Scottish Straight cats: description of the breed and character

Review of the Scottish Straight breed: straight-eared Scots are back in fashion

In this article we will look at one of the youngest recognized breeds - the Scottish Straight. Translated, the name of the breed means “Scottish straight-eared” cat. Scottish Straight kittens can also be born to a fold-eared cat, since the second parent must be straight-eared.

In general, four types of cats belong to the Scottish breeds:

• Scottish Straight Shorthair (Scottish Straight);
• Scottish Straight Longhair (Highland Straight);
• Scottish Fold Shorthair (Scottish Fold);
• Scottish Fold Longhair (Highland Fold).

In some felinological associations, all these varieties are approved as one breed, in others they are divided into two main ones - straight (straight ears) and fold (low-eared).

And if the difference in the length of the fur is visible almost immediately, then the shape of the ears is finally formed by the end of the first month of the kitten’s life.

Care and nutrition

Is it easy to care for a Scottish Straight cat? Scottish Straights can be confidently classified as a breed recommended for beginners. The reason for this is good character and good health. Yes, Scottish Straights are somewhat capricious and independent, but these cats are excellent friends.

The second reason why the straight-eared Scottish cat is easy to care for is its short hair. These cats shed at about 5-6 months, when the baby's coat changes to an adult's, and also every year in spring and autumn. This time will be quite difficult if you do not use special devices for combing wool. At any other time, it is enough to comb the hair with a regular comb once a week.

The third reason why we talk about the ease of caring for the Scottish Straight cat is nutrition. She requires the standard nutrition of an average purebred cat. That is, special additives are not needed, as, for example, fold-eared cats prone to joint problems. Yes, if your cat is sick with something, she will be prescribed a special diet, but in all other cases she will eat normally, as all tailed cats should.

The only inconvenience that a Scottish Straight can cause in terms of care is the need to rub its eyes. The fact is that this breed is prone to dripping eyes. The problem is caused by the structure of the nasal septum and the skull as a whole, as a result of which the ducts responsible for draining secretions from the eyes through the nose do not cope with their function enough, and therefore tears flow out through the eyes, oxidize, changing color to reddish, and dry out. Note that this problem does not occur in all Scottish Straights.

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In all other respects, caring for this cat is simple: if desired, you can trim the tips of the claws and, if necessary, clean the ears and teeth.

Origin story

The ancestor of Scottish cats is considered to be a cat named Susie, who was born in 1961 and was a carrier of the mutation gene (FdFd), which is why her ears were folded. It was with this cat that work began on the Scottish Fold breed. Breeders sought to consolidate fold ears in their descendants, and to give the breed a pretty appearance, crossbreeding was carried out with other breeds: Persian, Burmese, American Shorthair and British. As a result, the breed developed a rounded head, large round eyes, and lop ears.

Breeders have noticed that if Scottish Folds are crossed with each other, this leads to congenital malformations of kittens (problems with the spine). Then it was decided to cross Folds only with Straights, in order to avoid the harmful effects of the mutation gene for folded ears.

In a litter of Scottish cats, both fold-eared and straight-eared kittens were born, approximately equally, and mainly fold-eared kittens were developed and exhibited. In the 21st century, they decided to eliminate this injustice and recognized the straight-eared Scots as a separate breed with the right to an exhibition career. Straight-eared Scots are no different from folds, with the exception of the shape of the ears and the presence of mutation genes.

Diseases and defects of Scottish Straight cats

The Scottish Straight is an excellent choice for those who really want a Scottish cat, but are confused that Scottish Folds have a gene that can cause joint problems. Scottish Straight cats do not have this gene. And now a little educational program so that you don’t take our word for it, but understand for yourself what’s going on.

According to the laws of genetics, in order for the offspring to exhibit a particular trait, two genes are needed - one from the mother and one from the father. There are dominant genes that, no matter what other genes they are paired with, will always manifest themselves. There are recessive genes that are suppressed by dominant ones if they are paired with them. For example, people with brown eyes are carriers of at least one dominant gene for brown eyes; they may have a second gene that is equally dominant, that is, brown, or a recessive gene, blue, but it is suppressed. But in blue-eyed people, both genes are recessive.

