Signs of a Scottish cat: how to distinguish a Scottish kitten?

If a person is interested in purchasing newborn fold kittens, then it is important to find out information on how to correctly determine whether a Scottish fold kitten is lop-eared. After birth, it is difficult to distinguish whether a cat is a fold cat or not. Unscrupulous breeders try to sell straight-eared pets to unknowing buyers for a high price. To avoid being deceived, it is recommended to study the main differences and recommendations for choosing a cat.

Straights and folds

The Scottish Fold cat breed, characterized by ears with an abnormal structure, became known in the first half of the 60s of the 20th century.

It appeared a little earlier, but did not immediately deserve the attention of scientists. In the 60s Thanks to scientific research, it was found that lop ears appear due to a gene mutation.

By crossing two identically fold-eared individuals, as scientific experiments have shown, it is almost impossible to get healthy kittens with the same unusual ears. The offspring are weak, non-viable, and have many genetic defects.

To get a healthy Scottish Fold kitten, breeders resort to tricks. They cross a fold-eared individual (Scottish Fold) with a straight-eared Scot (Scottish Straight). These breeds are considered related, but at the same time they are independent. The offspring from such a union turns out strong and healthy.

The birth of a viable kitten that meets the standards of the Scottish Fold breed is possible if its parents have the following characteristics:

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• flexibility of the tail (the key to a healthy spine);
• uniformity of color, which should be the same in females and males;
• having ear folds.

The offspring born from the “correct” parents can either have the ear structure typical of Scottish Folds or be straight-eared, like Scottish Straights. It is not possible to determine this in the first weeks of a baby’s life. Fold does not appear until kittens reach three weeks of age. The ears of straights and folds at this stage of development have the same appearance.

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Who should you choose, a male cat or a female cat?

If you are not purchasing a pet for breeding, then buy a male. He is a brighter representative of the breed. They grow large. You can castrate them from 6 months, but it is better to do this from 8-10 months, when the skeleton is already fully formed. Properly raised males and females of this breed are equally affectionate animals. If you plan to have cubs from your favorite cat, then buy a girl and very preferably with a metric or immediately with a pedigree. If she has a weak phenotype (single folded ears), then it is better to castrate her, like a cat, after six months. Females have their ovaries and uterus removed. This operation is more complicated and more expensive than for males. Short-haired or long-haired kitten?

The Scottish breed has both short-haired (Scottish Folds, Scottish Straights) and long-haired (Highland Folds, Highland Straights). Long-haired pets kept in apartments require daily care. Brush them at least 1-2 times a day. Then they will definitely not have tangles. If you are ready to devote time to this procedure daily or at least once every 3 days, then this breed is for you. Buy several iron combs with wooden handles, as they are reliable

If you don’t have much time and desire, pay attention to shorthaired

External signs of lop ears

A fold-eared kitten has structural features of the entire body, and not just the ears. These include:

• The nose is without humps, which can be determined by touch.
• The tail is smooth, without humps or knots.
• Wide muzzle.
• Round head.
• Small cheeks.
• Wide eye set.
• Large chest.
• The legs and tail are shorter and larger than those of their straight-eared counterparts.
• Plush wool.

External signs of fold-eared cats

Interesting! Fold cats are long-haired - Highland Folds, and short-haired - Scottish Folds.

Types of British and Scottish cats

Highland fold

Scottish fold

The main characteristics of the Scottish cat breed

• hanging ears that fit the head (for Scottish Folds and Highland Folds)
• one of the parents has floppy ears
• round spherical head
• big round eyes wide open
• average build, but quite dense
• the kitten resembles a teddy bear
• wool with dense short undercoat
• curiosity and activity, even when interacting with strangers
• non-aggressiveness, but at the same time restiveness

However, the greatest difficulty is not how to distinguish a purebred Scottish kitten from a street cat that they are trying to sell to you, or even how to distinguish a Scotsman from a representative of a low-quality breed. The main difficulty is

How to determine whether a kitten is lop-eared or not

Any pet is happiness for its owner. But almost every owner dreams that his pet will be the most beautiful, intelligent and loyal. Lately, fold-eared cat breeds have become very popular. Their hanging ears become a special source of pride for their owners. The question arises: how to determine whether a kitten is fold-eared or not. After all, you can encounter deception; this happens at every step.

Lop or not?

When the kitten reaches 3 weeks of age, signs of lop ears begin to appear:

• in Straight, there is a hardening of the ear cartilages necessary to support the erect shape of the ear;

• In the Fold, the cartilage tissue does not harden, and the baby develops characteristic ear folds.

The owner of a Scottish Fold kitten should be aware that the ears of a Scottish Fold can rise with age. If they are straight in a three-week-old baby, there is no hope of their lowering. No matter what ears nature bestows on your pet, you should take care to create favorable conditions for its growth and development and choose the right food for the little Scotsman. Taking care of your baby will help him grow up strong, healthy and cheerful.

