Scottish fold cat breed with photo

Video

* We invite you to watch a video about the Scottish Fold cat . In fact, in front of you is a playlist in which you can select and watch any of 20 videos about a given cat breed by simply clicking on the button in the upper right corner of the window. In addition, the material contains quite a lot of photos. By looking at them you can find out what a Scottish Fold cat looks like.

Rate the material!

[Total votes: 5 Average: 4.2]

The Scottish Fold cat , or as this breed is called throughout the world - Scottish Fold - is an unusual breed of cat with a certain structure of the ears. These cats' ears are slightly curved down and forward, which makes kittens of this breed look like little bear cubs or owls. The reason for this unusual appearance for cats is a gene mutation.

How much does a Scottish fold cat cost?

The price depends on many factors. This includes the pedigree of the animal, the rarity of the color, and the prestige of the nursery. Based on this, a Scottish Fold kitten can be purchased from 3 thousand rubles. The upper price bar has no restrictions. The price of kittens is also influenced by fashion for certain varieties of the breed.

If you find the price in nurseries unacceptable, then you can visit a bird market or look at auctions.

When purchasing an animal from such a place, you are at great risk, since an unscrupulous seller may sell a sick animal. In the future, such a pet will require more attention and care. If you save right away, you will have to spend much more in the future.

History of the origin of Scottish Fold cats

The Scottish Fold breed appeared relatively recently, about 50 years ago. The ancestors and main relatives of Scottish Fold cats are British Shorthair cats. Despite the fact that the ancestors of animals of this breed were short-haired, the first kittens of this breed had mostly long hair. The first kitten known to the world was bought by Valery Ross in 1961 on a farm in the Scottish city of Tayside.

The kitten was unique in its own way; it had unusual ears that hung forward. The kitten's mother, the cat Susie, was the very first representative of this breed and gave such beautiful offspring. In 1973, kittens of this breed went to the famous cat breeder Sally Wolfe Peters, and this breed attracted public attention.

In 1978, cats of the Scottish breed participated in cat shows and received the status of the Cat Fanciers' Association. More and more people wanted to get such cute pets, however, for a long time they did not dare to breed cats of this breed in nurseries, and even a ban was introduced on the breeding of cats of this breed. This prohibition is due to the fact that if you cross a cat and a cat of the fold breed, offspring will be born with disorders in the musculoskeletal system.

Such animals cannot live a full life. The breed can only exist by crossing lop-eared individuals with individuals with straight ears. When these recommendations are followed, healthy fold-eared offspring are born. In 1993, the CFA adopted a standard corresponding to this breed.

History of the breed

Scottish Fold cats, also known as Scottish Folds, which means Scottish fold, are a young breed. She was bred quite recently, but what is remarkable is that she was able to fall in love with many in such a short time. From the very name of the breed it immediately becomes clear that the main asset and difference of these cats is their unusual ears. But it must be said that ears of this shape are far from new. There is evidence that fold-eared cats existed in the East a long time ago, but they did not become a separate breed and have not survived to this day. Modern visloushki originally appeared in Scotland. In 1961, farmer William Rosso's cat gave birth to strange kittens - their ears did not stand up as they should, but hung forward. After examination by a veterinarian, it became clear that this was the result of a gene mutation and drooping ears are a defect of bone and cartilage tissue. It seemed like this fact should have been a disadvantage, but the kittens were so cute that Rosso decided to turn the defect into an advantage. Today we can definitely say that he succeeded. The breed was officially recognized 15 years later, but not in England or Scotland, but in America, which has always been more loyal to new breeds and various experiments.

Scottish Fold cat - description of the breed

Scottish cats come in several types:

• Scottish Straight (short-haired fold);
• Helend-fold (long-haired fold);
• Hayland Straight (long-haired straight).

Fold cats have a powerful body with developed and strong muscles. The animal's height is 24-25 cm and its weight is about 4.5 kg. The head is round, large round eyes are set wide apart. The iris of the eyes is most often amber-yellow, but can also match the color of the cat. The animal's face has particularly pronounced chubby cheeks and a well-developed chin. The whisker pads are round. The neck is powerful. The cat's paws are short but powerful. The chest is large and voluminous. Shoulders and hips are the same size and shape.

A special feature of cats of this breed are neat small triangular ears curved forward. Due to the unusual crease of the cartilage, the ears are pressed tightly to the head, and the tips of the ears are directed forward and downward. By the way, small kittens of this breed are born with straight ears, but by the end of the first month of life, the kittens’ ears begin to “sag,” and over time they bend, almost completely pressing against the skull.