Scottish fold cats are carriers of two different genes: one dominant - Fd (which gives fold ears) and one recessive - fd (which gives erect ears). The Fd gene is a mutation: in addition to a defect in the cartilage tissue of the ear, it also carries other joint problems that may not appear in a cat if it is born with the Fdfd genes (that is, from a mating of a straight-eared cat and a fold-eared cat or vice versa), but may manifest.

Now let's see what's going on with the Scottish Straights. Their ears stick out, and this gene is recessive and it simply cannot be paired with the lop-eared gene, otherwise the cat will become lop-eared. That is, in Scottish Straights, a pair of genes looks like this: fdfd. And the fd gene does not carry a defect in cartilage and joints, so straight cats are not prone to diseases of the musculoskeletal system.

However, both Scottish Straights and Scottish Folds are prone to other problems. These are, first of all, watery eyes, cardiomyopathy (heart disease), excess weight (from overeating), abnormal eyelid structure (as a result, sometimes you even have to undergo surgery). But don't let this list scare you. It lists only tendencies that are rarely expressed. Each breed has similar lists. In general, the health of straight-eared Scottish cats is considered to be strong. And competent breeders exclude from breeding cats that carry defective genes.

Scottish Straight Standard

The Scottish Straight cat became an independent breed from the Scottish Fold breed, and was officially recognized by the International Cat Fancier Association (CFA) in 2004.

Scottish cats come in long-haired and short-haired varieties, and come in a variety of colors, patterns, and shades. It can be plain, ticked, patterned or spotted.

The main difference between Scots and British cats is the clearly defined shape of the head, proportional legs, and pointed ears. The British are naturally more massive, with characteristic cheeks on the face, rounded ears and the tip of the tail.

• Body: medium size, proportional, well-developed muscles. The body shape is round. Massive body size is considered a disadvantage. The weight of the animal is within 6 kg. Cats are bigger than cats.
• Head: round, voluminous. The chin is pronounced. Cheeks are full. The nose is straight, wide, short. There is no stop. The head smoothly transitions into a wide and short neck.
• Ears: straight, widely spaced, full size. The shape and fit of the ears favorably highlight the roundness of the head.

Important! If a Scottish Straight has small ears, then it is quite possible that it is a Scottish Fold with straightened ears. This fact is very important if you are adopting a kitten for further development of the breed.

Scottish fold (SFL, SFS)

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Scottish Fold (Scottish Fold), a breed of short-haired cat. The first cats of this breed were bred in Scotland in 1961. In the East, fold-eared cats were known centuries ago. The Scottish Fold is a medium-sized cat with a strong, harmonious build. Her coat is short, thick, elastic, soft, lying close to the body. The color can be very diverse: single-color, multi-color, striped. The ears are set wide and folded so that their upper part covers the ear opening, that is, they hang down. The Scottish Fold cat has a balanced character, great affection for home and people, and is unpretentious.

About the breed The Scottish Fold is a breed of short-haired cat with a characteristic ear structure that curves forward and downward. Scottish cats are the closest relatives of British shorthair cats. There are two stable names for the breed: Scottish Fold and Scottish Fold, the second name is a translation into Russian of the first: “Scottish” is Scottish, and the word “fold” is translated as fold. But that’s not all, the Scottish Fold breed also includes another name - Scottish Straight, which means straight. This name appeared in the Scottish Fold breed because kittens of this cat breed are born of two types - fold-eared and straight-eared. Those kittens with drooping ears are called folds, and those with erect ears are called straights.

Personality Scottish Fold cats are hardy, kind pets. They can adapt to any living conditions. The Scottish Fold cat has a balanced character, great affection for home and people, and is unpretentious. Particularly noteworthy is the cat's voice. It is unusual, different from the usual purring, a little creaky. Another characteristic feature of the breed is the ability to stand on its hind legs without much effort. Usually these cats stand on their hind legs if they are interested in something, but they cannot see the object of interest. In this position, the cat resembles a small gnome. Scottish Fold kittens are playful, very tame, and can be trained. They easily get used to scratching posts, so they don’t cause much trouble for their owners. Sometimes kittens watch TV and love cartoons. Scottish kittens quickly learn the rules and regulations of living in an apartment. Even in the most turbulent teenage period, you will not see a Scottish dog hanging on the curtains. They are good playmates for children, but can get scared if it gets too noisy. In a family with children, it is better to take older kittens at the age of 3-4 months, as they are already adapted to independent living and social communication. A non-purebred cat can sometimes be aggressive. Scratching and biting. If a Scottish Fold cat is treated too roughly, they will simply walk away and almost never scratch or bite (if raised correctly). These are ideal cats for those who love calm animals with an unusual appearance.

