Mating Scottish Fold cats and male cats: rules and tips

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So, mating a Scottish Fold cat with a male cat is prohibited. The reason for this was active gene mutations, which can lead to death, disability or deformity of future offspring.

Owners of Scottish Fold cats often wonder how to properly breed them. Many people believe that a Scottish cat should be crossed with a cat of the same breed. In their opinion, this is the only way to breed a purebred breed and improve its qualities.

Many breeders cross the Scottish Fold and Scottish Straight breeds; they are almost the same, but the latter are straight-eared. The kittens turn out healthy, some of them have straight ears, and some have drooping ears.

At what age should you start mating?

The optimal age for mating is considered to be one and a half years . If a cat has never had kittens before two years of age, irreparable health problems may arise. During this period, the animal is completely ready for fertilization and the appearance of offspring. The first mating of Scottish cats should not occur after the first heat. The cat is not ready yet, either morally or physically; all the discharge is already unpleasant for her. Against this background, she may have a nervous breakdown, she will become aggressive and distrustful.

Important: if mating is carried out before the required age, this can cause such serious consequences as pathologies of the kitten, difficult birth and death of the cub. Males may also experience troubles, for example, he may become infertile early.

Care and maintenance

The owner will have to devote a lot of time to caring for the furry pet.

Dogs' soft fur is prone to tangling and matting. If you do not take care of it properly, the dog will lose its attractiveness and will have a sloppy appearance.

Comb them daily using a special slicker brush.
Once every three to four months, the pet is bathed, choosing a shampoo designed for curly-haired dogs for water treatments. But in the groin area, face and paws of the pet you will have to wash every day, since in these places the fur gets dirty most often.
It is recommended to trim your dog's hair at least once a month. If the owner is not sure that he can handle this, the haircut can be entrusted to a groomer.
Bichons often have watery eyes, so they need to be cleaned regularly. Discharge from the eyes is removed with a cotton swab soaked in a special antiseptic solution. It is undesirable to use tea leaves or potassium permanganate for this purpose, as it colors the snow-white fur of dogs. It is also a good idea to periodically trim the fur around your pet’s eyes.
Physical activity is not required and, if the dog is accustomed to relieve its natural needs in the tray, then it is not necessary to walk it every day. But the lapdog will be happy to accompany its owner on a walk.

These dogs love coziness and comfort, so it is necessary to purchase a soft lounger or house for the dog.

Feeding

Both dry food and natural food are suitable for feeding French lap dogs.

A Bichon Frese dog's diet should not contain anything spicy or fatty.

Premium ready-made dry food contains all the ingredients curly-haired dogs need (meat, vegetables), vitamins and healthy additives, which is why experts recommend it for feeding.
If the owner prefers natural food, then he should remember that the main food product for lap dogs should be lean raw meat, cut into small pieces. You can diversify your diet with fermented milk products, vegetables, porridge and boiled sea fish.

How to choose the right partner

Every owner should know exactly with whom to cross a Scottish Fold cat in order to get beautiful and healthy kittens. The choice of a partner must be carried out responsibly and according to all the rules .

It is best if the animals have similar colors and basic characteristics. This way you can breed ideal offspring that will meet all the requirements for a given breed.
It is better not to mix different colors; this can lead to kittens with coat or eye color that is inappropriate for a Scotsman. But such breeds are considered not purebred, they are more difficult to sell and cannot be shown at exhibitions.
It is impossible for a cat and a cat to have intercourse together if at least one of them has his ears pinned back. This can lead to defects in kittens; they are born very weak and die quickly.
You should not breed animals if none of them have previous experience.

Why you can’t cross a fold-eared cat with a fold-eared cat

To maintain breed standards, it is recommended to cross with a cat of the Scottish Straight breed - Scottish Straight.

Cat of the Scottish Straight breed.

It is prohibited to crossbreed with representatives of the same species as a cat due to the fact that the characteristic gene will lead to the birth of non-viable offspring.

Pregnancy will be complicated by miscarriage or the born kittens will have abnormalities of the musculoskeletal system.

The choice of male will depend on the similarity of coat color to obtain the most even color of the offspring and the same eye color. It is noteworthy that the female must remain in the male’s territory for two or three days, necessary for closer acquaintance and mating itself. A litter may have kittens with floppy ears and kittens with straight ears.