General information about fold-eared breeds

The history of the breed began in 1961, when an unusual white cat, Susie, was discovered on a farm in Scotland. The tips of her ears were bent forward and covered the upper part of the ear canal.

Susie later gave birth to kittens, two of which (a boy and a girl) inherited a genetic ear abnormality from their mother. The cat was castrated, so he did not leave offspring. And a cat named Sans was purchased by William Ross, who lived next door.

Ross brought geneticist Pat Turner into the matter and the two of them began breeding a new breed. Local British cats were used as partners for Sans, and as a result, 76 kittens were born. Of these, 42 were born with fold ears, and 34 with ordinary ears. This was enough to write an application for the creation of a new species. But life made its own adjustments.

In 1971, the registration of fold-eared cats was canceled. The animals exhibited diseases of the bones, spine, deformities of the limbs, deafness, a tendency to infectious diseases, and much more. It is possible that the story of the Scots could have ended there, but the situation was saved by geneticists from the USA. The problem was solved quite simply. All diseases turned out to be a legacy of the connection between homozygous cats (having the same alleles for lop-earedness). As soon as they began to be bred with straight-eared Scots (heterozygous), healthy kittens were born.

In 1978 the CFA gave the Scots show status. It took another 15 years to establish the standard of the new breed, which was called the Highland Fold (the first cats were long-haired). Later, shorthaired fold and straight-eared Scottish cats were recognized. They became Scottish and Highland Straights.

Signs of lop ears

The following rules will help you determine if a kitten is lop-eared with high accuracy and not fall for the bait of charlatans.:

• Choose a kitten that is at least three weeks old. The older he is at the time of purchase, the easier it will be to determine that he is lop-eared. It is advisable to buy a kitten at the age of two to three months.
• Folds not only have unusual ears, but also a slightly different body structure. Their muzzle is wider, with small cheeks, and their eyes are wider apart. The chest is usually larger, and the legs and tail are shorter and thicker.
• Feel the kitten's nose - there should be no hump on the bridge of the nose. You also need to feel the tail - there should be no humps or knots on it.
• Buy a fold-eared cat in the cold season. The fact is that folds have an interesting feature - in extreme heat, kittens’ ears rise a little.

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In addition, there are some general rules for choosing purebred kittens :

• The kitten must be completely healthy. His fur should be thick and silky, his eyes should be clear, and his tummy should be soft. His mood is also important - if the kitten is healthy, he will be playful.
• If in the future you want to breed purebred kittens or participate in exhibitions, then the kitten you buy must have a veterinary passport and pedigree.
• Since healthy offspring are obtained only by crossing a purebred cat with an ordinary one, you should ask who the kitten’s parents are.
• When buying a purebred kitten, be prepared to pay a high price for it. Such kittens are really expensive, and if the seller offers you to give them away cheaper, this is a reason to think about whether they are offering you defective animals.

By following these rules, you can easily choose a healthy purebred kitten. But do not forget that the criteria for choosing a four-legged friend are not limited to these. After all, each animal has its own character - some are docile, and some are wayward.

To make it easy for you to get along together, carefully monitor the reactions of the kittens you choose. You can determine the cat that is right for you as follows :

• If your baby growls at you, tries to scratch you or run away, it’s better to choose someone else;
• If the cat purrs and sits happily on your lap, this is the beginning of a strong friendship!

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Features of appearance. British cat breed

British cats have dense, short hair that provides reliable protection from cold and moisture. They are hardy and physically strong, and perform well in hunting. The main characteristics also include the good health of the animal. With proper care, the risks of developing chronic diseases are quite small.

External features include:

• powerful torso with a developed chest and massive muscles;
• strong limbs of short length that can withstand loads well;
• decent weight, varies between 4-6 kg on average;
• large round head;
• thick cheeks;
• strong, well-developed chin;
• The ears are medium-sized, erect, with a wide base;
• large, wide-set eyes;
• body proportions are harmonious;
• thick wool with a dense structure;
• The color of the coat is varied; this breed has about 60 variations.

Character traits

We suggest studying the character traits of this breed in order to understand how Scottish cats differ from British cats.

The British representative has an aristocratic character, so she is not prone to active games and does not particularly welcome “carrying” in her arms. A self-sufficient nature requires respect for itself; you need to be able to negotiate and reckon with it.

She has a very good memory, and if you offend a cat, she will remember this unpleasant gesture. A British woman can carry a grudge for a long time, but she will never show aggression towards loved ones. She will skillfully show her dissatisfaction through her behavioral manners.

The first months of life of Scottish Fold kittens

In the first weeks of life, kittens go through stages from helplessness and huddling around their mother to independent activity and exploration of their environment.

On day 10, their eyes open: they feel more confident and begin to crawl around the cat. After a month, the kittens are fed food that will be their diet throughout their lives. At the same time, they leave the boxes that served them as shelter during the helpless period of life and master the surfaces. This is a favorable period for training a kitten to use a litter tray.