Maintenance and care A cat is an unpretentious animal. However, we should not forget that the pet’s health largely depends on daily care and strict adherence to hygiene rules. A kitten adapts to an unfamiliar place very quickly, as it actively explores the space. Therefore, before getting a British or Scottish Fold kitten, you need to carefully prepare the room and remove objects that could cause harm to the kitten. British and Scottish Fold kittens love to play with spools of thread and buttons that easily roll on the floor, but there is a danger that the kitten may accidentally wrap the thread around its neck or swallow the button. It is also necessary to remove the wires of electrical appliances, as the kitten may get tangled or chew them. Care should be taken when ventilating the room; if the British or Scottish Fold kitten is too small, you should not leave it alone in a room with an open window, as it may fall out of it. In order for kittens to grow up healthy and beautiful, it is necessary to satisfy their body's needs for normal nutrition. Around the 12th day, Scottish Fold kittens can be given pureed meat and boiled fish, at the 5-6th week of life - lean veal, beef or pureed chicken, small pieces of liver (2 times a week), at the age of 7-8 weeks - raw vegetables and fruits. It is important that the animal receives meat cut into pieces, as this strengthens the chewing muscles and develops teeth. The diet of a two-month-old British kitten must include: beef and poultry (raw, boiled); fish (boiled, without bones); cereals: semolina, buckwheat, rolled oats, rice. It is very useful to give vitamin flour from sprouted wheat or oats. At the age of 3 to 6 months, the consumption of milk and dairy products is limited. The number of feedings can be reduced to 4 times a day. If a fold-eared kitten is fed commercially - prepared or dry food, then you must follow the instructions for using the food. Caring for this Scottish Fold cat is very simple - just run a comb through the cat's fur once a day to keep these charming creatures looking flawless.

History The Scottish Fold is a very young cat breed. In 1961, on a farm near Coupar Angus in Tayside (Scotland), north-west of Dundee, a white cat with floppy ears (rather pointed, judging by surviving photographs) was born, which was named Susie, and it is she who is considered the ancestor of modern Scottish folds. Highland fold Elli Grand Tiger The first fold breeders William and Mary Ross found that homozygotes for this mutation (FdFd) suffer from disorders of the musculoskeletal system. The bones of such individuals shorten and thicken in the area of ​​​​the articular joints, the vertebrae often grow together, sometimes to the point of complete loss of mobility. In order to avoid harmful manifestations of the mutation, the breed should have been bred only in the heterozygous form, that is, through constant crossings with normal individuals without floppy ears. The impossibility of the breed existing in a homozygous form and the likelihood of harmful consequences of the mutation inclined the leading English felinological organization to ban the breeding of this breed. With the "closure" of the Scottish Fold in Great Britain, the breeding center of the breed moved to the United States. Unlike the British, the Americans, when creating the standard and breeding program, tried to simultaneously solve two problems: to avoid the harmful consequences of mutation and to achieve maximum expression of the breed trait (folded ears). And, instead of crossing Folds with any cats they liked, American breeders began to select “normal” offspring from the initial crossings of Folds with American or British Shorthairs as partners for Folds. The breed began to consist of folds and their “normal” partners, “straights”. This breeding system made it possible to unify the morphological type of the breed, select for smaller ears and improve their fit. American breeders managed to create folds with soft, rounded shapes of an unusual and at the same time harmonious appearance. American breeders have made great strides in breeding Folds. The breeding system is based on breeding programs that allow crossbreeding with American and British Shorthairs only when justifiably necessary, and the basis of the programs is the crossing of folds and straights, which allowed American breeders to obtain animals of an excellent breed type, a variety of colors and practically eliminate the manifestation of the harmful effects of mutation. The Catfold Association is creating a single breed data bank for Russia and neighboring countries - folds and straights. This will help domestic breeders when choosing partners for mating and get animals that are not inferior to American ones.

