Scottish cats are quite popular animals all over the world. But if you ask the average person about their color, the most common answer will be blue. These are the cats we most often see in films and commercials. But in fact, this breed has a lot of color variations. And today we will tell you about them.
Read the article about Scottish Folds on the Mister Cat portal.
Solid (solid, plain)
A solid color implies the absence of any slightest admixture of other shades. The surface of the fur is colored evenly on all parts of the body. The Scots once upon a time considered gray or blue to be the most common color. These are the favorites most often found among breeders. But today seals with other colors are also gaining more and more popularity: white, chocolate, black, brown, cream, red and fawn (which literally means the color of a young deer). Sometimes it happens that nature interferes with the uniform color of the fur and leaves a mark of a different color there. Such cats noticeably lose value because they are considered a breed defect.
Blue White Cream Black Cinnamon Chocolate Lilac Fawn Red
Location
Place of residence and living conditions have a great influence on the formation of the character of the Scottish Straight cat. The character of the animal greatly depends on these circumstances. It is known that without proper care, animals have difficulty adapting to their environment and become angry, aggressive and withdrawn. However, the breed is very self-sufficient. A cat needs its own private corner where it can feel comfortable and relax.
Scots are very attached to home and family members. Relocation has a serious impact on them. Such changes in life can turn a self-confident animal, affectionate and playful, into a cowardly and embittered one.
Reviews about the character of the Scottish Straight cat indicate that he can live quite comfortably in the courtyard of a private house. Animals are excellent catchers and getters. They often defend their possessions from rodents, birds and other creatures and also obtain their own food.
If a Scotsman lives in an apartment, then the kitten grows up less active and independent. However, reviews indicate that in this case the animal is more attached to the person and shows its affection more actively.
Such pets love to sleep on the laps of household members and play gambling with children, if they are not cruel. Also, the Scots are quite peaceful with other pets. But, according to reviews from most breeders, Scottish Straight cats are very picky when it comes to nutrition.
Point (point)
The more common name for this color is color point. It is characterized by the fact that the main color of the animal turns into a darker color at the tip of the muzzle, tail, ears and paws. This is due to the fact that in the blood of such animals there is a special gene that affects the darkening of the hair in those parts of the body where the temperature is low.
There are several variations of this color, which are shown in the table below, there may be others:
| Color name, photo | Main color | Additional color |
| Seal Point | Light beige | Brown |
| Lilac Point | White | Lilac |
| Blue Point | Pale blue | Dark blue |
| Chalklit Point | White | Brown |
| Cream-point Cream-blue-point | Pale cream | Cream |
| Red point | Pale cream | Ginger |
| Tabby (lynx) point | Any | Stripes to match the main color |
| Torty point | Tortoiseshell | Red or cream spots on the base coat color |
Torti (turtle)
It should be noted right away that you can only buy a turtle girl. In males, this color is not provided by genetics. But if you do come across a cat like this, then this is a big exception, which, however, does not increase its cost, but, on the contrary, reduces it.
Tortoiseshell color is considered to be fur on which spots of different colors (black, chocolate, blue, lilac) alternate with red or cream marks. For breeders, a particularly important indicator is the intensity of pigment expression and uniformity of location.
Blue + cream markings
Black + red markings Chocolate + red markings
Smoky (smoky, smoky)
The main condition for this color is that the hairs at the base of the body must have a silver-white tint. Those. the silvery-white hair turns into another color, such as black or blue. This phenomenon is called typing and occurs as a result of a dominant silver gene. The smoke can be different, for example, chocolate.
There are often cats with additional patterns on their fur, but according to color rules this should not be the case.
Smoky chocolate Smoky black Smoky blue
Don't confuse this color with a solid color! If you're not sure, part your cat's fur and see what color is at the base of his fur.
Presence of other animals in the family
Scottish Straights often look down on other pets. However, if they were brought up with such people from childhood, then such an attitude does not arise. When a kitten ends up in a home inhabited by other animals, the owners can rest assured of a positive outcome. The baby will definitely get along not only with his relatives, but also with birds, tame rodents and even dogs.
The character of the Scottish straight-eared cat, who grew up in the same house with dogs, is distinguished by mischief and cheerfulness. These animals are cheerful, agile and very attached to their owner.
But living in the same house with felines, the Scots can become overly jealous. In this case, they become attached to cats more than to members of the household and the owner.