The Scots have a long tail, slightly tapered at the end. Animals with a movable tail are especially valued due to the fact that this breed often has mutations that lead to diseases of the musculoskeletal system; when purchasing, they always look at the mobility of the tail. The fluffiness of the tail also affects it; previously, a fluffy and beautiful tail was considered a cat’s real asset, until it turned out that such a fluffy tail interferes with the animal’s movement.

Now the fluffy tail of a fold-eared cat is a reason for disqualification from a cat show. The animal's fur is soft, plush with a rather thick undercoat. The color of the animal may vary. The average lifespan of Scottish Fold cats is 10-15 years, however, there are individuals that live up to 20 years.

Popular colors of Scottish Fold cats

The color of Scottish cats can vary.

The most common types of colors are:

• Solid solid colors;
• Bicolors;
• Tortoiseshell colors;
• Tabby color;
• Calico color;
• Chinchilla color;
• Harlequin color;
• Color van;
• Shaded color;
• Tacked color.

Solid color means the absence of any inclusions of another color. If there are hairs of a different color, this is either a color defect or a color of a different type. Solid colors are: blue, ebony, chocolate, fawn, lilac, cream, red.

Bicolor is a color that contains white in addition to the main color. In this case, the upper half of the animal is often painted in one color, and the abdomen, lower part of the muzzle and the tips of the paws are white. Ideally, the designs should be symmetrical.

Point. A color in which there is a basic light tone throughout the body, and a darker coat color on the face, paws and tail. Point-colored cats have a gene that causes the fur to darken in those parts of the body where the body temperature is lower due to poor blood circulation.

The tortoiseshell color is distinguished by the presence of dark spots and spots of red color. It should be noted that tortoiseshell colors are found only in cats; if such a color is seen in a cat, this indicates a genetic mutation in which the animal cannot bear offspring.

Tabby color. Cats with brindle, spotted or marbled color.

Shaded color - colors in which the main part of the hair is white, and only the upper part of the hairs is colored a different color.

Wang. Van cats are white, but the tail and face are a different color.

Harlequin. The Harlequin color is characterized by the fact that against a general white background there are spots of other colors.

Breeders value Scottish fold cats of tortoiseshell color, since such a cat is a carrier of the genes of the black and red series. Although all the colors of the Scots are especially beautiful.

Photos of Scottish Fold cats

I already said above that there are more than 10 color options for the Scottish Fold coat. Let's take a closer look at each type of color:

1. A single-color (solid) color is the most even shade without stripes, transitions or other manifestations. Among the solid colors of wool, the most common are: blue, white, brown, lilac, beige, dark black.

2. Scottish Fold bicolor cats have two shades of fur. As a rule, one half of their body is white, while the other is of any other shade.
   Read also:  Roskachestvo: Pesticides and antibiotics found in dry cat food
3. Point – this color is a little similar to the coloring of Siamese cats. The tail, muzzle, limbs and ears of such fluffies have a dark shade, while the rest of the body is lighter.

4. Turtle. They are spotted fluffies with a coat of cream, black and red. Please note that only Scottish Fold cats have the cake shade.

5. The smoky color may have a silvery tint.

6. Tabby. Tabby cats whose color combines two shades (for example, gray-black, brown-red).

7. Particolor. A rare coat color that combines turtle and white.

8. Chinchilla. The coat of such cats is predominantly white with slightly darkened tips.

9. Shaded. Dark and light tones blend into each other like marble.

10. Harlequin. The coat is white, which is diluted with multi-colored spots, covering about 20% of the animal’s body.

Character and habits of the Scottish Fold

Scottish Folds are simply created for life in a large family. They are very sociable and playful. They love to involve all family members in their games. Scottish cats are very sociable and get along well with children and the elderly. They allow children to cuddle themselves and play with them with pleasure. As for the character of each individual, like people, it is individual; some associate the color of an animal with certain character traits.

For example, it is believed that blue Scots, due to their British genes, have a more quarrelsome character, and on the contrary, bicolors are considered cats with a soft and good-natured character. However, each animal is individual in one way or another. Some Scots do not leave the hands of the owner and strive to be close to the owner, while others, on the contrary, do not let anyone near them.

