Scottish fold

Scottish Folds are attractive medium-sized cats with expressive round eyes and ears laid close to the head. Curious and smart, Scottish Folds easily adapt to the rhythm of life of their owners and quickly become everyone's favorites. To reveal the secret of the popularity of Scottish Fold cats, let's look at the main features of the breed.

Brief history of the breed

Scottish cats were bred relatively recently. Their story began in 1961 in Scotland when one of the local shepherds, who was interested in felinology, noticed a white street cat with long hair and an unusual shape of ears. When she became a mother, the man took one of the kittens for himself, and then crossed him with a British Shorthair. As a result of this mating, both straight-eared and fold-eared kittens were born.

Subsequent experiments showed that the gene responsible for folded ears is dominant. And after some time, Scottish breeders stopped breeding this breed due to fears that fold-eared cats could develop serious health problems.

It is unknown what the future fate of the Scottish Folds would have been if American breeders had not become interested in them. In 1978, the breed was officially registered with the CFA. But FIFE still has not recognized the Scottish Fold, but this does not prevent them from enjoying stunning popularity.

Origin

Many years ago, in a Scottish village, there lived a cat named Susie. She was not particularly outstanding or noticeable. An ordinary village cat who caught mice in the barn, drank milk from a saucer and gave birth to kittens. It was the descendants who made Susie famous. Oh yes, the cat had unusual ears. Folded, curved down and quite small. But the owner was not interested in her ears. Performs its functionality, and, thank God.

As time passed, the cat brought kittens. One such litter was born from a neighbor's cat, a very ordinary village warrior. Among her brothers and sisters, a cute cat stood out. She inherited her mother's ears. To the farmer-owner, the lack of crumbs did not seem touching. It appeared only when the baby grew up. She was three weeks old. Susie's owner decided to get rid of his second handicapped cat.

If this had happened, the world would never have known about the Scottish breed. Reviews about the Scottish Fold cat are the most wonderful: she is known and loved all over the world.

The kitten is lucky. A familiar cat herder came to visit the farmer. He was very fond of fluffy purrs and was seriously interested in breeding them. The shepherd liked the unusual cat. He bought her, named her Snooksy and raised her.

In 1963, Snooksy gave birth to her first litter. The father of the kittens was a cat of the British breed. Upon further study of her offspring, it became clear that the lop-eared gene was dominant in them. Another reward from Grandma Susie was long hair. In order to consolidate the “ear zest”, the first kittens were crossed with each other. Subsequently, British cats took part in breeding. Thus, the world received the Scottish Fold, in reviews of which you can hear many flattering words.

Interesting Facts

Despite the youth of the Scottish Fold, they managed to associate a lot of interesting things with cats:

1. The name of the breed reveals the country of its origin and reflects the main feature of the exterior. It consists of two English words: scottish - Scottish and fold - fold.
2. Fold cats have a weak vestibular system. Therefore, the Scottish Fold becomes disoriented when away from the ground and is afraid of heights.
3. Scottish Folds periodically become a column. In the “meerkat pose,” the Scottish fold relaxes the spine.
4. The Scottish Fold became the prototype of the lazy cat Matilda from the famous Soviet cartoon “The Kid and Carlson.”

Scottish Fold: About the breed

The auricle itself is thin and feels like parchment. The outer surfaces of the ears are well furred. There are dense and lush brushes inside.

Neck: Short, wide, muscular. Therefore, when looking at a cat, you get the impression that the head smoothly flows into the body.

Body: Medium size, moderate length, rectangular in format, the same width from shoulders to croup, dense, muscular, with medium bone.

Legs: Medium length and thickness, proportional to body length. The muscles are well developed.

Feet: Round, oval-glove-like, compact, medium in size.

Tail: Long, in proportion to the body, mobile in all joints. Medium thickness, necessarily tapering towards the tip.

Coat: Very soft, silky, slightly distant from the body, short.

Colors: All colors are recognized: solid, tortoiseshell, merle, colorpoint and others.