Kittens can be born with either straight ears or fold ears.

Crossbreeding with British Shorthair males is allowed in order to recruit a new set of gene pool.

British shorthair cat.

The offspring from several such crosses are subsequently mated with a Briton and the British Fold or kittens with half-dropped ears are obtained.

What the owner should know

In order for the offspring to be healthy, you need to know some features of mating Scottish Folds:

You need to select a partner of a similar breed, that is, Scottish, but not Scottish Fold. In this case, the best option would be Scottish Straight. This breed of cat has straight ears. If a Scottish straight-eared cat is mated, then the opposite is true, the cat must be fold-eared.
You cannot cross a Scotsman with a British breed. In this case, the cubs are too large, the tail and head are deformed, and the structure of the coat does not meet the standards.
The male must have a uniform color, good quality coat, and a proportional build. You should definitely pay attention to the tail, it should be flexible. This factor affects the health of the animal's spine. This way you can avoid developmental defects in the baby.
You should also pay attention to the cat's ears. It would be correct if they are directed forward, small, widely spaced and do not extend beyond the head. An important feature is the ear folds, it is very good if they exist. Such breeds are considered unique. It is best if there are two of them, and they are tightly folded on the head. It is very rare to meet a Scot who has three such folds.
It is important to assess the health of the male; he should not have dandruff or any discharge from the eyes, nose or ears. The animal should not be emaciated or too large, everything should be within normal limits.

Many owners of Scottish cats begin to look for a partner through advertisements. This method is not bad; you can select a suitable candidate. But there is another simple way, breeder clubs that specialize in Scottish folds . The specialists working there will be able to help you choose a suitable male and tell you about his characteristics. By choosing this method of mating, you can be sure of healthy offspring.

Before mating, it is advisable to agree on the amount of the cat’s owner’s fee. He usually gets one baby, which has straight ears. There are always fewer fold-eared kittens; it very rarely happens that all the cubs from one litter are straight. If this is the case, then the cat’s owner receives money as a reward. The amount is equal to the cost of a Scottish Fold kitten.

Before mating, it is advisable to personally make sure that both partners are treated for worms and other parasites. It is permissible to treat the cat before intercourse for diseases such as rabies, chlamydia and other diseases, as well as to prevent worms.

The room where the whole process takes place must be clean, bright, dry and spacious, and it must be warm. The intercourse of animals can last several days, so you need to be prepared for the trip. You need to take with you a tray with filler, bowls for food and water, and the food itself. It happens that a cat is very aggressive, so before mating you need to trim its claws.

Your cat may not get pregnant the first time. In this case, it is necessary to bring her to the cat on the 2-3rd day of the next estrus and leave her there for a couple of days . In one day, a cat can cover a female up to 14 times, but after a few days he ceases to be interested in her.

Features of pregnancy in fold-eared cats

The course of pregnancy in lop-eared females differs from other representatives of the cat family.

Due to the calm nature of this species, there are no mood swings, bursts of aggression, or isolation. The mother carries the kittens for approximately nine weeks. At the end of the mating, the animal calms down, becomes affectionate, and willingly makes contact with members of the household.

Pregnancy can only be determined after two or three weeks. The nipples change color, swelling and a more pink tint are observed. However, these signs are characteristic only of young animals; in older cats - older than three years of age - such signs may not appear.

Pregnancy can be determined after two to three weeks.

First half

The first half of pregnancy is characterized by increased appetite.

At this stage, fish feeding should be stopped to avoid the destruction of B vitamins, as they contribute to the normal development of embryos. It is necessary to increase the amount of food containing calcium: dairy and lactic acid products in the form of cottage cheese, milk, sour cream, kefir, yogurt.

Cottage cheese will be useful for a cat in the first half of pregnancy.

Second half

The second half passes calmly and only further growth of the abdomen and an increase in overall weight are observed.

In the second half of pregnancy, growth of the abdomen is observed.

It will be possible to determine the number of fold-eared and straight-eared kittens only after twenty-two days. At the first stage, the entire brood looks exactly the same, and they cannot be distinguished.

Third week

By the end of the third week, the cartilage begins to mature and strengthen, and everything falls into place. In Fold kittens, the ears curl even more and bend towards the head, while in Straights they gradually straighten.