Interesting fact: Handsome adult lop-eared cats can easily tolerate loneliness and can sleep all day or occupy themselves on their own. However, if the animal wants attention or gets hungry, it will definitely let you know about it with its loud “meow”.

The Scots also have such character traits as stubbornness and willfulness. Often expressed in whims and a desire to be the center of attention. Although these cats can be trained well. At the genetic level, cats of this breed have certain beautiful manners. The Scots are well accustomed to the litter box, they recognize the scratching post and do not damage the furniture; they behave quite decently and decently.

Even if the cat is offended by something, he will not take revenge. The Scots never steal food, they can eat from the table or from the pots, but they never hide, but eat calmly and openly, with the dignity of kings.

Temperament and habits of Scottish Folds

The character of the representatives of this breed is almost their main advantage. These animals have a very kind nature. They are poised, majestic and, at times, cheerful.

According to the owners of the Scots, such pets love their owners very much, get along well with children, frolic with them without showing their claws. They are very gentle and quiet creatures.

Scottish Folds don't just vocalize. Their meow is either very thin or slightly creaking. Scottish Folds easily adapt to any family, whether extended or consisting of no more than a couple of owners, whether they have other pets or not.

Reviews from Scottish Fold owners about their disposition and habits are entirely positive. These cats are excellent companions for those who do not like fuss, who live slowly, measuredly and calmly.

Kittens of this breed, even small ones, usually do not misbehave very much. They can never be seen hanging from the curtains or dangling from the chandelier. But they love to play with small objects.

They can take them in their teeth, take them somewhere and hide them in hidden corners behind pieces of furniture.

Owners' observations often say that from an early age these cats love to stand on their hind legs, thus exercising their spine.

Scottish Folds love to keep themselves clean, they are intelligent and have a sense of humor. Noticing that their toy is in human hands, they will readily take a break and admire how the owner will play with it.

Grown-up Scots with innate elite grace kindly allow people to look at them, while remaining, as always, gentle, peaceful and understanding. These cats show submissiveness when it suits them.

And they can be stubborn if they don’t like something. In contrast to the related British breed, which tends not to notice the presence of people, Scottish Folds easily begin to communicate with people, choose their favorites among members of the household and happily while away their leisure time with them. See British cat basics.

Interesting facts about Scottish Fold cats

The first fold-eared cats appeared completely by accident due to a genetic mutation; later people fixed this gene artificially. Fold-eared cats cannot have healthy offspring within their breed; when crossing a fold-eared cat with a fold-eared cat, kittens with diseases of the musculoskeletal system are born, therefore, to obtain healthy offspring, fold-eared cats are crossed with straight-eared cats.

Scottish cats can come in a variety of colors. For a long time, there was a ban on breeding cats of this breed all over the world, but after breeders learned how to correctly cross fold-eared cats with straight-eared cats, it became allowed to breed cats of these breeds in nurseries. One litter usually produces 4 kittens.

It has been noticed that Scottish cats love to stand on their hind legs and stand in the gopher pose for a long time. Scottish Fold cats do not like heights, so with a cat of this breed you don’t have to worry about chandeliers and high shelves. The cat definitely won't go there.

Scottish cats are very smiling - this facial expression is obtained due to the rounded convex cheeks and the round shape of the head. The Scottish Fold cat has an unusual, peculiar, hoarse voice. Small fold-eared kittens are born with straight ears, and only by the time the kittens are a month old do the ears begin to sag a little.

By the age of four months, kittens have a dense undercoat, their ears become tightly pressed to their heads, that is, the kittens become similar to their parents. Remember the Soviet cartoon “Kid and Carlson”? The famous and lazy cat Matilda is the first representative of the Scottish Fold breed to appear on Russian screens.

Pros and cons of Scottish Fold cats

The main advantages of these cute cats include the following qualities:

• Kindness. It’s difficult to piss off a Scot, but it’s still possible;
• Good attitude towards children;
• Sociability and cheerful disposition;
• Dignified, almost aristocratic behavior;
• Lack of touchiness. Even if you offend the cat, he will not do anything dirty in revenge;
• Mind. Scottish Fold cats are quite smart cats, they quickly get used to the tray and scratching post, and respond well to the calm words of the owner. If a Scottish Fold cat does not obey its owner, it means that the cat most likely does not like the way he is being treated;
• They get along calmly with other pets and do not share territory even when they are close to cats. He can even be friends with a dog if he treats the cat well;
• Despite their good disposition, Scottish cats are still predators, and they are excellent at catching mice and sometimes birds.

