What do Scottish fold cats look like?
Representatives of this breed have a squat body with well-developed muscles. The paws are powerful and not too long. The neck is short, the head is quite large and rounded, with a strong chin and round whisker pads. The tail is usually medium or long, pointed towards the end.
Scottish Folds have a very impressive appearance / phz8.petinsurance.com
The Scottish coat is short, straight, thick and soft. There are various colors - solid (for example, cream, white, black, blue), two-color, tabby, tortoiseshell, smoky and others.
A characteristic feature of the Scottish Fold is the small ears pressed to the head, which are folded forward and droop slightly. This difference is caused by a gene mutation that causes cartilage, including the ear cartilage, to become softer.
What is the character of a Scottish Fold cat?
Scottish Folds are distinguished by their kind, calm and balanced character. Their lifestyle is quite measured, hyperactivity is usually not typical for them. You are unlikely to constantly find such a pet trying to climb onto the closet and over the curtains, or simply rushing briskly around the rooms. But this does not mean that Scottish Fold cats are absolutely passive and behave like plush toys. They are naturally quite curious and enthusiastically explore everything that surrounds them.
Scottish Fold cats are calm and balanced. VGatto / Depositphotos.com
How Scottish Fold cats get along with adults
Representatives of this breed are very loyal and sincerely become attached to people. It is believed that they choose one object of adoration, but this is not always the case. Many Scots treat all family members equally warmly and single out someone especially based on their mood.
Scottish Folds readily show their emotions and love to communicate using meows and purrs. Demonstrating affection, they can literally follow a person around the entire apartment. And in attempts to gain attention, they often show persistence and willfulness.
Most Scottish Fold cats are not very fond of being cuddled or picked up. Although depending on their mood they may well purr on their knees. They usually have nothing against stroking and other caresses.
How Scottish Fold cats get along with children
When communicating with children, purrs are patient and calm. Aggression is rarely shown, and to provoke it, you need to try very hard. They don’t always like too much fun and noisy games, so cats try to avoid such activities and sit on the sidelines.
How do Scottish Fold cats get along with other pets?
The Scots get along well with dogs.
ViktoriaSapata / Depositphotos.com Scottish Folds coexist quite comfortably with dogs and other cats.
At the same time, they emphasize neutrality and do not try to impose their superiority in an aggressive manner. But their hunting instinct may prevent them from making friends with a hamster or parrot.
Where can I buy
Before purchasing a kitten, it must be examined, and quite carefully, since in the future you may encounter cartilaginous anomalies. If the kitten has weak joints, bowed legs, or hardening of the joint tissues, then there is a high probability that problems will not be long in coming.
Moreover, if you buy an animal in a special nursery, the risk of purchasing a sick kitten is much less than when buying on the market or from some private owner who breeds this breed.
Nowadays in Russia there are a sufficient number of legal nurseries that practice breeding the Scottish Fold breed. They can be found in almost all major cities throughout Russia.
A kitten of this breed can be bought for a maximum of 5 thousand rubles secondhand, but in a nursery you will have to pay three times more for it. But the kitten has a pedigree, a veterinary passport, and a purchase and sale agreement. The upper threshold of pricing depends on the purebred, unique color of the kitten, as well as on the authority of the nursery.
What living conditions do Scottish Fold cats require?
Representatives of this breed will be quite comfortable within the walls of an ordinary apartment. The main thing is to give them their own secluded place where the cat can spend time alone with itself. In this case, the bed should be located away from drafts that are dangerous for Scottish Folds.
Protect your pet from drafts / Royal-canin.ru
For the safety of the animal, it is advisable to install special protective nets on the windows. If they are not there, the cat may fall out of the window when trying to catch a bird or a falling leaf.
It’s worth taking care of your cat’s leisure time. In addition to a sleeping place and a tray, a Scotsman definitely needs a scratching post. With its help, he will be able to put his paws in order and will not encroach on your furniture.
Diversify your pet's leisure time. belchonock / Depositphotos.com
Balls, mice and other toys will help diversify the life of the Scottish Fold cat. You can also install an entire play center, which will also provide additional physical activity for the cats and maintain their physical fitness.
Scots can be called homebody cats. However, if your cat feels calm and comfortable in the fresh air, take him on short promenades or let him out into his own garden. At the same time, walking Scottish Folds should not be left unattended for a long time.
How to feed Scottish Fold cats
The easiest way is to stick to ready-made wet and dry food. It is better to choose from lines of proven brands, because only high-quality complete food provides the animal with all the necessary proteins, fats, carbohydrates, microelements and vitamins. In addition, you can sometimes give healthy treats that not only help diversify the menu, but also, for example, help clean the animal’s teeth.
Select a ready-made diet taking into account the characteristics of the animal - age, health status and the presence of chronic diseases, sterilization, pregnancy and lactation.
Another option is natural products such as meat and offal, cereals. But ordinary food from the human table is prohibited for the Scots. It simply will not provide the cat’s body with everything it needs, and sometimes it can even pose a danger to their life.
The food on our table is not suitable for cats. belchonock / Depositphotos.com
When deciding what to feed your Scottish Fold, consider what kind of food he was accustomed to while he lived with the breeder. A sudden change will not benefit the animal, and the kitten may simply refuse unusual food. Even if you decide to change your diet, you need to do it gradually.
Representatives of this breed are often prone to obesity. This must be taken into account when planning your diet. You should not overfeed your pet, as obesity can lead to a number of health problems.
FORMAL DETAILS
Where to look for a good cat? Among acquaintances. According to advertisements on the Internet. At a nursery in your city. Through the club.
Before mating, you must sign an agreement that stipulates all the conditions, including the period for which you are giving the cat away, a guarantee of pregnancy (if it does not occur the first time, the groom’s owners should be prepared for another 2-3 free matings). The contract also states the price you pay for mating, or payment by the kitten.