Tabby (tabby)
Such cats have stripes of an unusual shape and a different color than the main color. The most common marks are on the forehead, for example, in the shape of the letter M, light spots on the back of the ears, a necklace on the chest, rings on the paws and tail, curls on the cheeks, eyes outlined as if with shadows.
Breeders distinguish several variants of tabby. According to the type of pattern, they are marbled (shaded), tiger (mackerel) and spotted (spotted).
Brindle Spotted Marble
There is a complex classification of Scots tabby dogs based on combined colors and shades. They are presented in the table below:
| Name | Main color | Pattern color |
| Silver | Silver | Black |
| Silver blue | Light blue, white undercoat | Mantle on muzzle, tail and sides |
| Red | Light red | Bright red |
| Brown | Copper | Black |
| Blue | Cream blue | Bright blue |
| Cream | Pale cream | Beige or dark cream |
| Cameo | White | Bright red |
Chinchilla
Cats of this appearance are quite rare, which is why their prices are much higher. With the chinchilla type of color, each hair is white and only 15% of it at the end is colored either golden-blue, gold, or silver. The Blue Golden Chinchilla is the rarest of the three.
Silver
Gold
Blue golden
Ticking
Looking at these cats, it seems that their fur shimmers so much that it is difficult to determine what color it is. Such animals are quite expensive. If we look at a single hair, we will see that its coloring is far from monotonous - stripes of different colors alternate across it, and the tip is always dark.
Black silver ticked
Golden ticked
Straight-eared Scottish cat: character and habits
Inexperienced breeders often wonder how to determine in advance the future character of a kitten. It is well known that Scottish Straight babies show a special disposition already in the first months of life. As soon as the babies' eyes appear and they begin to crawl around the apartment, it becomes clear whether the cat will be balanced and obedient. Perhaps he will become a tireless and energetic researcher. Or perhaps the kitten will become a phlegmatic, calm cat.
Kittens of this breed, even born from the same mother cat, may be completely different in habits and character from each other. Sometimes it seems that it is impossible to determine which of the mischievous kids will be the optimal pet for a particular family.
Shedded (shaded)
With this type of color, two-thirds of the hair starting from the base is white, and the remaining part can be red, silver or gold. On the chin, belly and lower surface of the tail the color is light. The shaded color does not allow spots or stripes except those located on the forehead or paws.
Red shaded
Golden shaded
Silver shaded
Wang
Representatives of the Scottish breed with a similar color have white coat color as the main color, and the tail and muzzle are decorated with a different color or a combination of both (torti). There may also be spots on the body and paws.
History of the origin of the breed
It is known that all “Scottish” kittens are born with straight ears, but by six months, some have ears that remain sticking out above their heads, like most other cat breeds, while others are nicely pressed against their heads. It is incorrect to believe that a Scottish cat with regular ears was first bred, and then the trait of lop ears was achieved. In this case, nature played a trick on man and turned back progress.
In 1961, on a farm in Scotland, a young cat, Susie, was seen with her ears turned down. The sign was also preserved in her kittens. Subsequently, a new breed was registered - the Scottish Fold. Unfortunately, when crossing fold-eared cats with each other, life-threatening deformations of the animal's skeleton appeared, as a result it was necessary to crossbreed with British relatives. From this mating, kittens were born, some of which had their ears drooping as expected, but some remained straight-eared.
Despite the fact that fold-eared kittens are considered more valuable, elite and cost more, “straights” are necessary in order to maintain a special trait of the breed, which is actually a flaw.
Initially, fold-eared cats were recognized as a separate breed, and their straight-eared counterparts were classified as British. It was only in 2004 that the World Cat Federation (WCF) registered them as a separate breed - the “Scottish Shorthair”. Since then, Scottish Straights have been admitted to exhibitions.
Harlequin
This coat color is very similar to the Van. The same colored tail and muzzle, but the main difference between the harlequin is the presence of spots on the body. Outwardly, such cats really look like the hero of an Italian comedy.
Care and maintenance, nutrition
Scottish Straights cannot be called demanding; they are one of the most unpretentious breeds, but every pet needs attention and care. Then you can admire their well-groomed appearance, silky fur, and excellent health.