Color genetics

Kittens' eye color gradually changes: from dull blue to their real color. This process takes up to 2 years and is called reblooming. The inclusions appear first, which then spread and provide a permanent color. Green eyes take the longest to form.

Causes

The main difference between straight ears and drooping ears is the structure of the eardrum. Immediately after birth, kittens are similar to each other. Only after a while the ears either remain hanging and close the membrane, or rise. And sometimes this happens without any outside influence.

The straightening process is affected by:

• climatic conditions;
• stress;
• hormonal disbalance;
• diet;
• physiology.

If a fold-eared cat's ears are straightened, then weather conditions may have had a direct impact. For example, in the heat they straighten and stick out in different directions. A rare position occurs when bending backwards. In some cases, after climatic conditions normalize, a return to its original place occurs. This breed is characterized by excessive sensitivity and reaction to any changes in the weather.

This also happens if the animal is under stress. Often, owners noticed changes at times when the animal became nervous. In most cases, this position of the ears became permanent.

Often, a fold-eared cat's ears will rise after giving birth . Hormonal disruptions that occur in the body also affect lop ears. That is why many breeders participate with their pets at exhibitions only until the first birth, while the ears are hanging.

During the mating process, people sometimes take this process lightly and do not pay due attention to the main reason for straightening - genetic predisposition. If the gene responsible for lop-earedness is not fixed, then even if the kitten is born lop-eared, changes will soon occur.

Also, after incorrect mating and a thoughtless choice of a partner, kittens may not only change the structure of the auricle, but also develop a number of health problems. The consequence of such a mutation can be fusion of the vertebrae or problems with the musculoskeletal system.

If a fold-eared cat's ears are straightened, then the reason may be in the animal's diet and the replacement of frequently consumed food with some other, less familiar food.

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Training and education

Scottish Straight Intelligent by nature, Scottish Straight cats are easy to educate and very difficult to fully train.
Teaching a Straight to use a litter box and a scratching post is not at all difficult, provided that this process was started in time, before your pet matures. By the way, young Scottish cats are active and sometimes uncontrollable, so in the first months of the baby’s life you will have to put up with the inevitable destruction in the house. Even if the fame of Yuri Kuklachev haunts you, it’s better not to get carried away with the serious drill of straights. Whatever the experts say, unquestioning obedience to commands is not the strong point of Scottish straight-eared cats. Instill in your pet the basics of etiquette and teach him to respect subordination - this will be quite enough. As for a full-fledged training program, save it for show-class individuals, who will later have to demonstrate their talents at exhibitions.

• If the animal allows itself too much, try to stop it with the command “No!”, which is given in a stern and loud voice.
• If the kitten does not respond to a stern tone, grab it by the scruff of the neck and imitate a cat hissing. The baby will understand this language faster.
• Do not try to poke the kitten's muzzle into the puddle it has made or try to hammer the basics of cleanliness into it with a slipper. After suffering stress, the cat will definitely play a mischief in another place, but this time it will be reliably hidden from you.
• Have you noticed that your plush beast is sitting in an unambiguous position on the carpet or trying to steal food from the table? Scare him with a loud whistle or clap of your hands. Make no mistake, fear is a very powerful educational tool.
• Never scold or praise a Scottish Straight cat after the fact. Despite a fairly high level of intelligence, the animal is not able to connect together yesterday's exemplary behavior and today's reward.

Constant sleep of newborns - an alarming signal or normal development of the body

Newborn kittens sleep up to 22 hours a day. This is not a cause for concern, because at this time the baby’s nervous system is developing. Sleep contributes to the favorable course of this process. In the first months, the kitten should not be separated from its mother and brothers and sisters. If his weight is normal, it means that development is proceeding normally, and constant sleep is conducive to this.

Newborn kittens sleep up to 22 hours a day

You can familiarize yourself with sleep norms for the initial stages of a kitten’s life in the table.

In order for a kitten to switch to nighttime sleep mode, it should be provided with sufficient activity during the day: play, run. Thus, by night he will be tired, sleep will be necessary to restore strength and will coincide with the biorhythms of the owners.

Genetics of differences between Scottish and British cats

At first, the researchers decided that the unusual shape of the auricle in the Scotsman was the result of an autosomal dominant trait, but later their opinion changed. The dominance turned out to be incomplete. An allele of a gene on one chromosome only masks or changes the instructions of another locus of the same gene to another copy of the same chromosome.

It sounds complicated, but for the Scots this combination almost turned out to be a death sentence - animals of this breed experienced changes in the functions of the musculoskeletal system, and pathologies of the bones and spine also developed.