Disadvantages: Wide British set ears; dense auricle; heavy type; flat forehead; noticeable stop; arched back; cow hindquarters; proximity of the knee joints; any anomalies in the structure of the skeleton and position of the limbs; hard and motionless tail; creaking and clicking in the intervertebral joints.

Disqualification at exhibitions: Hook on the tail; tail too short and/or stiff and immobile with extremely thick vertebrae; wrong number of fingers; noticeable pain in movements; poor health.

Disqualification of all breeds: Amputated claws, cryptorchidism, deafness.

Features and character

The Scottish Straight cat has a calm, balanced character. She is very friendly, does not show aggression and tries with all her might to avoid conflicts. Adapts well to any living conditions.

Maintenance and care

Caring for Scottish Straight cats is easy. These are strong, robust cats with good health. Like any short-haired cat, it is enough to wash them with special products once every four weeks. During the shedding period, this can be done weekly to prevent unwanted fur from appearing in the home.

Feeding

Nutrition should be balanced.

Other and obsolete names of the breed

Scottish Shorthair;

Scottish Straight.

Breed description, standards, appearance

The Scottish Fold is a squat cat with well-developed muscles and powerful, not too long limbs. The Scottish Fold has a plush coat and unusual ears that are pressed close to the skull.

A detailed description of the Scottish Fold cat breed is presented in European and American standards. But due to the fact that the United States is considered the second home of Scottish Folds, most breeders are guided by the requirements of CFA and TICA.

Dimensions and weight

Scottish Folds are medium-sized cats with moderate sexual dimorphism. The weight of an adult female is 3.5-4.5 kg. The weight of a Scottish fold cat can reach 6 kg.

Anatomical characteristics

A typical Scottish cat should fit the following description:

1. The head is round, with a high forehead, a massive strong chin, a short wide nose and full cheeks.
2. The ears are small or medium in size with slightly pointed tips. They come with a single, double or triple fold. In the first type of Scottish Fold, only the tips of the ears are curled. A cat with a double fold has the entire fabric folded over, but there is a visible gap between the head and ears. The third type of Scottish Fold appears earless due to the fact that the ears are completely pressed against the skull.
3. The eyes are round, expressive, widely set. The color of the Scottish Fold cat's iris should be in harmony with the coat color.
4. The body is medium in size, with a short muscular neck, developed chest and pronounced shoulders.
5. The limbs are proportional to the overall build with small round paws and movable toes.
6. The tail is of medium length, wide at the base, flexible. Tapers smoothly to a rounded tip.

From 1 to 3 months

During the second month of life, Scottish kittens continue to actively gain weight, which during this period ranges from 400 to 1500 grams. The owner needs to remember that the pet’s gender directly affects its body weight.

If figures of 400-600 grams are normal for a cat, for a cat of 2 months this is considered underweight.

The third month is characterized by a decrease in growth rate; during this period, the pet’s body weight is approximately 1-2.5 kilograms.

Character and temperament

This cute lop-eared cat is endowed with a calm and balanced disposition. His phlegmatic character and the behavior of a real aristocrat will not allow him to rush through rooms, climb cabinets and ride on curtains. However, this does not mean that the Scottish Fold will constantly lie on the sofa and indifferently examine the situation. The Scottish Fold is quite curious and explores everything that surrounds him with interest.

The Scottish Fold treats all family members equally well. The cat expresses emotions using its voice. The Scot demonstrates his affection by accompanying the object of his adoration everywhere. Often, a long-eared pet can become obsessive and capricious.

The peaceful and non-aggressive nature of the Scottish Fold cat allows it to get along with children of different ages without any problems. True, the Scottish Fold does not like noisy games and prefers to wait out moments of such fun in a secluded corner.

In relations with other animals, the Scottish Fold tries to maintain neutrality. True, this only applies to cats and dogs and does not apply to birds and rodents. The Scottish Fold will not be able to make friends with the latter due to its hunting instincts.

