Scottish Fold breed standard

Care and maintenance of fold-eared cats

To keep your animal healthy, carry out hygiene procedures and care for its fur. Cats are unpretentious to their living conditions. They should have a clean litter tray. Immediately determine a place for dishes with food and water. Prepare your sleeping area for relaxation.

Hygiene procedures

Trimming nails is one of the important types of care. It needs to be done once a month. Buy a special pruning shears that will prevent injury and make the procedure convenient and safe.

Examine your eyes daily. Wipe off the discharge with a cotton pad. Prolonged tearing may indicate an infection. If pus or an unpleasant odor appears, consult a doctor. Give deworming medication twice a year.

Grooming

In order for the animal to be healthy and neat looking, you need to monitor its appearance:

1. Brush your cat once a week. When the coat begins to shed, do this daily. Purchase a short-toothed brush from a pet store. For the Highland Fold breed, a comb is suitable.
2. Wash your cat with a special shampoo once a month. Keep your ears dry and do not allow water to get into them.
3. As soon as the warm season begins, treat for fleas. Follow the instructions for use of the composition.

A light-colored animal can be washed on the day of the show. In hot weather, you need to turn to professionals to slightly reduce the length of the coat.

Content

If you have decided to bring a white Scottish kitten into your home, you need to know everything about proper care.

• You should always ventilate the room, as tartans cannot tolerate stuffiness.
• You need to remember about bathing. It should take place at least 3-4 times a year using a special shampoo at a comfortable water temperature (up to 40 degrees Celsius). After the procedure, you need to gently blot your pet with a towel without rubbing it, use a hairdryer to dry it if the animal is not afraid of the sound of the device, and, of course, brush it. Kittens especially do not like water, so in extreme cases you can buy a special dry shampoo or choose a spray.
• Cats must be brushed at least 2 times a week. To do this, you need to use a brush with rare teeth so as not to injure your pet.
• No matter how fashionable it may be to take pets to salons, it is not recommended to cut these cats, as their fur protects them from hypothermia.
• In sedentary cats who do not leave the house at all, their claws need to be treated. You can purchase a special nail clipper and use it every two weeks. It is better to take care of buying a scratching post and get the kittens accustomed to it, observing where they like to sharpen their claws.
• Kittens' eyes can become very watery - this is due to the special structure of the nasolacrimal ducts. You should regularly wash your pet's eyes with gauze, moistening it with water.
• Ears should always be cleaned with a cotton swab soaked in vegetable oil. You can also purchase special solutions for treating ears at your veterinary pharmacy.
• Toilet. It is easy to accustom a kitten to the tray by simply placing it in the required place after sleeping and feeding. Scottish dogs quickly get accustomed to this and rarely cause trouble for their owners.
• Short-faced cats often have problems with their teeth and gums, so every week it is necessary to hygienically brush their teeth with a cat brush. You can use water or buy a special paste for pets.

Caring for a white Scot will never be a burden

From childhood, you need to pay attention to hygiene, nutrition and care of your pet. In this case, a healthy pet will always be in a great mood and will become a best friend for many years.

For more information about Scottish cats, see the following video.

Scottish Straights are prone to diseases

Unlike the fold-eared variety of the Scottish breed, which is prone to joint problems, Scottish Straights have better health. They have a predisposition to certain diseases, but this does not mean that these pathologies will necessarily manifest themselves. The owner just needs to know about possible health problems in Scottish Straight dogs in order to recognize their signs in time and be able to provide first aid.

Diseases that may occur in Scottish Straights include:

1. Urolithiasis disease. Males are more susceptible to this pathology than kittens. It manifests itself in frequent and painful urination - the animal may meow while sitting in the tray. Blood may also appear in the urine. A pet with this problem may often lick its genitals. If an illness is detected, you should visit a veterinarian as soon as possible. To alleviate your pet's condition, you can place a warm heating pad on his stomach - the heat will relieve spasms and reduce pain.
2. Cardiomyopathy. This is a cardiac pathology, manifested by shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, and tachycardia. To prevent its development and alleviate the animal’s condition, in addition to appropriate therapy prescribed by a specialist, the owner must protect his pet from stress and take care to enrich his food with a sufficient amount of taurine.

   
   Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy involves thickening of the walls of the heart ventricle, making it difficult to function

3. Ear problems. The most common ear pathologies include otodecosis, or ear mites, and otitis media, an inflammatory process that can be caused by water, a cold, or the presence of parasites. If your pet scratches its ears, presses them up and shakes its head, or there is discharge from them, then you should contact a specialist.
4. Discharge from the eyes. Clear, moderate discharge from the eyes is not a reason to panic. Their cause is the special structure of the “Scots” skull, in which the nasolacrimal ducts are greatly narrowed. You need to be concerned if the discharge becomes excessive, is colored in any color, your pet's eyelids are swollen and the eyes are difficult to open.
5. Obesity. The tendency for Scottish Straights to gain excess weight is a genetic problem. The owner’s task is to adhere to the principles of proper nutrition and feed the pet with high-quality and healthy products.
6. Worms.
   Symptoms of a worm infestation may include constipation or diarrhea, bloating, anal problems, eye discharge, changes in appetite, lethargy and bad breath. This pathology can also be asymptomatic. Deworming is carried out once every 3-4 months - for prevention, two weeks before the next vaccination, before castration and before mating. Experts recommend the drugs Pirantel, Drontal, Kanikvantel. Kanikvantel is a drug for the prevention and treatment of helminthic infestations, recommended by veterinarians
7. Ringworm. Symptoms of the pathology, which is also dangerous for humans, are spots on the skin, itching and hair loss. Treatment for lichen can take up to 1.5 months. During this period, it is necessary to limit the animal’s contact with all family members and carry out a general cleaning of the house. For treatment, Miconazole, Clotrimazole ointments, Nizoral shampoo, Vakderm or Microderm vaccines are used.