By the end of the third week, kittens' cartilage begins to strengthen.

What difficulties may arise

It happens that during mating a cat falls on its side. There is nothing to worry about, you just need to hold it in the required position.
Sometimes there is such a thing as a cat being faithful to one partner. If this is the case, then you need to change the cat, since all attempts at mating will be unsuccessful.
Another problem can be the different sizes of animals, especially a cat that is too massive. In this case, the male will not be able to cover her, grabbing the withers, he will end up on her back. Here you need the help of the owner, who will hold the cat by the withers.
The cat may be too aggressive. In this case, mating will not work.
It happens that due to stress, the female stops estrus. It may not exist for several days, after which it resumes. After this, the animal can be brought back to the male.

Reviews after castration

Before castration, this cat marked his entire territory and loved to mark flowers.

Domestic cats are no exception to the general rule. And the approach of spring affects them in exactly the same way.

The cat detects the first manifestations of instinct at about 9-10 months, at which time it is recommended to castrate it. Far-sighted owners will contact the veterinarian in time to protect themselves from restless sleep and odorous marks on furniture, and their pet from problems associated with instinct.

A cat at the age of 8 months is already ready for castration. This is the period most veterinarians recommend.

It is problematic to castrate cats before this age: due to interference with the growing body, the development of the urethra may stop, which in the future can lead to its blockage. It is also not recommended to castrate a cat at a late age.

There are other contraindications to castration: tumors of the genital organs, cryptorchidism and other malformations, trauma, and the development of urolithiasis.

Cryptorchidism in a cat

During the operation, the cat's testes are removed, as a result of which the production of sex hormones and reproductive function ceases. Complications after castration are extremely rare. If the cat is cryptorchid, then abdominal surgery is performed to remove the sunken testicle; in principle, a cat with such a pathology is not allowed to be bred.

“Homeless, endlessly breeding animals are our inescapable headache! Many are thrown onto the streets, and most of them, as it turns out, are not spayed or neutered. And some let their cats out of the house for a walk. In the city. As a result, kittens are born that are destined to have a difficult and short life... There is only one way out: adult individuals need to be castrated and sterilized. Otherwise, this wave cannot be stopped.” (Elena, 32 years old, volunteer)

“We always wanted to have a Maine Coon, but we didn’t plan to breed one. At the age of about a year, it became clear that the cat had matured. They took me to a good clinic, did preliminary tests, checked my heart and kidneys. The operation was successful, by the evening the boy was completely recovered and ate. I've felt great since then.

“I took a cat into my house from the street. It was winter. An ordinary gray striped robber. He ran up to his feet, rubbed himself, meowed, looked into his eyes - he was either lost or thrown away. And I couldn’t leave him anymore, I took him away. He called him Vaska. The fact that Vasya was “not castrated” did not bother me; until that day I didn’t see much of a difference.

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But in the morning the cat powerfully marked the sofa. What to do? I went online... Yes, there was a moment when, purely out of male solidarity, I doubted whether it was necessary to castrate. It was a pity! But then the doubts disappeared. The cat is a domestic cat, he has no need to go for walks, much less mate, so why torment an animal with abstinence? He won’t stop marking himself.” (Igor, 27 years old, plumber)

What is the owner of the male responsible for?

Before inviting a Scottish cat for mating, the owner of the male must know some rules so that the whole process does not lead to psychological and physical injuries .

If animals have difficulties, they need help.
Some animals can show aggression, therefore, at the slightest problem, it is better to postpone all mating actions. Maybe after a while the cats will get used to each other.
Upon arrival at your destination, it is best to keep the cat in its portable vehicle for a while. Let her get used to it, sniff it, rest and gain strength.
If animals are too aggressive, it is better to place them in enclosures so that they can get used to each other.

Description

Fluffy wool.

Beady eyes.

Friendly character.

Everyone's favorite.

Straight back.

Curly head.

Their distinctive feature is their soft, wavy fur, which makes them look like plush stuffed animals.

The dogs have a strong, rectangular body with a wide, straight back. The height of the animals does not exceed thirty centimeters, and they weigh from three to six kilograms.
The paws are short and thick with round pads.
The tail is of medium length, covered with fluffy curly hair.
Due to the long hair, the doggies' head looks round, but in fact, it is slightly elongated with a flat forehead with a smooth transition line to the nose;
The ears are of medium length, hanging down to the middle of the muzzle. Expressive round eyes are black.
Dogs' coat is soft, fluffy and curly, with a dense, thick undercoat.
According to the standard, the color of dogs of this breed can only be snow-white. Colored spots on the body and beige or cream color of the coat in adults are considered faults.

