The joys of a domestic short-haired cat
The now 1-year-old domestic cat Prea celebrates her birthday with Ciella (left) and Estiana (right) Mautz in June between the girls’ June and July birthdays. Prea’s exact date of birth is unknown.
Prea is a happy and very loved domestic short-haired cat. Cheryl and Rick Mautz, along with other family members, grew up with cats and thought their granddaughters Estiana (12) and Ciella (7) would also enjoy the feline experience.
A 3-month-old, ultra-soft and purring kitten instantly attracted the girls to the black and white domestic short-hair while visiting a PetSmart in Highlands Ranch.
Pippa, the name assigned to the kitten at the store, was a rescue from Kansas. She was adopted and taken home with the Mautz family in Oak Hills for the girls to enjoy. Estiana renamed her “Prea,” and she has been known to be called simply “kitty,” on occasion.
“Prea is a silly little kitty and she always makes us laugh,” said Estiana. “We all love her, and she is an adorable part of our family.” Prea does not specialize in one specific trick, but she is fast and enjoys chasing balls down the stairway or hall. Domestic short-hairs love exploring, which means they can sometimes get themselves into very tight spaces. Prea loves to climb the Christmas tree and hang out in cabinets and drawers.
Area wildlife poses a potential threat to Prea, so she is primarily an indoor cat. When she does visit the great outdoors, while supervised, she enjoys chasing butterflies, grasshoppers and climbing trees.
Domestic short-haired cats are typically medium-sized with soft, low-shed coats in an array of colors and patterns. Their eyes of green, blue, gold or hazel add to their striking look.
There is little known about their ancestry; however, they are believed to have been brought to America by the pilgrims to control the number of rodents on the ships. These cats remain skilled hunters, and because they are of mixed origins, they do not tend to be at risk for any unusual health problems. It is thought they may be healthier and of a higher intelligence than many purebred pedigrees.
Because domestic short-hairs have been bred with no human intervention, they are a great testament to what cats should typically look like and how they should behave. This breed adapts well to a busy or calm environment, and they make great family pets as they are clean, low maintenance, have playful energy and are very affectionate. Prea’s presence and cuddles have brought smiles to Estiana, Ciella and the extended Mautz family.
By Julie Matuszewski; photo courtesy of Cheryl and Rick Mautz