Ringworm in a cat leads to the appearance of patches of baldness on the fur.

Defects in appearance for which a Scottish Straight cannot be allowed to participate in the competition include:

• arched back;
• twisted hind limbs;
• hard, immobile or too short tail;
• hook on the tail;
• wide and large ears;
• flat forehead;
• massive bones;
• wrong number of fingers;
• fused fingers.

Characteristic

Representatives of the Scottish Fold breed can be found in some sources under the name Scottish Fold. This cat breed is quite new, so it is not as common in the world as other cat breeds. However, this does not make them less popular among pets in all countries. Like any other breed, Scottish Folds have their own distinctive characteristics:

• a harmoniously built body with correct proportions;
• average paw length with a well-developed muscular system;
• straight long tail;
• the head has a rounded shape due to plump cheeks;
• the muzzle is not flat, but not particularly elongated;
• round eyes, the color of which differs depending on the color;
• small ears pressed to the head.

Since this cat breed is considered relatively young, the signs of a purebred Scottish representative are still debated among experts. However, some common characteristics have already taken root.

• The average weight is from 3 to 6 kg.
• The height of an adult can reach 28-34 cm.
• The World Cat Federation does not have a specific requirement for the color of Scottish Fold cats, but the Association of Cat Fanciers does not recognize some coat colors: chocolate, lilac-blue and colorpoint.
• Life expectancy is about 13-15 years, but if the cat does not have congenital diseases, then it can live up to 20-23 years.
• Scottish Fold cats have a kind, quiet character; by their nature, they are very indifferent to everything that happens around them. Lazy by nature, he will prefer to sleep peacefully in his arms rather than follow the heels of his owner. Such a cat will never remain indifferent to the downcast mood of the owner and will definitely come to him in order to console him.
• As for their mental abilities, what should be noted here is their ability to quickly get used to the tray and scratching post.

It should be noted that Scottish Fold cats are not vindictive, but timid. For this reason, you should not shout or scold your pet too much, as this can affect the animal’s mental state. They really like to watch the actions of their owners, to be just outside observers. They are not clingy. If they need anything, the animals will simply meow quietly, and not yell at the whole house.

Scottish fold blue cats easily take root in a new home, and quite quickly remember what they are forbidden to do and where they should not go. The good news for those who want to teach their pet commands is that the Scots learn the simplest commands quite quickly and easily.

When traveling, representatives of this cat breed behave calmly and quietly. Having prepared a comfortable place for your pet, you can easily take it with you on vacation - it tolerates travel quite easily. The owner is required to have a convenient basket for transporting the animal, a pre-prepared tray for urinating, and bowls for water and food.

Tabby or spotted cats

Tabby

Cats of this color can be of two types - classic tabby, also called marbled or tabby. Scottish Fold kittens are usually multi-colored and have circular rings on the back of their heads and behind their shoulders, usually a darker color than their base color.

Tabby and marbled cats can have colors such as:

• Blue marble;
• Lilac marble;
• Chocolate spotted;
• Black marbled or spotted;
• Cream or red marble and others.

Marbled cats may have an "M" shape and a striped tail. Silver and marbled cats may have green or yellow-green eyes. It looks very nice.

Keeping Scottish cats

Since these animals are short-haired, they do not require any special grooming. It is necessary to organize periodic combing with a special brush for cat hair and washing as needed. In order for your cat to feel good, it is enough to brush it no more than once a week.

For the health of the animal, it is also necessary to clean its ears, approximately once a month. This will help avoid the occurrence of many diseases and maintain hygiene at the required level. It is also necessary to take care of timely trimming of claws, this must be done so that the animal cannot hurt anyone, including itself.

Drawings

Classic Tabby (CLASSIC TABBY PATTERN)

: The pattern is dense, clear and the lines are wide.
The paws are evenly striped with rings merging at the top into the body pattern. The tail is evenly ringed with stripes. Several closed rings around the neck, the more the better. On the forehead there is a design in the form of the letter “M”. Continuous stripes extending from the corners of the eyes. Spirals on the cheeks. Vertical lines on the back of the head expanding on the shoulders and sides in the shape of a butterfly with separately drawn upper and lower wings (with dots on the wings). The pattern of the back is made up of two vertical lines similar to the body of a butterfly (what it has between its wings), clearly separated by three lines of the main color. A large solid spot on each side that should be surrounded by one or more rings. The pattern on both sides should be symmetrical. Double row of buttons on the lower body. Brindle tabby (MACKEREL TABBY PATTERN)
: the pattern is dense, clear and all the lines are narrow.
The paws are evenly striped with thin rings merging at the top into the body pattern. The tail is striped. The necklaces around the neck are clear and separate, like chains. On the forehead there is a design in the form of the letter “M”. Continuous stripes extending from the corners of the eyes. Lines descending from head to shoulders. Saddle-shaped lines on the back. Narrow lines around the body. SPOTTED TABBY PATTERN
: Nice clear spots.
The spots can be round, oblong or rosette-shaped. The preferred shape of the spots is not specified, but their pattern must be clear and vary in location. The spots should not merge into a marble pattern. The dorsal stripe of visually merging spots extends to the tail. The head pattern is like a classic tabby. There are “vest buttons” on the stomach. The legs and tail are striped. SILVER TABBY
: Base color with a pale silver tint.