Once a week you need to comb the fur with a sparse comb and a natural bristle brush. In spring and autumn, during seasonal molting, you will have to comb out more often, using a special combing glove with a rubber pad.
There is no need to bathe straight-eared Scottish cats often: they are clean and take care of themselves on their own. And they, like many representatives of the cat family, do not like water, so it is undesirable to expose them to stress. To care for the fur, you can use dry shampoo, which is applied to the body and then combed out. It was good for the cat and didn’t make me nervous.
But the eyes require special care. Due to the special structure of the muzzle, Scottish Straights may experience frequent tearing. It is better to remove tears with a dry cloth or soft cloth. Water and wet wipes can be harmful.
Inspect your cat's ears regularly; you can clean them with cotton swabs or instill special ear drops that are sold in a pet store. The drops will soften the plaque, and the cat will not experience discomfort during hygiene procedures.
Your cat's teeth will remain healthy if you regularly offer her dry food, chew sticks, and toys. Thanks to them, teeth self-clean, which helps protect them from plaque and tartar formation. You can purchase a special toothpaste and brush and brush your cat’s teeth at least once a week.
It is strictly forbidden to remove a cat's claws, but caring for them is necessary. From an early age, accustom your kitten to a scratching post, trim its claws regularly by purchasing a special nail clipper. Kittens need to carry out manipulations twice a month, adult animals – monthly. You need to trim the claws carefully, without touching the pink part, where the blood vessels are close to the skin.
Nutrition of Scottish Straights
The cat's diet should be balanced. Natural products or ready-made industrial feeds of at least premium class must contain the required amount of proteins, fats, vitamins, minerals and amino acids. Meat as the main source of protein should make up at least 80% of the total diet. Poultry, rabbit, and beef are best suited. It is recommended to give your cat offal once or twice a week. You can’t give them raw – only boiled. Every week you need to give your cat low-fat sea fish: it is rich in omega-3 fatty acids necessary for the cat’s body.
Cats need plant foods. Vegetables can be given raw or boiled, mixed with meat. Of the fermented milk products, those with low fat content are acceptable, but milk is only allowed for kittens up to 3 months of age; later, animals develop lactose intolerance. You can feed your cat well boiled ones. Add a boiled chicken egg yolk to your food twice a week.
All foods from your table are prohibited for your cat because they contain salt and spices. You should not give fish with bones, potatoes, bread, legumes, which can harm the cat’s digestive system.
The diet will depend on the age of the animal:
- kittens up to six months of age are fed up to 4 times a day;
- from 6 to 12 months – three times a day;
- After a year, you can switch your cat to two meals a day.
The rarest colors of Scottish cats
Several years ago, the highest price was set for kittens of unusual silver and gold shades. But in the modern cat market there are more and more of them. Today, ticked Scots and golden chinchillas are considered the most expensive.
Scottish straight golden chinchilla
Interesting! The most common iris color among Scots is gold. However, there are some exceptions. Usually the eye color matches the coat. Blue or multi-colored eyes are quite rare, these animals can be white, bicolor or tortie. Orange iris is a very beautiful, but the rarest eye color in this breed.
Surrounding area
Reviews about the habits of the Scottish straight-eared cat and the nature of his behavior confirm the fact that these are quite calm and balanced animals. Professional breeders say that pets can change significantly due to the human factor. For example, the presence of mischievous children in the house can have both a negative and a completely positive effect on a kitten.
If adults allow children to treat kittens roughly and cruelly, not realizing that pets are vulnerable and weak, then as they grow up, the animals may become withdrawn, angry and suspicious. Cases have been recorded when pets began to take revenge on their owners. If children and adults approach the cat with affection and are kind to it, then the animal grows up calm and, depending on its disposition, mischievous or peaceful.
Genetics of Scottish cat colors
In cats of this breed, 2 genes predominate, which are responsible for the red and black color. One of them acts as dominant, and the other as recessive (i.e., the one that is suppressed). There is also a 3 diluent gene, which is responsible for the saturation of the pigment. These genes are combined and as a result we get a variety of colors: from the well-known blue to the cheerful-looking harlequin.
By the way, while the kitten is still small (several weeks), it is impossible to say exactly what its color will be. The final coloring is formed when, after a child's molt, the coat is replaced by an adult coat. Usually the color is ready by six months, although it may change slightly for another 1.5 years.