A little later, American geneticists got involved in the work, and the differences between the British Fold and the Scottish Fold became more specific:

• A pair of fdfd genes is responsible for the normal shape of an animal’s ears. The British and Scots with this “set” are no different from each other.
• The heterozygous Fd fd model (when one of the parents is straight-eared) leads to the birth of lop-eared kittens, but does not have a negative effect on the health of the pet.
• Negative scenario – homozygous set of FdFd genes. In this case, the difference between the British and Scottish breeds will be not only in the shape of the ears, but also in the presence of pathologies of cartilage and bones.

Tails and eyes

Let's continue the comparison of British and Scottish cats. The attentive eye of a cat lover may notice other differences between these breeds. How do Scottish cats differ from British cats besides the shape of their ears and body type? The British have a short and thick tail with a “carrot” tail, that is, tapering towards the end. Their eyes depend on their color.

The structure of the coat also differs. The British have a dense, “plush” coat, the Scots have soft wool, but cannot boast of such a thick fur coat. Their fur is looser. The colors of British and Scottish cats are currently very diverse, so they can hardly serve as a distinctive feature.

True, these breeds are still too similar to each other. Sometimes only a specialist can understand the difference between Scottish cats and British cats. It is important for buyers to carefully study the pedigree of cats and figure out what breed their parents belonged to.

What documents should there be?

The purebred Scottish Fold cat, as well as its health parameters, must be confirmed by official documents:

• metric or pedigree;
• certificate of registration (for American organizations);
• purchase agreement;
• veterinary passport;
• transfer to own a cat (in rare cases);
• veterinary certificate No. 1 (for imported animals).

Important! A serious nursery will not sell cheap kittens without documents and expensive ones with documents. From a responsible breeder, all animals have documents issued simultaneously for the litter, which is registered as a whole.

If you receive a metric in your hands, the pedigree is no longer needed, and vice versa. But the breeder is obliged to hand over one of these main papers, regardless of the purpose of acquiring the “Scot” - for breeding or castration.

Documentation of the litter in the breed club is strictly regulated, but is inexpensive. All papers received from the breeder minimize your potential risks: you will always return the animal and the money spent if it is found to have congenital anomalies.

Metrics

This is a birth certificate issued after the animal is registered in the club system. The following must be included in the document (where the emblem of the system to which the “Scotsman” is assigned) is affixed:

• Name;
• date of birth;
• gender and breed;
• color;
• names/colors of manufacturers;
• breeder's name and other information.

The European certificate is affixed with the seal of the club and the signature of the responsible person who activated the litter: this is necessary to exchange the metric for the pedigree. In American systems, a slip (metric) is used to register a kitten and obtain a pedigree through the central office.

Pedigree

This includes the kitten’s ancestors (up to 3–5 generations) with their names, colors and pedigree numbers . This document contains the name of the nursery and club, the association's emblem, information about the kitten, as well as the names of the breeder and owner.

Attention! The “owner” column should contain your name, not the name of the breeder. To do this, obtain a pedigree yourself or agree with the breeder to prepare it in advance.

European pedigrees are provided with a number, the seal of the club and the signature of its leader, American pedigrees - only with a number . Pedigree in the USA is informative, and pedigree is confirmed by registering the kitten (and its litter) in the system according to its rules.

In European associations, you may be given a pedigree without a number or marked “pet”, or not at all if you adopted a “Scot” for castration. If you want to draw up a pedigree yourself (provided you have a metric), do it before the pet turns one year old. If you are not going to breed purebred cats, you won't need a pedigree.

Veterinary passport

Information such as:

• name and gender of the kitten;
• breed and date of birth;
• vaccination records (with a veterinary clinic stamp, a special sticker and a doctor’s signature);
• owner/breeder's name.

Despite the fact that a veterinary passport is issued to every purebred animal, it cannot serve as confirmation of the breed: the veterinary passport is filled out by the breeder or doctor, and clubs and felinological associations are responsible for the purity of the breed.

Other documents

All other documents (certificate of registration of the kitten in the system, transfer of ownership, veterinary certificate in form No. 1) are optional, that is, optional. An exception is a purchase and sale agreement, which will protect your rights if an unscrupulous breeder sells you a cat that is known to be sick.

Important! A Scottish Fold cat without documents is not recognized as a purebred cat and is automatically excluded from breeding.

How to distinguish a British kitten from an ordinary one

Many unscrupulous breeders can sell an ordinary kitten to an inexperienced buyer under the guise of a purebred one. Therefore, it is important to know how to distinguish a purebred animal by appearance. The British kitten has:

• short hair of the same length, that is, some hairs should not be longer than others. Representatives of the breed cannot be fluffy or shaggy, unless it is a British Longhair cat;
• short and strong body with massive legs;
• the British have strict color requirements;
• Eye color matches color.

Character

The British cat has a calm and aristocratic character. Able to withstand the pangs of loneliness while the owner is at work, at which time he usually sleeps. Does not like the owner's affection, as well as attempts at training or education.

Health

The British are in good health and, under optimal conditions, can live up to 15–20 years. The animal is prone to obesity, so you need to monitor its diet.