If you are looking for a mate based on an advertisement, you should know that there are cases of fraud when the advertisement for a cat contains one information, as if the cat has titles and certificates, and then it turns out that this is not true and he is not allowed to breed at all. It happens that the photos in advertisements are fake. You can learn more about this topic from the video. There is only one piece of advice on how to avoid fraud: check all documents, do not take anyone’s word for it.
The article was checked and approved by felinologist (cat specialist), owner of Mifiland nursery Maria Kovalevskaya. The nursery specializes in breeding high-quality representatives of the Scottish breed (Scottish Fold, Scottish Straight) merle colors. In addition, Maria is actively involved in educating people about the Scottish breed on social networks: her pages have collected thousands of subscribers. Go to the nursery page ►
How to care for a Scottish Fold cat
The thick fur of these animals requires constant and careful care. Cats need to be brushed at least a couple of times a week. During the periods of spring and autumn moulting, it is advisable to do this every day.
Another important point is ear care. Due to their unusual structure, quite a lot of wax accumulates in the ears. You can remove it using cotton swabs and special lotions that are sold in pet stores. This procedure should be carried out on average once every week or two.
Don't forget to trim your pet's nails regularly. Syda_Productions / Depositphotos.com
Also, Scottish Folds need to have their nails trimmed regularly, about once a month.
As for bathing, it is enough for only pets to have a bath day once every six months or even less often, and for those who like to go for a walk - every couple of months.
What do Scottish Fold cats suffer from?
Scottish Folds are quite healthy. However, there are several diseases that are genetically characteristic of this breed.
- Osteochondrodysplasia (OCD) is a malformation of cartilage and bone tissue, which leads to a slowdown in their growth. This disease is considered incurable, so only supportive therapy is prescribed.
- Polycystic kidney disease (PKD) is a disease in which many hollow tumors with liquid contents (cysts) form in the kidneys. As a result, the affected organs do not fully perform their function.
- Cardiomyopathy is a disease in which the normal functioning of the heart muscle is disrupted.
Also, Scottish Fold cats can suffer from diseases that are typical for most purring pets. These include problems with the genitourinary system, skin and other diseases.
Maintenance and care
Firstly, you need to choose the right factory feed and not buy products below the super-premium class, labeled “holistic”. Despite the fact that they are expensive, they can protect your pet from various problems with the gastrointestinal tract and liver.
Nutrition
In addition to commercial food, you can give natural foods high in protein. For example:
- Sea fish fillet.
- Lean meat.
- Cheese.
- Dairy products.
An animal that grows and develops must receive fats from egg yolks and vegetable oil to replenish the body with the necessary acids. Your cat can get carbohydrates from foods such as bread, various cereals and potatoes. If natural feeding predominates, then vitamin and mineral complexes should be introduced into the diet.
It is important to know! An adult animal must be fed twice a day, observing all the necessary proportions.
Health
Breeding the Scottish Fold breed has led to disruptions in the functioning of genetic chains, which has led to the appearance of such a serious disease in cats as “osteochondrodysplasia.” This disease is inherited and is considered the most serious illness.
As a result of the manifestation of this disease, deformation of the limbs occurs, after which they stop growing and developing. In addition, the manifestation of arthritis is possible, so the disease resolves in conditions of acute pain.
This disease has practically no cure, so the pet becomes disabled, and the owner turns into a nurse. Moreover, this can last for many years. Often, the Scottish Fold is diagnosed with polycystic disease.
What to look for when buying a Scottish Fold cat
You can buy Scottish Folds through advertisement sites, at an exhibition or in a certified nursery.
The price of a kitten depends on many factors, including the region (in the capital the cost is often higher) and pedigree. The class of the animal also has a significant impact. So, “pet” is a cat for the soul, which has no chance of a show career or participation in breeding. The price for such animals is lower, and they are usually sterilized. The next class is “breed”. These cats are potential breeders from whom you can expect worthwhile offspring. And finally, the most expensive class is “show”. These animals have every chance to compete for prizes at exhibitions. Moreover, such a high status must be confirmed not just by words, but by exhibition certificates.
Another important point is the health of the future pet. Therefore, when choosing, you should carefully examine the kitten. Severe thinness, bald patches, fleas, and an overly swollen abdomen may indicate improper care and dishonesty of the breeder. In addition, some behavioral features of Scottish Folds may be signs of a genetic disease that affects bone and cartilage tissue. So, if the paws and tail are inactive, and the kitten itself cannot run and jump normally, it is better to refrain from purchasing it.
Be sure to find out about the kitten's parents. tankist276 / Depositphotos.com
Pay attention to your parents too. One of them, and possibly both, must be straight-eared (Scottish Straight). If both the cat and the cat have floppy ears, their offspring are almost guaranteed to be unhealthy.
As for documents, upon purchase you must be given a sales contract, a veterinary passport with vaccination marks and a birth certificate. Based on the latter, you can draw up a pedigree yourself.
Breeding
Several main rules when breeding Scottish cats:
- the partner of the Scottish Fold must be straight-eared;
- in females mating is allowed only after 4 estrus;
- For breeding, cats of at least breed class and only show class cats are allowed;
- animals must be healthy and vaccinated.
It is not difficult to find a pair for breeding, since the breed is very common. Scottish cats produce 1 to 3 kittens per litter. It is worth taking a responsible approach to choosing a partner; it is advisable that it be a trusted breeder with good recommendations.
List of breed nurseries:
- Ru-Star Fold - Moscow.
- EridanCats – St. Petersburg.
- UrFo - Ekaterinburg.
- Little-Kitty – Minsk.