Description of the Scottish Straight cat
Scottish cats differ in a number of characteristic features that are unique to this breed. Sometimes animals are often confused with the British species, but during the comparison process the following differences can be identified:
- more rounded head;
- the body has an oblong and elongated shape, which gives the animal elegance;
- body proportions are slightly reduced;
- the average weight of a cat is 3 - 5 kg, boys weigh slightly more than females;
- pets are very flexible and remain hardy and playful at any age.
Scottish cat color charts
When purchasing a Scottish kitten with a passport from a breeder, most likely you will see markings of numbers and letters there. This is an international code used in the classification accepted among breeders. The Scottish breed includes four cats: fold-eared (Scottish Fold), straight-eared (Scottish Straight), long-haired fold-eared (Highland Fold), straight-eared long-haired (Highland Straight).
This is what the color code looks like: XXX.xx.NN.NN.NN.(NN) , where:
XXX . Abbreviated name of the breed in three capital letters: SFS - Scottish Fold, SFS 71* - Scottish Straight, SFL - Highland Fold, SFL 71* - Highland Straight.
xx . Lowercase letters indicating the main coat color (up to two):
| Letter (designation) | English name | Russian name |
| a | blue | blue |
| b | chocolate, brown, chestnut | chocolate, brown, Havana, champagne |
| c | lilac, lavender | lilac, lavender, platinum |
| d | red, flame | red |
| e | cream | cream |
| f | tortoiseshell, patch | tortoiseshell |
| g | blue-cream, blue-tortie | blue cream, blue tortoiseshell |
| h | chocolate-tortie | chocolate tortoiseshell |
| j | lilac-tortie | lilac tortoiseshell |
| n | black, ebony, seal, sable, ruddy | black, ebony, seal, sable, wild |
| o | sorrel, cinnamon, honey | sorrel, cinnamon, honey |
| p | beige fawn | yellow-brown, beige |
| q | sorrel tortie | red-brown tortoiseshell |
| r | beige fawn cake | beige tortoiseshell |
| s | silver, smoke | silver, smoky |
| w | white | white |
| y | golden | golden |
| z | unregistered | unregistered |
NN.NN.NN.(NN) - values of pairs of digits (up to 3 main and 1 auxiliary):
- Numbers from 1 to 35, which decipher the color features (harlequin, van, smoke, etc.):
| Letter (designation) | English name | Russian name |
| 01 | van | van |
| 02 | harlequin | harlequin |
| 03 | bicolour | two-color, bicolor |
| 04 | mitted/white point | with white markings (for color points) |
| 09 | little white spots | white spotting (1-2 cm) |
| 11 | shaded | shaded (1/4 of the top part of the hair is darkened) |
| 12 | tipped, shell | veiled (1/8 of the top part of the hair is darkened) |
| 21 | tabby, agouti | striping, agouti factor |
| 22 | blotched, marble | marble |
| 23 | mackerel, tiger | mackerel, tiger |
| 24 | spotted | spotted |
| 25 | ticked | ticked or Abyssinian |
| 31 | burmese | Burmese |
| 32 | tonkinese | Tonkinese |
| 33 | himalayan or siam | Himalayan, Siamese, point |
| 34 | Singapore | Singaporean |
| 35 | abyssinian | Abyssinian |
- A pair of numbers from 51 to 54 indicating the length of the tail:
| Letter (designation) | English name | Russian name |
| 51 | rumpy | taillessness |
| 52 | rumpy riser | remainder of the tail – 1-2 vertebrae |
| 53 | stumpy | bob – 7-13 cm. curled tail |
| 54 | longy | long/normal tail |
- A pair of numbers from 61 to 67 indicating eye color:
| Letter (designation) | English name | Russian name |
| 61 | blue | blue |
| 62 | yellow, golden | yellow, orange, golden |
| 63 | oddeyed | disagreement |
| 64 | green | green |
| 65 | burmese | Burmese cat eye color |
| 66 | onkinese | Tonkinese cat eye color |
| 67 | himalayan or siam | eye color of Himalayan and Siamese cats |
- A pair of numbers 71 (straight) or 73 (dropping), indicating the shape of the ears.