Why do kittens' eyes change color?

Eye color in cats depends on the amount of coloring pigment. Therefore, the reason for the change in eye color is the accumulation of melanin in the eyeball during the development of the visual organs. However, blue color is a recessive trait, which is why eyes of this shade are very rare.

At the moment of embryo formation, there are approximately 3 dozen pigment centers in the body of the future kitten. Migrating throughout the animal’s body during its development, the bulk of them settle in the fur. At the same time, the eyes account for only a small proportion of pigments, which continue to accumulate after the kitten is born. In the process of their accumulation, a change in the color of the kitten’s eyes occurs.

Buying a Scottish Fold kitten

Babies are given away at the age of two or three months. A healthy kitten should be friendly, active, and curious. Do not choose an animal that is too calm or playful, with receding hairlines and combing. These may be the first signs of poor health or character.

Cats are bought for breeding and participation in exhibitions.

This will protect you from buying a sick kitten. The breeder provides a written health guarantee (passport).

How do kittens' eyes change?

The final eye color in cats is established by the age of 2 years. The process of changing the color of the iris is called reblooming. Most often it begins in the 4th week of a kitten’s life. In this case, the usual blue tint of the eyes is diluted with splashes of a different color. Gradually, these inclusions grow and the animal’s eyes acquire a constant shade.

So, if you have a preference for cats with a certain eye color, adopt a kitten at 4 months of age. At this time, it is already possible to determine what color of the pet’s iris will be. Later it may acquire greater depth and richness, but its basic tonality will remain unchanged. It is worth noting that eye color is not a feature of a particular breed. This is a purely genetic criterion, where blue color is a recessive trait.

The color of the animal depends on the accumulation of melanin pigment. There is more of it in the fur, and less in the eye area. The absence of a coloring component is indicated by the blueness of the organs of vision. The phenomenon is typical for albinos. However, the transformation of the visual organs is also associated with age-related changes.

Age-related changes

Up to two weeks, the color of the cub's eyes is masked by a grayish film. In a growing kitten, pigment accumulates, so the color of the iris changes. The following eye colors are typical for cats:

• bluish;
• green;
• yellow;
• orange (copper).

The main tone of the kitten's eye color is formed by 17 weeks. It is at this age that a breeder should purchase a breeding animal.

Breed differences

The color of the iris is a sign of a purebred cat. For some breeds, eye color does not matter. Others - with atypical coloring - are excluded from breeding. Blue eyes are characteristic of albinos of different breeds. A distinctive feature of the British is the orange iris. For black solids, any color except green is acceptable. The standard for Siamese and Thai cats is blue.

Purchasing a kitten

It is best to purchase any purebred pet, including a Scottish Straight kitten, from a nursery with a good reputation. Every self-respecting breeder has his own website, where you can first familiarize yourself with the necessary information and look at photographs.

What should a healthy purebred kitten look like? Here are the main criteria to consider when purchasing:

• the fur should not be dull, matted or bald;
• discharge from the eyes should not be excessive or colored;
• the ears should be clean, without pus or other suspicious discharge;
• the cub’s tummy should not be swollen, the anus should be clean and not protruding;
• there should be no underbite or overshot;
• the cub should not have difficulty walking, it should be playful and active, and easy to make contact with.

Breed characteristics of the “Scottish” that you should pay attention to when purchasing include:

• the shape of the muzzle is round;
• the shape and size of the ears - they should be small and in line with the cheekbones;
• the shape of the body - it should be slightly stretched, rectangular, tightly knit;
• condition of the tail - it should not have any kinks or knots;
• The fur should be plush and short.

A good breeder does not sell babies if they are not yet 2.5 months old. A kitten younger than this age is not yet ready to be separated from its mother and has not acquired the skills of independent living. The baby you like can be reserved - the breeder will give it to the owner when he is ready to move. The purchase of an animal must be documented in a sales contract. The breeder must also provide the buyer with a veterinary passport and pedigree of the pet.

Little straight-eared Scots resemble funny teddy bears, they seem to be smiling all the time

Before deciding on a kitten, it is worth talking to several breeders and collecting information. Then decide on the terms of purchase. Carefully study the documents and agreement. Typically, breeders post such information on the nursery website or send it by email upon request. The clauses of the buyer's rights and the seller's obligations in the contract, as well as information on admission to breeding, require special attention.

Scottish kittens are taken home from the breeder at the age of 2.5-3 months. At this age, kittens have all their vaccinations, their ears are formed (straight or folded), and the basic characteristics of the breed are well expressed.