Scottish Fold: About the breed

Like their farming ancestors, Scottish Folds are strong cats. They have a good-natured, calm appearance. The voice is quite quiet. They love human society and show it with all their appearance. Scottish dogs adapt well both to densely populated apartments full of running children and dogs, and to the closets of lonely dad Carlo. They are not afraid and get along well with other animals.

Over the past four decades, the Scottish Fold has acquired its own, recognizable type, despite crossing with American and British Shorthair cats.

How to choose the right kitten

Since there are many nuances in breeding Scottish Fold cats, it is extremely undesirable to buy an animal from someone else. You should look for a kitten from professional breeders or specialized nurseries. And before buying a Scotsman, it is important to make sure that one of his parents is fold-eared and the other has straight ears.

You also need to pay attention to the behavior and living conditions of the kitten. A little Scotsman should be moderately curious, active and playful. And the room where the Scottish Fold is kept should be clean, light and warm.

The kitten's appearance must meet the requirements of a generally recognized standard. It is important that he has clear eyes, flat ears, plush fur without bald spots and a soft belly. Another characteristic that cannot be ignored is the tail of the small Scottish Fold. In a Scottish Fold, it should be smooth and flexible, without creases or thickening.

Kitten care

Although a kitten from a good nursery arrives at a new home already prepared for independent life, at first it requires special attention and care. At first, the Scottish Fold may become bored, and owners will have to show a lot of patience for him to get used to the changed conditions. To do this, the Scottish Fold is allowed to independently explore his new home and is shown where his bowls, toys, litter box and place to sleep are located.

To prevent the Scottish Fold from being injured, remove wires, ornamental plants, small objects and chemicals. Also, to ensure the safety of the Scottish cat, his access to large household appliances, open windows and open balconies is blocked.

British

This aristocratic cat breed is one of the most ancient. The breeding of purebred Britons began in the 19th century, and the history of the breed began in antiquity, in the Ancient Roman era.

These cats were actively domesticated by local residents, and together with Roman legionnaires, representatives of the species that was the ancestor of the British were brought to the British Isles.

These animals were very hardy and quickly transitioned from the hot climate of the Mediterranean to the cool weather of England.

Officially, G. Weier is considered the creator of the breed, who selected similar-looking gray, muscular cats for mating. He was also the first organizer of the exhibition of these animals in 1861.

Care and maintenance

The Scottish Fold is an unpretentious cat that does not require special conditions. The Scottish Fold requires minimal care, which boils down to basic hygiene, routine vaccinations and timely veterinary care.

Find out more about how to properly keep Scots.

Hygiene procedures

In order for the Scottish Fold to have a neat appearance, it is provided with proper care:

1. The eyes of the Scottish Fold are wiped daily with a napkin soaked in boiled water or chamomile infusion.
2. The cat's ears are carefully cleaned of accumulated dirt twice a week. To do this, they are instilled with a special lotion and then wiped with a damp cotton pad.
3. Scottish Fold teeth are brushed 3-4 times a month with a silicone brush with a small amount of non-foaming toothpaste.
4. The Scottish Fold's claws are trimmed as necessary with a nail clipper so as not to touch living tissue.

Grooming

The Scottish Fold requires the same care as any other shorthair cat. He is the only one of all cats who loves to be scratched against the grain. To keep the Scottish Fold's plush coat looking neat, it is brushed weekly with a metal-toothed comb.

On a note. It is not recommended to comb the Scottish Fold with a slicker brush. It has a bad effect on the structure of the cat's fur and makes it look like cotton wool.

The Scotsman is bathed once a quarter using shampoos for short-haired breeds. Upon completion of the bath procedures, the Scottish Fold is thoroughly dried with a terry towel and dried with a hairdryer.

Compatibility with other animals

According to owners, the Scottish Fold is very patient with dogs. In the event that a puppy was brought to her. But he doesn’t particularly favor his brothers from the cat clan. Of course, when both cats are kept together from early childhood, it is a different matter. They get along fine with each other. But if you bring a second kitten to a house where a Scottish Fold already lives, she is unlikely to appreciate it. Conflicts most likely cannot be avoided.