Interesting facts 1. Cat purring is similar to acoustic vibration treatment in humans and can help slow down osteoporosis and even renew bone growth in older people. 2. Cats have lived alongside people for more than ten thousand years. In the ancient world, they were worshiped as sacred animals, messengers of the gods 3. Many scientists believe that cats have paranormal abilities, such as precognition and telepathy; in other words, they are able to sense the approach of danger. 4. In ancient Rome, the cat’s face was repeatedly depicted next to the goddess of freedom and independence, Libertas. 5. In the 18th century, in some sick clinics for souls, a staff of “medical cats” pacified raging patients with their caresses. 6. The smallest cat - Mr. Peebles lives in Beijing and weighs only 1 kg. 300g. 7. In Egypt, the cat was valued not only for its divine essence; in addition to the fact that cats killed mice and snakes, they were also trained to collect birds killed during the hunt. 8. Smokey the cat received a Blue Cross in England for saving his owners in time. She woke them up when the fire was raging in the apartment. 9. In France, Bulgaria and England, it is believed that receiving a black cat as a gift is a sign of special respect. 10. In Japan, cat figurines stand at the gates of houses - a symbol of hearth and comfort. 11. Cardinal Richelieu had 12 cats in the palace that lived in his rooms; he showed much more kind feelings towards them than towards the people around him. 12. The first cat show was held in 1895 at Medienne Square Garden in New York. 13. One pair of cats and their offspring can produce up to 420,000 kittens in 7 years.

Standard HEAD: Well rounded, with a firm chin and well-developed jaws. The muzzle should have noticeable and well-rounded whisker pads. The head smoothly turns into a short, strong neck. The cheeks are well developed, especially in cats. EYES: wide open with a pleasant, sweet expression. Large, well rounded, widely set. Eye color matches coat color. Different eye colors are allowed for white, bicolor and van. NOSE: wide with slight stop. A small stop is acceptable, but a noticeable stop is considered a fault. The profile is soft, moderately streamlined. EARS: folded forward and down. Small, the smaller the better. Small, well-proportioned ears are preferred. The ears should be set in such a way as to emphasize the rounded skull. The tips of the ears should be rounded. BODY: Medium size, rounded, in proportion to the level of the shoulders and croup. The cat is strong, densely built, but without a hint of fatness or lack of mobility due to short, rough limbs. The feet are very neat and well rounded, with five toes on the front feet and four on the hind feet. The cat should give the impression of a well-balanced animal, with medium bone structure. Cats can be slightly smaller than cats. TAIL: Medium to long, but in proportion to the body. The tail should be flexible, tapering towards the tip. A longer, evenly tapering tail is preferred. COAT (Short, SHORTHAIR): dense, plush, uniform. Soft structure, filled. Distanced from the body due to the dense undercoat, not adjacent. Coat texture may vary depending on color and/or regional/seasonal changes. COAT (Long, LONGHAIR): medium-long to long. Abundant hair on the face and body is desirable, but short hair is allowed on the face and limbs. “Panties”, tail feathering, tufts of hair between toes and ear feathering should be clearly visible, a collar is desirable. A serious drawback of adult animals is cotton wool. CROSSING: outcrossing with the following breeds is acceptable: British Shorthair, American Shorthair. DISADVANTAGES: pronounced brow ridges. DISQUALIFICATION: tail not flexible enough due to extremely thickened vertebrae, tail with kinks or shortened. Inverted fingers, incorrect number of fingers. Any signs of illness or poor health. Palpable stop. Any color or pattern showing evidence of crossbreeding, such as chocolate, lavender, point pattern, or a combination of these colors with white. Point scale. Head (55): Ears - 25 points Head shape, muzzle, mouth, neck, chin, profile - 15 points Eyes - 15 points Body (40): Body, paws and paws - 10 points Tail - 20 points Coat - 10 points Color (5): Coat and eye color - 5 points

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Scots colors

Plain (solid)

The coat color is uniform, without interspersing any other color. Any spots or stripes are considered a defect in a solid color.