When choosing a kitten, it is important to pay attention to all the kittens in the litter; if the kittens are healthy, you will see the following:

1. Kittens are active and playful.
2. The kittens calmly go into their arms, they are socialized.
3. The kittens have no traces of discharge around the eyes or near the nose.
4. The area under the tail is clean and the tummies are not bloated.
5. The ears are free of plaque, straight, and of regular shape.
6. Tails without creases, movable.
7. The coat is shiny, fluffy, clean.
8. Kittens smell like milk, there is no unpleasant odor from their mouths.

The cost of a Scottish Straight kitten in Russia starts from 10 thousand rubles. The price is calculated individually and depends on the value of the kitten for the further development of the breed, on its breed qualities and the level of the nursery.

Primary colors

Today, the number of Scottish Fold colors includes about a hundred variations. Moreover, the color of a Scottish cat’s coat is not immediately established. At six months the kitten will have its first molt, after which the baby fur will change to an adult one. Later, the color may change slightly and is finally established only by two years.

Scots have 2 main genes that are responsible for the red and black coat colors. In addition, there is a third gene called diluent, which determines the saturation of the pigment. One of the two main genes takes over, the combination occurs in a different order, resulting in different colors in Scottish Folds.

It is because of this play of genes that the black color turned out to be bluish, the chocolate color turned into lilac, and so on. Even when forming a color, such indicators as the degree of coloring of each hair hair and the presence of spots and patterns are important. Among the Scottish Folds there are also pure white individuals. This means that they lack the gene responsible for color and the suppression of the gene for this color by other genes.

Plain

These colors of cats are characterized by uniform coloring of the coat. If there are inclusions, then this color is classified as non-uniform. Due to the presence of such a small defect, the price of a kitten is reduced. This group includes:

• blue;
• white;
• chocolate;
• lilac;
• black – ebony;
• faun;
• red;
• cinnamon – reminiscent of the color of cinnamon;
• cream or peach.

Two-color or bicolor

The coat color of these feline representatives consists of two parts: one is white, and the second is one of the same colors or striped. Ideally, the pattern should be located symmetrically on the cat's body.

Point

The color in this case resembles the coloring of Siamese cats, that is, the main body color is always light, and the mask, ears, tips of the paws and tail are darker. There are subspecies with lilac, chocolate, cream blue and even tortoiseshell splashes. This color occurs due to a special gene that darkens areas of the body with a lower temperature.

Torties or tortoiseshells

The name of this rare color comes from the English word "turtle". The color is formed by spots of dark, red or cream colors. They come in black or chocolate-red, blue or lilac-cream. At the same time, the colors are distributed evenly, so they should not be confused with calico cats. Normally, this coloring occurs only in females. If a male Scottish Fold tortoiseshell is born, then this is the result of a mutation, and he will not bear offspring.

Smoky

The coloring suggests that the hairs have a uniform color along almost the entire length, and become lighter at the base. The color of the hairs, when they have part of a silver-white color and part of any other shade, is called tipping. The dominant gene for silver color is responsible for it.

Tabby

Everyone's favorite minke whales are also among the Scottish Folds. They are characterized by a “crown” pattern on the head, highlighting at the back of the ears, a border around the eyes and nose, stripes on the neck, paws and tail. Tabbies are divided into different subspecies:

• brindle;
• leopard print;
• marble.

By color pigment, tabbies are classified as follows:

• silver with a black pattern;
• silver-blue with a whitish undercoat;
• blue – there is a blue pattern on a creamy blue background;
• brown with black stripes, spots or stains;
• cream;
• red;
• cameo tabby, suggesting a red pattern on a white background.

They combine two colors at once: white and tortoiseshell.

Chinchilla

In this color, the tipping effect takes the following form: only one-eighth of the hair is colored dark, and the rest is white. Among them the following varieties are distinguished:

• silver;
• gold;
• blue golden is the rarest type of color.

The ticking effect involves dyeing the hairs not in two, but in three colors at once.

Shaded

In them, the pigment colors only the very tip of the hairs, and the rest of the hair is white. There is a light undercoat, a shaded part of the hair fibers in certain areas of the body - at exhibitions, experts evaluate how evenly and correctly it is located. The presence of signs of a tabby pattern is prohibited. They are divided into:

• red;
• silver;
• golden.

Wang

Their color combines a white body with a tail and muzzle of a darker shade, possibly interspersed with several spots with a plain or tabby pattern.

Harlequin

These are white individuals with a dark tail, as well as spots that are not located next to each other, but are distributed throughout the body. Such animals look very colorful, which is why they got such an interesting name.

A little about genetics

It is especially interesting how the color of a Scottish kitten is formed and what it depends on. In the genome of this breed, two colors predominate, responsible for the color of the animal - red and black. Anyone can, under certain conditions beyond a person’s control, become dominant. Such a gene suppresses weak ones, which are called recessive. There is also a third gene, the so-called diluent. It is responsible for the degree of pigmentation saturation.

When these genes are combined with each other, the most unusual coat colors of an animal can appear. It is extremely difficult to determine in the first weeks what color a kitten will have in the future. The shade he was born with is not constant and may change as he grows older. In some cases, dramatic changes occur. The change in shade begins at six months and lasts up to two years. The table below shows options for crossing the colors of parents, according to which their offspring inherits the coat color.

How the coat colors of the offspring are crossed.

Material on the topic: how to get a Scottish fold cat.