Feeding the cat

To keep the Scottish Fold healthy and active longer, it is provided with a balanced diet.

In detail - “About feeding Scottish kittens.”

Complete diet

When feeding dry Scottish Folds, select high-quality premium or super-premium products, which are enriched with all the necessary vitamins and minerals. It is advisable that it does not contain soy, corn, dyes and other dubious additives.

Scottish Folds eat the following types of food best:

• Royal Canin;
• Monge;
• Pronature;
• Hills;
• Grandorf.

With a natural type of nutrition, the Scottish Fold's diet should contain about 70-80% meat. Also included in the Scottish Fold cat's menu is the following:

• boiled vegetables;
• porridge with water;
• boiled eggs;
• offal;
• sea ​​or ocean fish;
• sour milk.

Sausages, sweets, bones, beans, smoked meats and any fatty foods are strictly contraindicated for Scots. Also excluded from the Scottish Fold menu are baked goods, river fish, starchy vegetables, fresh milk and leftovers from the host’s table.

Feeding frequency

A small Scottish Fold eats less, but more often than an adult Scottish Fold. Therefore, the feeding schedule is made taking into account the age of the cat:

• 3-6 months – 4-5 times a day;
• 6-12 months – 3 times a day.

From the age of one year, the purebred Scottish Fold is transferred to two meals a day.

On a note. The Scots cat is a real glutton. The lop-eared pet needs to be limited in food, otherwise it may develop obesity.

Vitamins and minerals

If a Scotsman eats dry food, he does not need any additional supplements. If a Scottish Fold eats natural foods, he is given vitamin and mineral complexes in courses twice a year. The drugs are selected together with a veterinarian who knows the characteristics of a particular cat.

Weight gain in the first days of life

During the first two weeks, babies actively recover from their mother's milk, so you need to monitor the cat's nutrition. On average, a healthy kitten gains about 10-20 grams per day, and at the age of two weeks it already weighs 300-400 grams.

Female cats weigh less than male cats, but the figures do not differ much. Ideally, babies should gain 100-200 grams per week.

By 3 weeks of age, kittens grow up, become stronger and begin to eat complementary foods, although the basis of the diet should remain mother's milk.

As complementary food, you can use age-appropriate natural products or premium dry food for small kittens.

Education and physical activity

To prevent obesity and keep fit, the Scottish Fold is equipped with a sports complex with tunnels and stairs. And to realize his hunting instincts, the Scotsman is bought several interactive toys.

Scottish Folds are smart, but very headstrong cats. Therefore, from an early age they are taught the rules of behavior in the house. With some patience, a Scotsman can be taught basic commands. True, the Scottish fold will only be performed if it is considered appropriate.

Health and susceptibility to disease

The average life expectancy of a Scottish Fold is 12-15 years. But with proper care, the Scottish Fold can live up to 17-18 years. The Scottish breed was bred artificially, which could not but affect the heredity of cats.

Due to the fold gene, Scottish Folds not only have an unusual appearance, but also health problems. Therefore, Scots are often diagnosed with the following diseases:

• osteochondrodystrophy;
• degenerative joint disease;
• hypertrophic cardiomyopathy;
• hemophilia type B;
• dermatitis;
• glaucoma.

British colors

There is a common misconception that the color of British cats must be blue (gray). However, it is not. A specific color does not distinguish a breed from others. Representatives of this breed have quite a lot of color types, and each of them has its own characteristics.

Chocolate

This type of color is considered the rarest. It can be easily distinguished by its uniform coat, which has a rich brown color.

Blue wool color

This shade is the most common among kittens of this breed. Its difference is pure blue, without gray and silver tints as standard. This is also a popular color for the Scots, which is why the question arises of how to distinguish a British cat from a Scottish one. In this case, everyone should remember that the difference between one breed and another is not the color of the coat.

Tortoiseshell

This coloring is also typical for both the British and the Scots. The differences between a British and a Scottish cat of this color are in the depth of color. Among the Scots it is somewhat darker and deeper.

