home 24 hours a day. They are well adjusted to noises and a loud, sudden clap of the hands will not get them scared, instead they simply run over and lick our finger tips (occasionally play nibbling at the same time). I hope you can see from the videos how curly their coats are becoming - Thwip! currently a little more visable than Snikt!(Less)