Choosing a name

The animal's name should reflect its nature, character traits or appearance. These are usually the main criteria. It’s good if the name contains hissing sounds: this will help the animal quickly get used to its nickname. Her choice depends solely on the owner’s imagination. The name should be short and easy to pronounce: this will be more convenient for both the owners and the animal. There are a number of suitable nicknames for boys.

• You can name a cat by a traditional cat name: Fluff, Plyukha, Iris, Bow, Busik.
• Sometimes an animal is called by a human name. You can choose a noble name to match your pet: Leopold, Sylvester, Archibald.
• A purebred cat would be nicknamed Winston, Zorro, Raisin, Marquis.

There is also a choice for girls:

• based on its external features, you can give it the touching nickname Nochka, Lapka;
• the cat will remember cute words with hissing sounds: Ixi, Christy;
• The beautiful name Agrafena (Pear), Taisiya (Tasya) would be suitable.

You will learn more information about the Scottish Fold cat breed from the following video.

Nutrition and care

Despite the fact that adults of this cat breed are calm and lazy, at a young age they need to be carefully monitored, since Scottish Fold kittens are energetic, restless and playful.

For this reason, you need to hide in advance various kinds of wires and fragile objects that the kitten may like. When choosing bowls for feeding, preference should be given to heavy containers so that the baby cannot knock them over. It is worth taking care of a place to relieve its natural needs, so that from the first days the pet learns to go to the toilet only there.

You need to find a place in the house for your pet to rest and equip it with a house or bedding in advance. You also need to buy a scratching post or make one yourself. To do this, wrap a thick rope tightly around the table leg.

Like any child, Scottish Fold kittens are very playful, so you need to buy them several different toys, otherwise these toys may become the owners' clothes or shoes.

Caring for this breed of cat is about the same as caring for any other cat. At least once every 1-2 weeks you need to comb his fur, for which you need to buy a special brush designed specifically for this. When bathing (about once every 6 months), under no circumstances should water get into your ears.

Once every two weeks, you need to clean your cat's ears using a rolled-up cotton pad. Using special scissors for trimming your pet's nails, you should shorten their length at least once a month. Deworming should be carried out once every three months, and fleas should be driven away in early spring.

It is worth keeping an eye on the animal's eyes: if they begin to turn sour, you need to wipe them with a cotton pad dipped in brewed strong black tea. If the eye condition does not improve within a week, you should take your pet to the veterinarian.

Scottish Fold blue cats are prone to gaining excess weight. To keep your pet healthy, you need to take its diet seriously. Representatives of this breed can be fed with premium-class dry food from a trusted manufacturer. Pet stores sell food specialized for a specific breed of cat. They contain all the microelements necessary for the full development and functioning of a pet.

Also suitable are boiled chicken offal, boiled sea fish, eggs, kefir, fermented baked milk, vitamin complexes (after consultation with a veterinarian).

For those who have decided to purchase a Scottish Fold blue cat kitten, it is necessary to contact only trusted breeders who will be able to provide all the documents of the kitten’s parents, including vaccinations.

Additional characteristics about the Scottish Fold blue cat can be found in the video below.

History of the Scottish Straight breed

For a long time, only the fold-eared “Scots” were officially recognized. The first kitten with unusual ears appeared by chance in Scotland, and then they began to be bred, mating with the British breed, which was closest in parameters. In the litter that appeared after such crossings, both lop-eared and straight-eared cubs were born. Babies with straight ears resembled “British” in many respects, which is why until 2004 they were recorded as British Shorthairs.

In 2004, felinologists revised their opinion. Representatives of the Scottish breed, including Scottish Straights, differed from the “British” in character, and also had a less massive skeleton and had a different skull shape. These arguments were accepted, and straight-eared Scots were recognized as a separate breed, although not by all international organizations. However, under the patronage of WCF with the code SFS71, Scottish Straights can participate in exhibitions and receive champion titles.

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.

by eye color

Eye color is finally established in mature animals; all kittens are born with blue eyes. Scottish cats and kittens have blue, green, golden, amber, orange, and copper colored eyes. Names are often related to the color of the Scots coat. In Scottish Fold cats:

• with white coat color, blue, amber eyes, sometimes odd-eyed, nicknames suit them: - Alba; Aurelia; Bead; Diamond; Isabel; Lobelia: Forget-me-not; Electra.
• With black coat color, amber eyes are bewitching and suitable for mythical names: - Azazel; Angelos; Gabriel; Hera; Cassiel; Amber.
• Cats with silver chinchilla fur have green or bluish eyes, and they are given majestic names: Athena; Apollo; Argentum; Zeus; Serebryanka.

for straight-eared people

Scottish cats Scottish Straight and Highland Straight. These long-haired and short-haired animals with erect ears are distinguished not only by their appearance; they are good-natured, affectionate, with cute faces and protruding ears, they evoke tenderness and delight, they quickly get used to all family members, but they also choose one as the owner. They are unobtrusive when it comes to affection; if they don’t like something, they will quickly go to a secluded place. How to name a cat so that it has beautiful names that bring joy to its owners.

• for a cat: - Douglas; Indigo; Kent; Luxury; Orpheus; Rocky; Spice;
• for a cat: - Isadora; Bohemia; Verona; Dinara; Cinderella; Carmen; Naomi; Glad; Tsatsa; Yasmina.

for fold ears

The Scottish Fold breed originated from a randomly born cat with unusual folded ears hanging inside the shell. In 1961, thanks to the efforts of breeders, the lop-eared cat became widely known and gained fans in many countries.