1. white;
2. black (ebony);
3. red (deep red);
4. blue (blue) - kittens with such gray fur most resemble a British shorthair cat;
5. chocolate (dark brown) – a rather rare color for Scots;
6. lilac (lavender) – a cool shade of fur, without redness;
7. cream – warm beige color, paws and nose match the shade of the coat;
8. fawn (light beige) – the color of the fur of a young fawn; cats of this color have soft pink paw pads and nose;
9. cinnamon is a warm, light shade of brown, the paw pads and nose are always pink.

Bicolors (two-color)

The main color is white, it makes up from 1/2 to 1/3 of the entire body. The second color is any of the solid ones. Cats with a symmetrical pattern and color distribution are valued higher.

The most popular bicolor colors among Scottish Straights are:

Color point

Color point cats have a light body and dark face, ears and paws. The gene responsible for color is linked to blue eye color.

1. Blue point - blue spots.
2. Lilac point – lilac shades.
3. Seal point is a Siamese with black markings.
4. Choklit point - chocolate markings.
5. Red point - red shades.

Tortoiseshells

Tortoiseshell color is usually red, black and white spots unevenly distributed on the main color of the coat, which, under the influence of the genes of the parents, can take on blue, cream, chocolate and red shades. Tortoiseshell colors are conventionally divided into 3 types:

1. Calico is a patchwork color, spots of different colors are quite large in size.
2. Torti is a random distribution of small black and tan spots throughout the body.
3. Tortoiseshell with white – distribution of black, red and white spots.

Smoky

With the smoky color, Scots have a silver gene, which colors a small part of all hairs. Wool takes on beautiful combinations of light and dark shades. The most popular color among Scottish Straights is black smoke, however, smoky pets are not favorites at shows.

Tabby

The most popular color among the Scots. The pattern is divided into 3 types: tiger stripes, spots and marble. There are a wide variety of color combinations: golden tabby, black marble, marble on silver, cameo.

Chinchilla

The color came to the Scots from the British. Maintaining the color is quite difficult since both parents must be chinchillas. Color is divided into 3 types:

• Golden chinchilla.
• Silver chinchilla.
• Blue golden chinchilla.

Ticked

The Scottish cat breed received this color from the Abyssinians. Each hair has alternating dark and light stripes. There are no visible stripes or spots on the coat; it is an even distribution of several shades without clear boundaries. Ticked color is very rare among Scots, so such kittens are expensive.

Character of Scottish Straights

Scottish dogs are smart animals, however, they are stubborn enough to do whatever is asked of them without complaint. They are inquisitive, and in adolescence they are playful and very active. However, with growing up, playfulness passes and decorous equanimity sets in. Scottish dogs are calm, good-natured and loyal to all family members.

A distinctive feature is independence, unobtrusiveness, dignity and lack of shyness. Independence allows pets to remain alone for long periods of time, given the availability of food, clean water, a clean tray and a scratching post.

Important! Scottish Straights do not like to be picked up and carried somewhere, or placed on laps. They prefer to walk on their four legs. They prefer affection without close physical contact.

Scottish cats have a quiet, slightly creaky voice. They are uncommunicative. Loud noises can be made by cats during heat or if the pet needs help, for example, it is locked in a closet and cannot get out on its own.

INTERESTING! Scottish Straights can sit funny upright on their hind legs with their front legs folded over their chest. They can sit like this for quite a long time and without much effort. This gopher pose is another unique trait of the breed.

The Scots are very careful with children, but do not like much tactile attention.

Scottish straights are very easy to care for, unlike folds.

Wool

Standard care procedures required:

• wool – comb the wool once a week (more often during the molting period), bathe only when the wool is heavily soiled;
• ears – wipe once a week, check for mites (dark coating);
• teeth – weekly brushing of teeth with a special toothpaste for cats;
• claws - you need to cut the unsharpened tips with special nail clippers once every 2-3 weeks. You can read how to trim your nails yourself in this article.

Nutrition

Scottish Straights, like all Scots, are prone to overeating. The food must be high quality and balanced. There are no special restrictions on the presence of certain components in the food for Straights (unlike Scottish Folds).

The water should always be clean. Scottish cats love to drink running water.

Sometimes they eat with their paws, which is normal.

Walk

Scottish dogs are quite unpretentious in their living conditions. They do not require large areas and can easily live in an apartment. Walking as such is not required. To avoid obesity, cats need to be given at least minimal activity.