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Raas Cat: Breed Info, Facts, Pictures & Care

Kucing Busok Jantan

Raas cats are an exotic breed of cat from the Indonesian island of Raas. They’re not a common cat to see outside of Indonesia and are even less common outside of Asia. They’re a large breed cat that has been successfully domesticated but would be better owned by an experienced cat owner who can hand tame their cat since the domestication of Raas cats is relatively recent.

Breed Overview

Height:

11–15 inches

Weight:

13–17 pounds

Lifespan:

12–15 years

Colors:

Blue-to-gray, chocolate, brown (rare)

Suitable For:

Experienced cat owners

Temperament:

Nervous around new people, energetic, playful

Once tamed, they’re highly energetic and playful cats that need a lot of mental and physical stimulation to be happy. They can be nervous when introduced to new people, mainly if they aren’t used to people yet. However, once they realize you mean them no harm, they become pretty affectionate, even needy at times.

Their striking blue-gray coats are hard to forget once you’ve seen them once, and they’ve captured the hearts of thousands of people worldwide who are itching to know how they can get their hands on one of the gorgeous creatures.

Raas Cat Characteristics

Energy
+
A high-energy cat needs a lot of physical and mental stimulation to keep healthy and happy, while a low-energy cat needs minimal physical activity, but still needs mental stimulation. When choosing a cat, It’s important to ensure their energy levels match your lifestyle.
Trainability
+
Cats that are easy-to-train are more willing and skilled at quickly learning prompts and actions with minimal training. Harder-to-train cats are usually more stubborn or aloof and require a bit more patience and practice.
Health
+
Certain cat breeds are more prone to various genetic health problems, and some more than others. This doesn’t mean that every cat in those breeds will have these issues, but they do have an increased risk, so it’s important to understand and prepare for any additional needs they may require.
Lifespan
+
Due to their size or potential genetic health issues of a specific breed, some cats have shorter lifespans than others. Proper nutrition, exercise, mental stimulation, and hygiene also play an important role in your cat’s lifespan and quality of life.
Sociability
+
Some cat breeds are more social than others, both towards humans and other cats and animals. Cats that are more social have a tendency to rub up on strangers for scratches or jump on laps for cuddles, while cats that are less social shy away, hide, are more cautious, and even potentially aggressive. No matter the breed or gender, it’s important to socialize your cat and expose them to many different situations.

divider 2 cats

Raas Kittens

Raas kittens are known for their reserved yet affectionate nature. They are highly intelligent and curious and, as a result, can be a bit more challenging for first-time cat parents. These kitties require plenty of stimulation to keep their curious minds active, so providing interactive toys, puzzle feeders and climbing structures is essential.

Due to their intelligence, Raas cats love puzzle-solving activities and will thrive in environments that keep them mentally engaged. Socialization is important early on, as Raas kittens can be wary of people at first, but with patience and understanding, they can form strong bonds with their families and become comfortable around new people.

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Temperament & Intelligence of the Raas Cat

Raas cats are brilliant and enjoy doing tasks and learning. They’ll need to be trained in more ways than the average cat because boredom can cause them to become destructive. Obedience training is possible with Raas cats, and they will enjoy the process of learning and being rewarded. However, they won’t excel the same way dogs do because they aren’t people-pleasing animals like dogs.

Are Raas Cats Good for Families? 👪

Though Raas cats are highly energetic, they don’t suit families well because they get nervous around people and may find children scary. Families with older children who understand that they need to treat the cat with respect may have more success with Raas cats, but parents of young children will want to seek a different cat breed that is more tolerant of roughhousing.

Big raas cat sitting on elderly woman's lap
Image By: evrymmnt, Shutterstock

Do Raas Cats Get Along with Other Animals?

Raas cats can get along with other animals when properly socialized. However, just like with people, they may find them scary at first and may avoid interaction where they can.

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Things to Know When Owning a Raas Cat

Food & Diet Requirements 🐡

Raas cats are large-breed cats that need more food than the average cat. A high-quality, high-protein diet will be necessary to keep up with the Raas cat’s high energy. As a kitten, they’ll need extremely high amounts of food to keep up with their growth as large breed cats.

Exercise 🐈

Raas cats will need a lot of exercise, but you probably won’t have to convince them to do it. They’re highly energetic cats that will tear through your house looking for something to play with. If there are not enough toys to play with, they could become destructive trying to find something to keep them entertained.

Training 🧶

Training is necessary with Raas cats because they’re a relatively new cat breed on the domestication scene. While domestication has been considered successful, most Raas cats are still reserved around new humans and may react with fear if not socialized and tamed correctly.

Litter box training should be done promptly as Raas kittens may not have the same innate sense of where to go compared to more established cat breeds.

Obedience training can be successful with them because they’re brilliant. However, their high intelligence can make them stubborn. Raas cats will challenge your authority whenever they see fit, doubly so because they’re cats.

The Raas cat is an endemic domestic cat breed originating from the Raas Island in Indonesia
Image By: Fardilahraja, Shutterstock

Grooming ✂️

Raas cats aren’t long-haired. So, frequent brushing isn’t necessary. However, regular brushing can help reduce shedding. It’s also important to regularly trim their nails to avoid them becoming unmanageable for the cat.

Health and Conditions 🏥

Raas cats are generally healthy cats. Due to how new they are to the companion animal scene, there isn’t much information about their health outcomes and health information documented. Cat parents of Raas cats will want to watch out for common cat illnesses, like feline lower urinary tract disease.

If your Raas cat likes to explore outdoors, you’ll want to keep an eye out for fleas, ticks, and heartworms. Regular deworming should help prevent your cat from developing a heartworm infection and is recommended if your cat likes to go outside.

Minor Conditions
  • Fleas and ticks
  • Heartworm
Serious Conditions
  • Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease (FLUTD)

Male vs. Female

There is very little difference between male and female Raas cats when it comes to physical appearance. Male cats may be more affectionate, while females may be more aloof. Regardless of whether you get a male or female, it is important to have them spayed or neutered to prevent unwanted pregnancy, undesirable behaviors such as spraying or urine marking, and even certain cancers.

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3 Little-Known Facts About the Raas Cat

1. They have a bent tail tip.

The bent tail tip is a common trait amongst Asian cat breeds. Siamese and Burmese cats both display bent tail tips. Raas cats also have turned tail tips.


2. Their origins are largely unknown.

We don’t know the origins of the Raas cat breed. Some believe that the Korat is their ancestral species, but it’s unclear.


3. They can be trained to do tricks.

Raas cats are brilliant and can be trained to do tricks much like dogs. They need a lot of mental and physical stimulation. So, learning to do tricks is a great way to keep your Raas cat’s mind busy!

Indonesia’s Cat called Busok From Raas Island in Sumenep
Image By: tiaraa_yaa, Shutterstock

divider 2 cats

Final Thoughts

Raas cats are as beautiful as they are mysterious, and we hope their popularity will continue to grow worldwide. As more people experience their beauty and are introduced to more locations, more information will become readily available about these beautiful cats. Unfortunately, getting your hands on one of these cats will be difficult. Still, the tenacious cat parents will enjoy a loving and affectionate relationship with a cat that’s built on mutual trust!


Featured Image Credit: Kucing Busok Jantan, Wikimedia Commons CCO 1.0 Universal

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