1. Owners choose the names of ancient and mythical heroes for purebred pets.

• For a cat: - Algeria; Abrek; Banzai; Jew; Euphrates; Hindu; Icarus; Cairo; Maximilian (Maksik); Ramses; Sphinx: Tamerlane; Genghis Khan (Genghis); Aesop; Young;
• For a fold cat: - Aziza; Viscountess; Savage; Cleopatra: Margot; Nefertiti; Penelope; Rajah; Sparta.

Colors of Scottish tabby breeds

Representatives of the fold-eared and straight-eared varieties, with a conformation called tabby, have zigzag outlines in the shape of an “M” on their foreheads. In addition, according to the standard, this type of color is characterized by narrow lines on the tail and limbs; they smoothly turn into marble patterns in the form of spots, as well as stripes on the neck and body of the animal.

Usually the picture is bright, contrasting with the main background. The eyes and the mirror (lobe, tip) of the nose are summed up.

Tabby colors are divided into the following varieties:

• Striped, also known as the brindle color of the Scots. This exterior corresponds to a distinct pattern of narrow stripes. There is a loose collar on the neck and a striped tail. Graceful stripes run across the entire body and at the top, at the withers, form a pattern reminiscent of a saddle.

• Tabby color with spots. Scottish cats (Scottish Straight) of this color have marks on their bodies of various shapes and sizes, the contours of these spots are distinct. Along the spine, the spots form a line stretching from the head to the tail, which, in turn, like the limbs, is covered with stripes. The belly is painted with small spots.

• Classic tabby color, also known as marble. The colors of representatives of these breeds that have this pattern come in all sorts of colors. The main thing that unites them is an irregularly shaped, distinct, contrasting pattern, reminiscent of stains on polished marble.

• Fiery color, also known as red or red. Tartans of this color have a bright red, clearly visible, but not contrasting pattern of spots and stripes against a background of a lighter tone. Their eyes are golden, their nose is pink-orange, and their pads are brick-colored.

• Blue tabby. The background of the fur is a cold gray color called blue. A distinct pattern of spots and stripes is indicated by a darker tone. The eyes are golden or heavenly. The nose is pink, as are the pads.

• Brown color. These fluffy tartans have beige fur with black patterns. The eyes and nose are dark, matching the fur. The pads are dark beige, almost black.

• Cream tabby. The fur is light peach with a darker, not very clear pattern of streaks and lines. The eyes are golden, and the nose and paw pads are pink.

• Silver color. In tartans of a similar color, the background color of the fur is silver with a clearly defined black pattern of stripes turning into spots. Eyes light beige or greenish. The nose is pink-beige. Paw pads are dark.

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Solid colors

These colors of Scottish cats include:

• Blue;
• Lilac;
• Chocolate;
• Black;
• White;
• Cream;
• Red;
• Cinnamon.

Black

Black cats usually have no spots. A few light hairs may appear on the dark coat. A purebred Scottish cat should be a uniform dark color, without bright spots or brown areas. The coat is usually shiny and well-groomed. Dark green eyes complement the overall appearance of the Scottish cat.

Chocolate

This color of Scottish Fold cats looks very beautiful. The chocolate shade is rare; if an animal was born of this color, it means that there were individuals of the same shade in its pedigree. The main thing is that there are no light spots on the kitten, especially on the paws or face. The shade is considered pure if the coat is the color of dark chocolate throughout the body.

Blue

Traditionally, the Scottish cat, with its beautiful gray color, or so-called blue, is very popular. Typically, kittens have a lighter shade, which begins to darken with age and acquires a characteristic sheen.

The blue Scottish Fold cat may have green, orange or light brown eyes.

The show type of the breed is presented in a gray-blue color, which should be uniform throughout the body.

Cream

Cream-colored Scottish cats are very beautiful, but are quite rare. They have peach or leopard shades that can change brightness depending on the rise in temperature or the beginning of the molting period.

Cream-colored cats may have copper or amber eyes.

Red

Scottish cats of this color can be either male or female. But it is worth knowing that this color is transmitted only through the maternal line, that is, a red Scottish Fold kitten can appear only if the cat has the same color. If the cat is red, and the cat, for example, is blue, the offspring will be of other shades, but not red.

Cinnamon

This shade is quite rare and is considered one of the most expensive. Thanks to selection, Scottish fold animals of the Cinnamon color appeared in the world, both plain and spotted. Many breeders try to produce offspring of this particular shade. Kittens usually have bright colors. The nose, paws and tip of the tail can be colored in shades of brown with a little pink added. The Scottish cat breed, which has the Cinnamon color, can have chocolate shades of color or reddish.

Lilac

Scottish kittens of lilac shades appear in the offspring of cats that have representatives of this color in their pedigree. Many people like coffee-colored animals. Cats of this coloring may have copper or bright orange eyes. On the nose, as a rule, there are coffee-with-lait spots.

White

It is believed that all white cats descended from one Scottish Fold mother. White animals are distinguished not only by their amazing coat color, but also by the shades of their eyes. They may have eyes of the same color, such as blue, copper or amber-orange. Also, sometimes there are cats with different eye colors - one may be copper, the other blue.

