The York Chocolate cat breed developed when a black-and-white-spotted farm cat mated with a long-haired, black feline and produced a brown kitten. These felines are known for being social, affectionate, and playful.
You can find these cats in shelters and rescues, so remember to always adopt! Don’t shop if you’re looking to add a York Chocolate to your home!
York Chocolates will fit perfectly in a busy household that already has kids or other cats living in it. Due to the breed’s farm heritage, these cats are excellent hunters–whether they set their sights on actual vermin or cat toys. They will often follow their humans around from room to room, and many of them also seem very obsessed with water!
See all York Chocolate cat breed characteristics below!
York Chocolate Cat Breed Picture
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Affectionate with Family
Some cat breeds are typically independent and aloof, even if they’ve been raised by the same person since kittenhood; others bond closely to one person and are indifferent to everyone else; and some shower the whole family with affection. Breed isn’t the only factor that goes into affection levels; cats who were raised inside a home with people around feel more comfortable with humans and bond more easily.
See Cats Less Affectionate with Family -
Amount of Shedding
If you’re going to share your home with a cat, you’ll need to deal with some level of cat hair on your clothes and in your house. However, shedding does vary among the breeds. If you’re a neatnik, you’ll need to either pick a low-shedding breed or relax your standards. This furniture cover can make it easier to clean up cat hair and keep it off your sofa!
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General Health
Due to poor breeding practices, some breeds are prone to certain genetic health problems. This doesn’t mean that every cat of that breed will develop those diseases; it just means that they’re at an increased risk. If you’re looking only for purebred cats or kittens, it’s a good idea to find out which genetic illnesses are common to the breed you’re interested in.
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Potential for Playfulness
Some cats are perpetual kittens—full of energy and mischief—while others are more serious and sedate. Although a playful kitten sounds endearing, consider how many games of chase the mouse-toy you want to play each day, and whether you have kids or other animals who can stand in as playmates. A classic wand cat toy like this one is perfect for playful felines!
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Tendency to Vocalize
Some breeds sound off more often than others with meows, yowls, and chattering. When choosing a breed, think about how the cat vocalizes and how often. If constant “conversation” drives you crazy, consider a kitty less likely to chat.
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Kid-Friendly
Being tolerant of children, sturdy enough to handle the heavy-handed pets and hugs they can dish out, and having a nonchalant attitude toward running, screaming youngsters are all traits that make a kid-friendly cat. Our ratings are generalizations, and they’re not a guarantee of how any breed or individual cat will behave; cats from any breed can be good with children based on their past experiences and personality.
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Friendly Toward Strangers
Stranger-friendly cats will greet guests with a curious glance or a playful approach; others are shy or indifferent, perhaps even hiding under furniture or skedaddling to another room. However, no matter what the breed, a cat who was exposed to lots of different types, ages, sizes, and shapes of people as a kitten will respond better to strangers as an adult.
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Easy to Groom
Some breeds require very little in the way of grooming; others require regular brushing to stay clean and healthy. Consider whether you have the time and patience for a cat who needs daily brushing. You should definitely pick up this awesome de-shedding tool for cats of any hair length!
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Intelligence
Some cat breeds are reputed to be smarter than others. But all cats, if deprived the mental stimulation they need, will make their own busy work. Interactive cat toys are a good way to give a cat a brain workout and keep them out of mischief. This scratcher cat toy can keep your smart kitty busy even when you’re not home!
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Pet Friendly
Friendliness toward other household animals and friendliness toward humans are two completely different things. Some cats are more likely than others to be accepting of other pets in the home.
History
The story of the York Chocolate begins in 1983 when a black-and-white feline and an all-black farm cat mated and managed to produce a litter that included a brown kitten. The owner of the farm, Janet Chiefari, named the kitten Brownie. Eventually, Chiefari began breeding these fluffy-looking, chocolate brown kitties with long-haired coats.
The York Chocolate was officially granted championship status by the Cat Fanciers’ Federation in 1995.
These days, you can find York Chocolates in shelters or in the care of rescue groups. So make sure to consider adoption if you decide that this is the breed for you!
Size
The York Chocolate is a large cat. As is always the case, exact size standards might vary.
Most York Chocolates weigh between ten and 18 pounds, with the females often being smaller than the males.
Personality
When you adopt a York Chocolate, be aware that this cat will always want to follow you around and be part of whatever action is going on! Some owners even say that adopting a York Chocolate is a little like living with a dog.
The breed balances a playful side with a relaxed and affectionate side: The York Chocolate is definitely a cat who benefits from having extra people and other pets around to play and socialize with, but these kitties are also very much content to snuggle up on the couch or lounge on the bed for extended nap sessions.
On a day to day basis, the York Chocolate is a social feline who really does need company; this is not the cat for anyone who’s away at work all day and leaves behind a totally empty house. You’ll also need to keep the cat’s excellent hunting instincts satisfied, so add smart, moving, and interactive toys to the living environment, and make sure to rotate them on a regular basis.
Health
York Chocolates are generally considered to be healthy cats, but always schedule regular wellness visits with your cat’s vet.
There aren’t any breed specific health problems associated with the York Chocolate, but make sure to keep an eye out for signs that your cat might be in distress or pain.
Care
As with all cats, it’s important to keep up your York Chocolate’s regular veterinary checkups to detect any health concerns early. Your vet can help you develop a care routine that will keep your cat healthy.
Beyond scheduling yearly wellness visits with your vet, make sure that you pick up a scratching post for your York Chocolate’s living environment. This can help promote healthy scratching and keep the cat’s nails in good condition, which is very important for a kitty with such strong hunting instincts like this breed.
The York Chocolate’s ears should be examined regularly for signs of dirt building up or possible infection. Talk to your vet about starting a regular teeth brushing regimen that will suit your York Chocolate. Your vet can advise you about specific brands and techniques.
Finally, the York Chocolate will definitely appreciate a cat tree to play and interact with. This will help keep the cat active and physically satisfied.
Coat Color And Grooming
The York Chocolate is usually found sporting a long-haired, chocolate brown colored coat. The coat is often a lighter shade during kittenhood.
When it comes to grooming a York Chocolate, you will want to make time to schedule brushing sessions three or four times a week. This will help keep the cat’s coat in good condition and also ward off the chances of mats forming, which is always something to watch out for with long-haired felines.
In terms of climate, most York Chocolates are fairly adaptable felines. Just remember to always make sure that there’s enough shade and fresh water available during the hotter months.
Children And Other Pets
The York Chocolate is great for families with young kids. Just make sure that early socialization takes place and boundaries are properly set on both sides. Supervise early interactions between young children and cats.
When it comes to other household pets, the York Chocolate usually fares well with most other domestic animals; although, their hunting instincts mean it might not be advisable to bring them into a house with very small pets. Always make sure to supervise early interactions between the new cat and existing pets. Sometimes these relationships are very much dependent on the individual pets’ personalities.
Ultimately, early socialization really pays off with this breed. Make sure to reward your York Chocolate for good behavior when you bring them home to your family!
Rescue Groups
It may be hard to find a breed specific rescue for York Chocolate cats because they are a somewhat uncommon breed. However, you may want to try shelters and rescues that cater to all types of cats, including York Chocolates, as well as your local shelter. Here are some nonprofit rescues you can try:
You can also try CatTime’s adoption page that lets you search for adoptable cats by breed and zip code!
