Scottish Fold Cat 1 | history, breeding informatin

 

Scottish Fold Cat

History

The Scottish Fold cat is a unique breed in its own way, as it has a very non-standard shape of the ears, which is reflected in the name itself. Also, from the name, it is clear that the homeland of these pets is Scotland, namely - a farm in the Tayside area, near the town of Kupar-Angus.

The first representative of the breed named Susie, snow-white in color, (like her mother), was born completely by accident - her brothers and sisters had ears of a completely standard type. The owner of the farm, Mack Reis, who owned the kittens, noticed a deviation from the norm a few weeks after their birth.

Susie grew up and in 1963 gave birth - among her kittens, two also had white hair, and folded ears. The farmer had a neighbor - William Ross, a cat lover and just an inquisitive person who immediately drew attention to non-standard pets. After some thought, he came up with the idea to breed a completely new breed, and for this purpose he acquired one of the kittens, calling him Snooks.

Mating occurred with British Shorthair (on the advice of the authoritative British geneticist Peter Dite), which subsequently somewhat affected the characteristics of the breed he bred. William Ross and his wife Mary put a lot of effort into ensuring that today we can get these amazing cats.

Associations of cat lovers classify the varieties of the breed in different ways, but it is important for us to understand that, in general, there are only two of them.

The first has a longer coat, which was the result of mating with Persian cats. The second does not have folded ears, although it has the same features of individuality and physique. There is some controversy about these cats, and most consider them a separate breed. Scottish Straight (if a Scottish Fold kitten does not have ears, it is classified as a Scottish Straight-eared kitten, although not everyone agrees with this division).

Surprisingly, the Cat Fanciers Association of America adopted the breed earlier than the British Association. Scottish Fold received championship status from the Cat Fanciers Association of the United States (CFA) in 1977 (in 1978 it received the championship title).

Description

Scottish Fold will be a wonderful companion for the whole family and an affectionate friend of children. At the same time, the cat will feel great if it has one owner, giving him all the kindness of his soul. These cats live an average of 15 years and retain playfulness even in adulthood. The body is medium-sized, the legs are short and strong, and the build is correct and harmonious.

Health problems require close attention from the first months of a kitten's life, however, the percentage of deviations in pets according to recent studies is becoming less from year to year. Apparently, natural selection plays a role, therefore, without fear, get a cat of the Scottish Fold breed. Colors can be completely different - in this regard, you have huge freedom of choice.

Personality

This breed is distinguished by great kindness, and friendliness and shows its love to all family members. At the same time, cats over time tend to single out the closest person to themselves, and in relation to him express the greatest cordiality, trust, and affection.

The Scottish Fold cat, in general, is not very active, and therefore sometimes needs stimulation to avoid the accumulation of excess weight. Here much depends on the owner - the pet can become something like a kind and affectionate soft pillow, or maintain a normal level of activity. This is also due to the amount of food, which is natural.

Scottish Fold has an innate curiosity, and can sometimes show arrogance, but is very friendly to children and other animals, including dogs (if they are not aggressive).

Characteristics of the breed

Adaptability                           10/10        

Attachment to family            10/10

Game activity                         06/10

Intelligence                            07/10

General Health                       09/10

Hair loss                                  06/10

Child-friendly                         08/10

Dog friendly                           10/10

Love of meows                       02/10

 

Breed Information

Country of origin	Scotland
Lifetime	11-14 years
Size	Average
Weight	Cats: 5-6 kg, Cats: 3-5 kg
Coat type	Shorthair
Color	any colors and patterns of wool
Lifestyle	outdoors / indoors
Price	1000 - 1500 $

Common diseases

Polycystic kidney disease. PKD is a hereditary disease. Owners need to be vigilant, as symptoms can begin to appear already at a fairly early age. Polycystic kidney disease causes the formation of cysts in the kidneys, which does not allow the organs to function normally. Subsequently, there is a risk of chronic renal failure.

The gene for "folded ears". The gene that is responsible for folded ears is not completely dominant and can cause cartilage and bone disorders in some cats. Moreover, even if only one of the parents is a representative of the Scottish Fold breed. Ear diseases in many cause concern, in fact, unfounded - an increased tendency to ear infections, ticks, and deafness, with normal care is not observed.

There may also be skeletal defects associated with the "folded ears" gene, such as a short thickened tail, less flexible than in a normal cat. Other abnormalities may include rough paw bones and splayed fingers.

Care

Since the Scottish Fold is mainly short-haired cats, in many respects the care of them is simplified. Once a week, the wool should be brushed, and this is enough. On the other hand, there is also a long-haired variety of this breed, which originated from mating with Persian cats, and their coat should be combed more often and carefully.

Special attention should be paid to the ears, because of the peculiarities of their structure. They need to be cleaned at least several times a week, with special care and accuracy, and it is highly desirable that this is done by the person whom the cat trusts the most. Also, once a week you need to trim the claws, and brushing your teeth is carried out ideally every day, or at least several times a week.