Kittens under one year of age may have a different color on their head, such as blue or black. As the cat ages, the other color disappears and it becomes white.

White Scottish cats can sometimes be deaf, but this does not affect its other qualities.

Colors of Scottish Straight cats

Scottish Straights have fairly good health.
However, they are prone to overeating. At the age of 7-8 years, problems with the urinary system, as well as joint diseases, may appear. Coat color is determined by the gene set. The Scottish Fold has two predominant colors: black and red. The genes responsible for the manifestation of a particular color are recessive (weak) and dominant (strong). The color saturation of the coat depends on the combination of these genes.

In total, there are 22 coat colors of fold-eared cats:

• blue;
• black;
• red;
• white;
• cream;
• chocolate;
• lavender;
• faun;
• cinnamon;
• bicolor;
• tabby (patterned) – marbled, spotted, brindle;
• smoky;
• shaded;
• chinchilla;
• point - cream, lilac, blue, choclit, tortie, tabby.

Solid

Such colors are also called solid. Even the slightest inclusions of other colors are unacceptable. The wool should be evenly colored, each hair from tip to root should have the same shade. If there are inclusions, then the kitten is considered defective, it is rated poorly at the exhibition, and is sold inexpensively.

Until recently, the most common Scots folds were blue ones. But today Scottish pets come in a variety of solid colors. Although red, black and chocolate representatives of the breed are still rare.

In addition to black, red and chocolate, valuable colors of Scottish Fold cats are those in which the coat is shimmering with gold or silver. It is difficult for breeders to maintain such colors, since they are unstable and can be lost when combined with other genes during crossing.

Bicolor

That is, two-color wool. Part of the coat is white, the other part may be:

• blue;
• red;
• creamy;
• tabby

With the latter option, the pattern should have strict symmetry. The more symmetrical the pattern, the more expensive the animal is.

White color is required for bicolor. Scottish Fold cats usually have white faces, chins, necks, chests, bellies and paws. Eyes come in both yellow and blue shades.

Dark spots that contrast with a lighter color base are tabby. In Scottish cats, patterns usually cover not only the body, but also the face, ears, neck, paws, and tail. A pattern in the form of the letter “M” is clearly visible on the forehead.

The table shows the color options for tabby Scottish cats.

Also, tabby colors in Scottish Fold cats are classified according to the color of the base and spots:

• silver base – black spots;
• silver with blue spots;
• red with dark red;
• brown with black;
• cream with blue;
• cream with dark cream;
• white with red patterns.

Tipping

This term refers to the transverse division of the hair into two tones. Typically, the upper part of the hair of a Scottish Fold cat is dark or black, the lower part is light (white or silver shades).

The tipping color varieties of Scottish cats are listed below.

Color point

This is the name of the “Siamese” coloring: the body is light, and the muzzle, ears, paws and tail are dark or black. A special gene forms the original color. When it is present in areas of the body where blood circulation is weaker, fur pigment is intensively produced.

Scottish Straight and Scottish Fold cats have the point color:

• cream;
• lilac (purple spots);
• blue (gray-blue);
• choklit (brown);
• cakes (red and cream);
• tabby (striped).

There is no difference in coat color variations between Scottish Straights and Folds. Cats with straight ears come in exactly the same colors as their fold-eared relatives:

• plain;
• bicolor;
• point;
• tipping;
• tabby

Similarly with the long-haired “Scots” (Highland Fold and Highland Straight), they are also characterized by all of the listed colors.

The most popular are smoky, chinchilla, single-color, tortoiseshell, and shaded representatives of the straight-eared Scottish variety.

Tortoiseshell and shaded

The name “shaded” refers to the color of Scottish cats, in which there is a soft transition from white to a multi-colored shade. As a rule, the animal's paws, belly, neck and chest are painted white, and the rest of the body has golden or gray streaks. The shaded red suggests stripes on the sides and base of the tail. The cat's face should remain light. With silver shading, the undercoat and ends of the long coat remain white.

Tortoiseshell color implies the presence of spots of different shades. As a rule, they have a brown tint with red markings. When purchasing a kitten, you should take into account the fact that the more harmoniously the spots are located, the more points the pet will receive at exhibitions. However, today there are no restrictions regarding tortoiseshell spots. That is, the breed standard allows any size and location.

Ticked color

Clear ticking (uniform zonal coloring, alternating dark yellow rings along the entire length of the hair with a dark tip) without traces of a pattern on the body. Bright representatives of the ticked color? Abyssinian and Somali cats.

Chinchilla

With this color, one eighth of the guard hair is colored, the rest of the hair is white. Varieties of color:

• Silver chinchilla. The undercoat of this color is white or light with black shading on the sides, back and tail. The tips of the ears, chin and belly are white.
• Golden chinchilla.
  It is distinguished by red shading on the tail, back, head and sides. The animal's muzzle and paws can be obscured by tipping.
• Blue golden chinchilla.
  The rarest color among chinchillas. It is characterized by an undercoat the color of baked milk and blue shimmering tipping. The eye color of this color is emerald.

Evaluation criteria and description

Scottish Folds are crossed with British and American Shorthairs.
At shows, cats are rated on a 100-point scale.