Eye care for Scottish pets
The eyes of Scottish kittens, due to their structure (narrowing), sometimes become watery and sour. With clean hands, take a cotton swab, soak it in chlorhexidine, squeeze it out and wipe the outside of the kitten's eyes, ridding them of discharge and crusts (use a new cotton swab for each eye). Then drop eye drops, for example “Iris” or “Diamond Eyes”, drop 1-2 drops into the problematic eye 2-3 times a day until the situation improves.
In the photo you can see what two happy Scottish kittens look like
How coat color affects the character of a Scotsman
When purchasing a pet, you should not chase fashion; it is better to trust your preferences and tastes. The main thing is that the cat turns out to be “yours” in temperament and character. By the way, some cat owners are sure that the color of the fur affects the behavior of the animal and leaves an imprint on its character.
White and light colored
You want to cuddle these babies endlessly. But they, as a rule, do not like increased attention to themselves. Although they are very loyal to the owner, they are extremely wary and wary of other people. Among some peoples there is a belief that a white cat brings good luck. Whether this is true or not is not known for certain. But the white color can cause a lot of problems for the cats themselves, since 5% of all snow-white cats are born completely deaf. Previously, it was believed that deafness was the fate of absolutely all white-furred tails, but later scientists proved that this is not so. But when buying such a kitten, you should still be more careful.
Black
Despite all the existing prejudices and myths regarding black cats, in practice they are one of the friendliest towards people. They like to stay close to their owner all their free time and always keep him in sight. Charcoal cats are wise, quick-witted, and keenly aware of a person’s mood.
Redheads
Such animals are a ray of sunshine in your home. It is believed that a ginger cat in the home is the key to an indispensable increase in well-being. Those with fiery fur are very playful, willful, cheerful and curious creatures. The golden shades of fur that are fashionable today are characteristic of more formidable animals, whose disposition can hardly be called friendly. And golden Siamese cats are generally considered the worst tailed cats.
Blue and silver
Silver and blue fluffies are real aristocrats. Calm, balanced, noble. They love their owner devotedly, although they are not always ready to demonstrate this publicly. It is believed that these four-legged pets are able to calm and relieve stress in humans. In addition, cats of this color are absolutely not vindictive.
Two-color
Such cats are most in demand among buyers. In addition to their interesting color, they have an easy-going disposition, are friendly, and kind even towards children. Bicolor cats love their owners very much and get along well with other pets.
Tortoiseshells
We are talking specifically about cats, since among cats this color is not a sign of the breed, but, on the contrary, its defect. Pussy turtles are extremely friendly, intelligent, and even slightly flirtatious. They enjoy communicating with new people and love their owner. In some countries, having such a cat at home is a symbol of wealth and prosperity.
Features of choosing a Scottish breed kitten
When choosing a kitten, the future owner is guided not only by his mind, but also by his heart. After all, this creature will live with all household members side by side for 10–15 years, and whether the pet will become a real member of the family, bring joy or become a great disappointment depends on how correct the choice is.
Before you buy a “Scottish” kitten, you need to familiarize yourself with information about this breed and study the photographs presented on the websites of nurseries with a good reputation. Purchasing an animal secondhand does not guarantee its health or purity of the breed.
Scottish kittens of any variety are born with straight ears; in future Scottish Folds, the ears fall off after 3-4 weeks.
Criteria for choosing a “Scottish” kitten
It is better to make a choice of a kitten by visiting the nursery and observing the animal in its familiar environment. First of all, it is necessary to visually evaluate the appearance of the cat you like and other babies, as well as adult animals present in the nursery. A healthy kitten has smooth, shiny fur without bald spots, clean ears and eyes. He should not sneeze, cough or itch.
A healthy kitten is an active, playful animal that is not afraid of humans.
When choosing a “Scotsman”, you must definitely pay attention to the gait - it should be free, without the discomfort experienced by the animal when walking. You should also feel the tail to see if there are any kinks on it. If any of these criteria are not met, then with a high degree of probability it can be assumed that the baby has an articular pathology characteristic of the breed.
According to the standard, Scottish Fold and Scottish Straight babies should have a rounded head, large round eyes, a short wide nose and a medium-length flexible tail.
Fold ears should be well folded and fit perfectly into the circumference of the head.
The ideal age for handing over a kitten to its owners is considered to be 2.5–3 months. It is worth refusing to purchase a pet if the breeder is ready to give the animal away before this date. Documentary support when purchasing a kitten must include a purchase and sale agreement, a veterinary passport and a pedigree.