Bichon babies are born with yellowish or reddish spots on their snow-white coat, but as they grow older, the color of the animal becomes uniform.

Spots on the body of puppies can persist until they are one year old.

Charming curly-haired dogs have a friendly and sociable disposition, so from the first minutes of their appearance in the house, the dog will become everyone's favorite.

Always in moving.

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Loves walks.

Loves to play.

A perky and cheerful pet loves to be the center of attention, and there is no greater pleasure for him than playing together with his beloved owner.
Dogs of this breed are very smart and observant. They subtly sense the mood of the people around them. If the dog notices that one of the family members is feeling sad, the dog will put on a real circus performance for him, trying to cheer him up with funny tricks and involve him in a fun game. And looking at the amusing antics of the pet, no one will be able to resist smiling and resist his unique charm.
These animals express all their feelings and emotions with the help of a loud, booming bark. The owner needs to prepare for the fact that the pet will express its opinion on any occasion with a ringing yelp.
Small curly dogs get along well with any pet and are able to make friends with both another dog and a cat. The Bichon Frize has absolutely no aggression or feelings of jealousy, and they perceive the other pet as a companion for fun games and pranks, and not as a rival or competitor.
When getting a dog of this breed, you should take into account that they need constant communication and attention from the owner and cannot stand loneliness. You can’t leave your dog alone for a long time, because a bored pet is capable of minor mischief. Therefore, when returning home after a long absence, owners should not be surprised if their curly pet pulls the bedspread off the bed, chews on the owner’s slippers, or guts the sofa cushions. Moreover, the dog will not feel remorse for his tricks. A pet caught at the scene of a crime will take on an innocent and even offended look, thanks to which the cunning dog will always avoid fair punishment.
It will not be possible to make a guard and a defender. These animals are quite cowardly and, when they see a stranger, they try to hide in a secluded place. The most that curly-haired dogs can do is bark at a stranger while remaining at a safe distance.

Easy to learn simple commands.

Loves to perform various tricks.

Intelligent and quick-witted, French lap dogs are easy to train. A curly-haired pet will not only quickly remember its name, but will also learn to perform simple commands and funny tricks if you work with the dog daily.

Good results in training can be achieved by turning classes into a fun and exciting game that will bring pleasure to both the dog and the owner.

If the command is successfully completed, it is very important to reward your pet by treating him with a treat, petting him, or simply praising him for his intelligence.

Under no circumstances should you use corporal punishment or yell at your dog during training. Bichons do not tolerate violence and, when mistreated, become nervous, irritable and even aggressive.

How does the knitting process take place?

All actions take place in the territory of the male’s residence. Before breeding a Scottish Fold cat, it is contraindicated to wash it, as this will deprive it of the characteristic odor that attracts the male.

Most often, the entire process occurs without the help of the owners, but it happens that animals get lost, especially cats. In this case, they need to give time to rest, get used to it and sniff.

The male may show interest, sing songs to the female, and she, in turn, responds to his advances. If the female is not ready to mate, the male senses this and simply leaves. In this case, further actions will be ineffective; you need to wait for the next heat.

Appearance of mestizo

With the Scots, it is impossible to know in advance who will be in the litter - straights or folds. 20 days after birth, the ears begin to fold and the breed can be determined.

Although in such cases people make mistakes and incorrectly determine the type of animal, since folds’ ears also sometimes rise.

However, if a mating of British and Scottish cats does occur, then the mestizo will have the following characteristics:

stocky body;
the head is large and round in shape without a visible transition to the body;
the nose is straight and slightly concave;
chin well developed;
the ears are erect; if the gene for lop ears has been passed on, then a slight fold forward is observed;
round eyes, eye color can be any;
paws are powerful, rounded at the ends;
the tail is elongated and thick;
the coat is thick and short, there is an undercoat;
The color is plain, sometimes with a tabby pattern.

The genotype is more similar to the British Fold, which is why people purchase kittens as “British Fold”. However, this species does not officially exist.