Content Features

Plush pets, like any cats, require proper care and proper nutrition. Before bringing home a Scottish kitten, the owner must purchase the following supplies for it:

• a small tray with low sides;
• bedding made from natural materials;
• scratching post;
• hypoallergenic toy.

It is necessary to begin raising an animal from the first days of the appearance of this fluffy ball in the house. Scottish cats are considered ideal pets. They easily make contact with all family members, having a special sympathy for small household members. Cats prefer sleep to active games. They are very attached to their owner and love to sit on his lap for hours.

The pet's sleeping place should not be located near a window or on the aisle. The Scots love warmth and comfort. They also do not like long walks in open areas. This breed is prone to being a homebody. For cats, various structures, such as stairs or shelves, are of great interest.

Scottish cats eat premium or super-premium food. They are highly digestible and rich in vitamins and minerals essential for cats. Natural foods are also suitable for Scots: lean meat, cereals, boiled fish and vegetables. The diet of kittens should be varied. And at the same time, babies should not be overfed. An overweight animal begins to move little and subsequently acquires a number of dangerous diseases.

Cats with short hair are brushed no more than once a week. This procedure is carried out using special brushes and combs. Bathe your pet as needed, and keep your ears and eyes clean every day. Scottish kittens are characterized by increased lacrimation, so the owner needs to stock up on special drops from the pet store.

The following video will tell you how to choose a healthy Scottish kitten.

Features of care

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

Wool

Standard care procedures required:

• wool – comb the hair 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 ends 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.

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.

Scottish Straights can be called one of the most unpretentious breeds to care for. A little attention and care, adherence to the principles of proper nutrition - and the pet will look great, be in excellent health, and will respond to the owner with adoration and devotion.

Behind the fur

It is enough to comb the coat of the Scottish Straight once a week, using alternately a sparse comb and a frequent brush made of natural bristles. At the end of the procedure, the remaining hairs should be collected with a wet palm. During the molting period, which happens approximately once every six months, combing will have to be done more often.

A special rubber glove is perfect for removing excess hair from Scottish Straights.

Scottish Straights are neat and clean animals, so frequent bathing is not necessary. In addition, the “Scots” are not enthusiastic about water procedures. For mild contamination, it is better to use dry shampoo, sold in pet stores, or bran heated in the oven. Both products should be applied to the coat and then combed out. If water procedures are still necessary, they should be carried out using special shampoos for short-haired cats.

Behind the eyes

Particular attention should be paid to the eyes of Scottish Straights. The fact is that this breed is characterized by a special structure of the muzzle, in which the animals are prone to frequent lacrimation. To remove moisture, use a soft cloth or dry cloth - cotton wool is not suitable due to the risk of lint getting into the eyes. You should not use water or wet wipes for pet hygiene - they disrupt the microflora and contribute to the development of the inflammatory process.

Behind the ears

Scottish Straight dogs need to have their ears inspected regularly. It is enough to clean them once a week using cotton swabs or discs that are not stitched along the edges. You can buy special products at the pet store that should be dropped into the ears before starting the procedure - they will soften plaque and dirt and make cleaning easier. Do not penetrate the stick deep into the ear canal to avoid injury. You need to clean carefully - from the base to the edge.

Behind the teeth

To maintain dental health, you can use dry food or special chewing toys sold in pet stores. There you can also purchase special paste and brush, which should be used to clean your teeth once every 7 days. If your cat's diet consists of natural products, it is useful to give her meat cut into large pieces to cleanse the mouth and train the jaw.

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Behind the claws

To prevent damage to furniture and carpets, your pet must be trained to use a scratching post from an early age. But sometimes even with active use of it, the cat’s claws still remain quite long. Their circumcision using a special device - a nail cutter - should be carried out for babies under six months of age once every 14 days, and for adults - once every 30 days.

You should trim your pet's claws using a special device - a nail clipper.

Nutrition

Owners of Scottish Straights can choose for their pets a diet consisting exclusively of natural food products, or feed them premium ready-made food. When feeding naturally, you should know which products must be present in the “Scots” diet, and which are contraindicated for the animal. Permitted products include:

1. Meat. Should be lean, boneless and make up 80% of the total diet. Beef, rabbit and poultry are suitable.
2. Offal. It is enough to give no more than 1-2 times a week and only boiled.
3. Dairy products. Should be low fat.
4. Plant products. Can be boiled or served raw. Usually vegetables are mixed with meat - this makes the pet more willing to eat them.
5. Fish. It is allowed to include only sea and low-fat seafood in the diet and no more than once a week.
6. Porridge. Buckwheat, oatmeal and rice should be well boiled.
7. Yolk. It is necessary to boil and give no more than 2 times a week.

All foods included in your pet's diet should not contain salt or spices. Any smoked, fried, pickled foods, as well as canned food, are prohibited. You should not give your pet small bones - he may swallow them and get hurt. Potatoes, bread, mushrooms and legumes are difficult to digest and are harmful to the animal's digestive system.

Cow's milk is also prohibited - after three months of age, cats develop lactose intolerance. They can use it with pleasure, but their well-being afterwards will be unimportant.

At the age of up to six months, the pet is fed up to 4 times a day; after six months, you can switch to three meals a day. When the Scottish Straight turns one year old, he becomes an adult cat. It is enough to feed an adult animal twice a day.

The grass is rich in useful elements and also cleanses the pet’s stomach of hairballs