But this color will help to distinguish between the British Shorthair and Scottish Shorthair cats, because it is found only among the British. The Scottish breed also has a similar color, but it is distinguished by greater precision of lines and depth of the gray part of the color.

Black

Black color is very rare, and therefore its owners are highly valued by cat lovers

It is important that the color is clean, without white hairs and spots - these are considered defective. Both males and females can be black

White

Very beautiful and also quite rare - white color. These pets look very aristocratic. Moreover, they are somewhat different even from their own relatives. They are more flexible and their status is thinner and more graceful. They are the only ones characterized by light yellow, light green and green eyes - this is the main difference in color.

Vaccinations and antiparasitic treatment

To prevent infectious and viral diseases, the Scottish Fold is routinely vaccinated with a complex drug that activates the production of immunity to rhinotracheitis, calcivirosis and panleukopenia. The kitten is first vaccinated at the age of 7-8 weeks.

After 28 days, the Scottish Fold is vaccinated against the same diseases and against rabies. In the future, the Scot is vaccinated annually.

To protect your cat from diseases transmitted by exo- and endoparasites, it is regularly treated for fleas and helminths. Antihelminthic medications for Scottish Fold are given once every six months with mandatory repetition after 10-14 days. The dose of the medicine is selected according to the cat’s weight.

The Scotsman is treated against fleas using special drops or shampoos. And if the Scottish Fold has access to the street, the cat is additionally protected with an anti-parasitic collar.

How old do Scottish cats grow?

As for how Scottish kittens are born, it depends not only on the genetics of the parents, but also on the number of kittens in the litter: the more there are, the less weight each will have. However, kittens born with different weights can eventually level off with age: every day they will gain 10-20 grams until 1 month, and at the age of 1 to 6 months - up to 100 grams per day.

Kittens require a balanced diet to grow. Calcium is important for the formation of the skeletal system, but calcium without phosphorus leads to an excess, which is fraught with negative consequences. In addition, calcium cannot be absorbed without vitamin D. Therefore, all microelements supplied through food must be in harmony. A very small kitten receives everything it needs from its mother through milk for 1 month and, if the mother eats a balanced diet, the kittens grow stronger. And if the mother does not receive enough microelements, the children can get, for example, hyperparathyroidism. Read about how to feed kittens weaned from their mother's breast here.

As can be seen from our table, Scottish kittens grow intensively until about 8 months, then growth slows down, but changes are still noticeable until 1 year. Further, from 1 year to 2 years, the Scottish cat still grows a little, but this is not significant: during this time, the maximum she can gain is about 0.5-0.7 kg, unless, of course, some nutritional disruptions occur and the cat , for example, does not become obese.

With cats, these numbers shift: intensive growth occurs up to 1 year, and then a Scottish cat can grow up to 2.5 years, but this is no longer significant.

Starting from 4 months, your pet is already a teenager. Theoretically, if a cat lived outside and went into heat, adult cats would perceive her as a sexually mature female and could come into contact with her. Similarly, other cats could fight with a large six-month-old male, perceiving him as an equal.

At six months, a teenage kitten has already gained 70% of its body weight, so in the future it should, at most, gain the missing 30%.

Pros and cons of the breed

Scottish Folds, like cats of any other breed, have both advantages and disadvantages:

Scottish Folds are cute cats with a harmless, calm character. The naively surprised look of their huge round eyes and ears pressed tightly to their heads make them look like owlets. And the phlegmatic temperament and lack of difficulties in keeping further contribute to the popularization of the breed.

Kitten weight table by month

For clarity, below is a table with detailed information on how the indicators for the Scottish fold change.

The table shows that Scottish Fold and Straight cats gain weight unevenly. In the first weeks of life, the indicators increase very quickly, since at this time the animal is actively growing. The older the pet, the more stable its weight and size become.

Important! If a cat weighs about 5 kilograms at 1 year, over the next year he can lose 500-800 grams, and this is normal. But if your pet has lost more than 1.5-2 kilograms, you need to contact a veterinarian.