When do fold-eared kittens' ears droop?

First of all, it is necessary to understand genetic mechanics. Because you won’t be able to immediately understand whether a kitten is fold-eared or not. All babies are born with a normal ear structure and all newborn kittens have erect ears. But by 15-20 days, the ears of lop-eared babies droop. Thus, at 2 weeks of age, kittens first show their belonging to the fold-eared group. But the process is not yet complete and things can change quite quickly.

Initially, all animals were born with one fold, but later breeders were able to achieve the formation of two, and after a while, three folds on the ears of cats. If at 2 weeks of age only one fold has formed in lop-eared kittens, then there is a high probability that later the cartilage will become stronger and the ear will straighten - in such kittens the ears rise in 50% of cases, and they grow not as folds, but straights.

The presence of a double fold is a guaranteed sign that can be used to distinguish a fold-eared kitten from an ordinary one. In this combination, the risk of encountering erect ears is reduced by another half.

The most reliable sign is the presence of a triple fold. With it, the ear will definitely remain pressed to the head. However, it will be possible to definitively determine lop ears in a kitten only at the age of 3-4 months.

Important! Despite the fact that Scots differ from other breeds in the unusual shape of their ears, some animal lovers prefer to have straight-eared Straights. They are afraid of possible health problems and believe that a cat with raised ears has a more affectionate character.

Loss of characteristic: when the ears rise

Straight-eared kittens are called straights, and fold-eared kittens are called folds. The clear difference between them lies in the presence and number of folds on the ears. One fold causes the ears to straighten over time. This does not mean that the kitten is straight. To answer the question about his breed, an examination is carried out. It is especially important for owners who plan to crossbreed kittens. An incorrect conclusion about the straightness of an animal leads to the crossing of two lop-eared individuals and sick offspring. If there are two folds, then it is impossible to predict the outcome: the kitten can remain fold-eared with the same success as become straight-eared. Three folds ensure the ears don't straighten out.

External differences between British and Scottish cats

Folds with erect ears are sterilized to prevent the transmission of a dominant gene that has lost visual expression.

There is a clear sign that distinguishes a fold-eared cat with erect ears from a straight-eared one: the size of the ears. The first one has smaller ones.

Temporary changes in the position of the ears are also possible, the cause of which is weather conditions. The heat causes the Fold's ears to rise slightly.

Important! To purchase fold-eared kittens, choose a time of year with moderate temperatures.

In addition, the ears of the folds also rise in females after giving birth.

Video - Scottish Fold cat

Rules for determining lop ears

You can accurately judge the condition of a kitten's ears approximately 2 months after birth.

Fold-earedness in a purebred furry pet is determined as follows:

• It is recommended to determine the age, choose a Scotsman after a month of life, and buy by 8-9 weeks. Then you can finally determine whether the cat was born straight-eared or not.
• The Fold cat looks a little different than the British. It differs not only in the shape of the ears, but also in the structure of the body. The muzzle is wider, the cheeks are small, the eyes are set deeper. It can be seen that the chest area is larger, the limbs are smaller.
• Experienced breeders advise examining which Scotsman has a nose and tail. A purebred cat has no humps or nodules on the bridge of its nose.
• It is better to choose and purchase a fold-eared pet in the cold season, because folds have a peculiarity - in hot weather the ears rise slightly.

Straightening - pros and cons

Despite the fact that this breed of cat attracts many breeders and ordinary fanciers, their peculiarity does not always have a positive effect.

Fold-eared cats are more likely to suffer from various ear diseases, even before they are raised. Parasites spread quickly and remain unnoticed until the last stage, because the structure of the auricle is conducive to the formation and accumulation of wax. These areas should be inspected and cleaned regularly by lifting the ears.

Often, the elevated state disappoints the owners, because at an early age the animal may still have fold ears. Many people, in pursuit of the ideal breed, begin to cross incompatible species, after which sick kittens are born with many pathological abnormalities. Don’t despair if the kitten’s ears straighten; in some cases, they may “fall” again.

Fold cats themselves are friendly and quickly become attached to their owner. Because of this “zest”, cat care is carried out more carefully and tolerantly. Sometimes problems arise from physiological characteristics, so it is important to regularly carry out preventive measures. In a raised state, sulfur and other dirt do not accumulate in them, and any symptoms can be immediately noticed.

Changes related to the position and structure of the ear canal occur 5 weeks after birth. They can be temporary, that is, if the ears rise in hot weather, it is more likely that after some period they will fall again.

It also happens that irreversible straightening occurs. More often after the first birth or first mating. There is no need to forcefully try to return your former lop ears. This can happen to any kitten in the litter, even if he has a good pedigree. It is rare to find cats whose position does not change throughout their lives, and therefore such breeds are raised for presentation at exhibitions and other similar events.

Straightening occurs for various reasons; before getting a cat of this breed, you should consider the characteristic features so as not to be disappointed in the choice later. Fold-eared cats require special care, even if the structure of the ears has changed. When buying a purebred cat, you need to study its pedigree - this will help you avoid scammers who offer ordinary animals at high prices.

>How to choose a fold-eared kitten?

How to choose a fold-eared kitten? 0 February 6, 2015

Periodization of the kitten's life stages. The first stage - mom is nearby

Kittens grow up to 1 year, during which significant changes occur every month. At the same time, 2-2.5 years is the period when the body finally gets stronger and becomes an adult.

Character

The British are calm animals who do not like active interference in their lives, while they do not impose themselves on their owners. Not big fans of sitting on laps. They are phlegmatic and value solitude. They don’t know how to use it and don’t get into the “meerkat pose.” Smart, self-sufficient, neat, benevolent and discreet animals. They are undemanding in care and handling, loyal to their owners, but do not show much affection. They like to occupy observation positions on top of shelves, furniture, and higher places specially designated for this due to their developed leadership qualities.

Scots require increased attention, are playful and love affection, sometimes they beg for it too actively. They love to sit in a “column”, thus straightening the vertebrae. Height is not tolerated due to the structural features of the skeleton.

The second stage is independence and growing up

Age Image Features Recommendations

Cat vaccination periods

Important! When the cat turns one year old, his diet should consist only of food for adults, and meals should be reduced to 2 per day.

Adding to the family: how to care for a mother and her newborns

In the first weeks of life, kittens go through stages from helplessness and huddling around their mother to independent activity and exploration of their environment.

On day 10, their eyes open: they feel more confident and begin to crawl around the cat. After a month, the kittens are fed food that will be their diet throughout their lives. At the same time, they leave the boxes that served them as shelter during the helpless period of life and master the surfaces. This is a favorable period for training a kitten to use a litter tray.

Color genetics

We invite you to familiarize yourself with the Scottish Fold cat photo smoky

Kittens' eye color gradually changes: from dull blue to their real color. This process takes up to 2 years and is called reblooming. The inclusions appear first, which then spread and provide a permanent color. Green eyes take the longest to form.

( 2 ratings, average 5 out of 5 )

How to choose the right one?

There are some recommendations and rules for choosing purebred Scots:

• The animal must be healthy with dense hair, clean eyes and a soft belly to the touch.
• Real folds look cheerful, playful and content.
• It is necessary to have a pedigree and a passport of the animal, especially for its participation in exhibitions and competitions.
• It is necessary to find out from the breeder who the kitten’s parents are, since their genetics affects the health of the babies.
• A real fold-eared cat will have a high cost. If a seller sells a pet cheaply, then you need to think about whether it is defective.

By following these rules, you can easily choose a pet with good health. If you want to make an affectionate, gentle, playful friend, following all the recommendations, this breed is better suited. In order to quickly and easily make friends with your pet, you need to carefully watch the reaction and behavior. It is possible to determine a suitable cat this way: if it does not attack a person, does not snort, and does not try to run away. If a lop-eared pet purrs, then this is a sure sign of the beginning of friendship between him and the future owner.

This characteristic of the Scottish cat breed will help you get your bearings and understand whether they are really offering you a real purebred kitten or a mestizo. But first, a photo, because it’s better to see once than to hear seven times. Let's see what a Scottish fold and straight-eared cat looks like and a real fold-eared cat.

Choosing a kitten class

Breeders know that the division into classes is very arbitrary: it only helps determine the baby’s career prospects . Often kittens of the same litter fall into different classes, but this is always the personal point of view of the breeder. In addition, in the process of growth there are transitions from breed to pet, from show to breed and vice versa.

Show class (show – display, demonstration)

This includes kittens that fully comply with the breed standard, without disqualifying characteristics or shortcomings. Reference cats are included in the top show class (top – top, highest). These animals remain in nurseries for breeding and exhibition activities. Show-class kittens (the pride, decoration and advertising of the nursery) are practically not put up for sale. Such copies are sold for a lot of money and with reservations - “on conditions” or “in co-ownership”.

Breed class (breed – tribe)

This group is represented only by cats with excellent pedigrees and excellent reproductive capabilities. They also appear at shows and win titles that give them the right to participate in breeding. With proper selection, show-class offspring are obtained from such females.

This is interesting! Breeding males usually fall into the pet category, since a breeding cat is judged not so much by its pedigree and conformation, but by the health and quality of the kittens it produces.

Such animals are often sold with the condition of mandatory removal of the reproductive organs, which does not prevent them from having a pedigree and claiming exhibition regalia (in the “castrati” category). The price for breed-class cats is in the average price range. It happens that show-class kittens are found among breed-quality animals. This happens due to oversight or due to insufficient experience of the breeder.

Pet class (pet – pet)

These are purebred kittens that, in the opinion of the breeder, are not of interest either for exhibitions or for breeding. They often have disqualifying defects that do not threaten health or life.

Such kittens are sold already neutered or with the condition of spaying. A pedigree for a pet-class animal is issued only at the request of the buyer: in this case, the entry “not for breeding” appears in the documents. The cost of pet quality kittens is the lowest.

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Features of the care and maintenance of “Scots”

Scots are an unpretentious breed, which, however, requires special care. Caring for Scottish cats is not difficult, but it has its own specifics that you need to know about.

Coat care

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Plush fur does not require special care, but a cat that lives in an apartment and is warm all year round may be constantly shedding. There is no pathology in this, it’s just that the cat’s body does not grasp the system of changing seasons.

Due to constant shedding, a cat's fur requires regular brushing. If this is not done, tangles may form that cannot be removed with a comb.

For express shedding, you can contact a groomer. The cat groomer will comb your cat and tell you how to care for its fur. For combing at home, it is best to use a furminator. It makes it much easier to remove excess hair.

For reference! Dry air can also lead to heavy, constant shedding. In this case, buying a humidifier will change the situation.

Bathing

Cats are very clean animals and do not require special water procedures. Bathing is very stressful for a cat.

You only need to wash a Scotsman if he has gotten very dirty in something.

Important! After washing, the cat must be dried thoroughly. If this is not done, the kitty may catch a cold.

Dental care

The Scots do not require any special dental care. But some cats can develop plaque that develops into tartar.

To prevent these conditions, you can give hard treats that remove plaque from the teeth. Also, cats with a predisposition to the appearance of plaque and stone are recommended to visit the veterinarian once every six months. In advanced cases, the stone is cleared using an ultrasound scaler under general anesthesia.

Eye care

The Scottish cat has a short, flat face, so drooping eyes are normal for Scottish cats. This is called "brachycephalic syndrome."

Normally, tears, moistening the eye, should flow into the nasolacrimal duct. In Scots, due to their short muzzle, the nasolacrimal duct may be deformed or completely closed. Therefore, tear fluid overflows over the edge of the eyelid, and smudges appear under the eyes.

If your pet has this problem, the best solution is to use a special eye wash lotion. Instead of lotion, you can use boiled water or aqueous chlorhexidine.

Important! You cannot use tea leaves to wash your eyes, as the tea leaves contain microorganisms that can form pathogenic microflora in a cat’s eye.

Nail care

Some Scottish cats have uncontrollable nail growth and this needs to be monitored. Normally, when using a scratching post, the cat removes the top layer of its claws, thereby grinding them down. But some Scots neglect the scratching post (perhaps due to joint pain).

If an ordinary cat can have its claws trimmed only when necessary, then the Scottish paws need to be given attention monthly. If this is not done, the claw will bend and dig into the paw pad with its sharp part, causing pain to the animal.

To properly trim a Scotsman's claws, you need to press the cat's finger from above - then the claw will “come out” of the paw, and cut off its tip to the pink border.

Important! If you accidentally touch the pink part of the claw, you can damage the vessel. To stop bleeding, hydrogen peroxide or potassium permanganate in powder form is used.

Nutrition

Scots are usually not picky eaters and choosing food is not difficult. A proper diet helps the cat’s body maintain immunity, prevents urolithiasis and eating disorders.

With the purchase of a Scottish cat, the owner is faced with the question of what to feed the animal. The choice has to be made between a natural diet and ready-made food. When deciding to feed an animal natural food, it is necessary to create a diet. To do this, you need to visit a veterinary nutritionist.

From food the cat should receive:

• proteins;
• carbohydrates;
• fats;
• minerals;
• essential amino acids;
• fiber;
• vitamins;
• macro- and microelements.

Important! Only a specialist can choose the right diet! Feeding your cat "from the table" can lead to digestive problems.

Feeding commercial food saves the owner from preparing food specifically for the cat, and it is also more economically profitable. All the necessary elements are already in the food, in the best combination. The owners just have to calculate the portion. A hint about the amount of food per day is always on the back of the pack.

Food is divided into classes: economy, premium and super-premium, and also comes in the form of dry food, spiders, canned food and mousses. More or less good food starts from the premium class.

Economy food contains too few nutrients, and the cat must eat too much to be satisfied. Sooner or later this will lead to obesity.

It is impossible to say unequivocally that some food is good and some is bad. There is food that is suitable for a particular cat, and if there is one that will only cause the animal to become upset.

Conditions of detention

Scottish cats are considered one of the easiest pets to care for. They feel great both in a small apartment and in a private house. It is worth buying or making your own personal sleeping place for an animal. It is also recommended to purchase a scratching post, the length of which should correspond to the height of the Scottish cat. You should not refuse to buy a carrier to transport your pet if necessary.

The Scots are not picky when it comes to content. In order for an animal to live comfortably in a room, it must be clean and safe. This pet is extremely clean, he puts his fur in order and quickly gets used to going to the litter box.

Before bringing a small pet into your home, you need to complete the following steps.

• Remove unnecessary objects from the kitten's access area. For example, wires, breakable and sharp objects.
• Buy food and water dishes for the animal. The best option would be heavy metal or ceramic cookware.
• Place the tray and fill it with filler. Kittens should buy a container with low sides, and as they grow older, change it to a higher model.
• Prepare a place to rest - this can be a sunbed or a blanket folded several times.
• Buy food, toys, scratching post.

Nail care

Domestic cats need their nails trimmed. This process is quite simple and does not cause discomfort to the animal. You need to put Scottish on your lap and, taking his paw in your hands, press on the pads. Once your pet has released its claws, they can be trimmed. In this process, the main thing is not to damage the living body of the claw. Claws should be trimmed carefully, once every 2-3 weeks.

Eye and ear hygiene

The eyes and ears of Scottish cats need regular examination. These animals usually have clean ears, but when plaque appears in them, the contamination is removed with a cotton swab. When cleaning your ears, you can also use a special lotion.

The special structure of the skull of the Scottish breed of cats causes the narrowing of their nasolacrimal ducts. For this reason, your pet may experience slight discharge from the eyes. In this case, the eyes need to be cleaned with a cotton pad or chlorhexidine wipe.

Dental care

To keep the pet's teeth in good condition, the owner can buy him a special toy - an edible chewing stick. Alternatively, you can use a toothbrush and toothpaste for cats. A Scottish cat's teeth should be brushed 1 or 2 times a week. Scottish dogs do not like this process, so it is better to accustom them to this from an early age.

Kitten care

Scottish kittens do not require special care. They can be fed dry food, but of good quality. Kittens should not be brushed unless there is a reason for it. Babies with long hair should be gradually accustomed to brushing, carrying out the procedure twice a month. Little Scottish cats need to be bathed only if they are very dirty in the mud.

Kittens need to have their nails trimmed from an early age so that they get used to this procedure. You don't need to clean your ears, but if they smell bad, that's a reason to go to the vet. Watery eyes should be wiped once every 7 days with a cotton pad soaked in chlorhexidine.

Puberty in cats

In a Scottish pet that comes into the family at the age of 3 months, sexual maturation can begin early, at 4.5 months. Physiologically, a Scots kitten will gain strength only after 9 months or later. The reproductive period, the gestation period comes after 10 months, lasts on average until 7-8 years of age. Premature pregnancy is harmful to the kitten’s fragile body.

The cat is in heat

Scots are a breed with average sexuality, so during the period of heat, many do not arrange unbearable concerts. The period of the first and all subsequent heats is difficult not to notice; within 3-4 days, the imperturbable Scottish woman’s behavior changes dramatically. She becomes either too affectionate or restless, runs after family members, and constantly makes sharp “meowing” sounds. Begins to mark the surrounding space around. These cat days are called estrus, rut, or hunting.

According to the nature of its passage, estrus can be divided into periods:

• The first one goes quite calmly. The cat develops small transparent discharge from its intimate parts, signaling the onset of estrus;
• In the second period, the character changes dramatically, the cat constantly screams heartbreakingly, emitting different sounds, calling out the cats. She may not eat, constantly raising and lowering her tail, periodically rolling on the floor or raising her butt.
• After a few days, she calms down and gradually returns to normal.

Differences in character and temperament

Each of these cat varieties has a specific character. For the British, the appearance completely corresponds to the internal content. These smiling, furry pets are good-natured, loyal and do not cause trouble to their households. They are calm, silent and will never impose their company. Such pets will fit perfectly into the lifestyle of any family. They love to communicate or just be close to their owner, but at the same time they never follow him relentlessly, taking him away from household chores.

Despite the fact that these furry intellectuals love affection, they are cool about the desire of household members to embrace them. This cat’s favorite pastime is dozing on the sofa next to its owner, who periodically strokes his four-legged friend. Most of all, these pets value personal freedom. The British easily endure loneliness. The time when household members are not at home, they will spend calmly contemplating the surroundings from the window.

If, in the absence of the owners, interior items were damaged by the pet’s paws, you should not scold the animal

The furry creature did this not on purpose, but through negligence. The British easily get along with other four-legged inhabitants of the house and children

Despite this, it is not recommended to leave children alone with a cat, since his good attitude towards younger family members ends exactly at the moment when tender feelings or neglect begin to persistently show him.

The Scots also have wonderful characters. They are delicate, patient, intelligent, affectionate, loyal, balanced and even somewhat phlegmatic

Such a pet will never try to attract attention to itself with its voice. Moreover, such animals are very vulnerable and sensitive.

This is expressed in the fact that they cannot stand loneliness and any changes.

They are completely non-confrontational. If someone - another animal or a person - shows aggression towards the cat, he prefers to leave. Moreover, in really difficult situations, they can always stand up for themselves. For this reason, these cats are great for families with small children.