There are disadvantages to cats of this breed and they cannot be ignored:

• Cats of this breed must be brushed at least a couple of times a week in order to remove dead hair and massage the animal’s skin;
• Scottish Fold cats are simply extremely inquisitive. They love to watch what the owner is doing and climb into all secluded places;
• Sometimes there is excessive affection, but it all depends on the individual characteristics of the animal. Plus, Scottish Folds don’t particularly like guests and treat new people in the house with caution, although they behave quite decently;
• Scottish cats often love to lick themselves, and during licking, hair gets into the animal's body, so cats of this breed must be fed with special food to remove hair from the stomach.

Name for a Scottish Fold cat

The nickname for a cat of this breed should be selected in accordance with its character and appearance. It should highlight all the charm of the pet. It is advisable to keep the name short and clear so that the kitten can easily remember it.

Nicknames for females:

• Ariel,
• Barbara,
• Betty,
• Bead,
• Varvara,
• Greta,
• Jesse,
• Juliet,
• Zara,
• Ingrid,
• Coco,
• Cleopatra,
• Margot,
• Nyusha,
• Cecil,
• Trinity,
• Flossie,
• Helga,
• Yasmina.

Nicknames for males:

• Archie,
• Brand,
• William,
• Smoke,
• Zeus,
• Lucky,
• Oscar,
• Pirate,
• Plato,
• Richard,
• Novel,
• William,
• Caesar,
• Charlie,
• Charles,
• Elf,
• Eugene,
• Yasha.

How much does a Scottish cat cost:

• The price in Russia ranges from 5,000 to 15,000 rubles;
• Price in Ukraine – from 1000 to 6000 hryvnia.

It is better to buy pets of this breed in a professional nursery, where the kitten will have good pedigree and health. Also, along with the kitten, documents and detailed care recommendations are inherited. Kittens are delivered from the nursery at the age of two months, already accustomed to the tray and scratching post.

Breeding Scottish Fold cats

Breeding Scottish cats is a very complex process since these cats have problematic genes, the manifestation of the negative consequences of these genes can only be avoided by selecting a pair. By the way, it’s exactly the same story with Munchkin cats. Fold-eared cats are never bred with a fold-eared partner, since in this case offspring are born with serious genetic diseases of the musculoskeletal system. Cats of the Scottish Fold and Highland Fold breeds are crossed exclusively with the straight-eared Scottish Straight and Highland Straight, only with such mating the offspring are born healthy.

Cats are ready for mating at the age of one and a half years. You cannot breed cats during their first heat; you must wait until the second, or better yet, the third. It is also worth remembering that a cat can become pregnant on the second or third day of estrus. The first mating process is quite complicated, and nature does not always tell cats what to do. If the cat has not interacted with her own kind before, the process of the first mating can be very complicated. In this case, cats begin to show aggression towards their partner, hissing and growling menacingly.

Even if the cat behaves calmly, she can simply lie on her side and not let the cat near her. Mating of Scottish cats should always take place in the male's territory. In this case, the male feels completely safe and can spend all his energy courting the cat. The cat's owners are only required to correctly calculate the day when to produce it, and provide the cat with its usual food and litter tray for the mating period.

Mating usually takes 2-3 days. On the first day, the animals get to know each other, adapt and form sympathy. Mating occurs on 2-3 days. During the mating period, cat owners must allocate a separate room for the cats, where no one will disturb them, and the area must be closed so that the guest cannot escape. Cat mating games go something like this: the male settles down at a short distance from the cat and does not show any attention, sometimes he comes closer to the female, but she scares him off with a menacing hiss.

Later, the cat pretends to be asleep and doesn’t care about the female at all. Discouraged by the lack of attention, the cat begins to roll on the floor and meow, calling for a male. When the cat begins to show interest, the cat becomes aggressive again. This is repeated over and over again until the cat gets bored and stops resisting. Sexual intercourse in cats lasts about 5-10 seconds. About 10-16 matings occur within a few days.

The main signs of pregnancy in a cat:

• Morning sickness;
• The cat's nipples become swollen;
• The cat's appetite increases greatly;
• Character changes;
• The animal becomes more nervous;
• The cat may be aggressive;
• At the end of the second week of pregnancy, the fetuses can be felt by palpation;
• A cat's pregnant belly appears towards the end of the 6th week of pregnancy.

Pregnancy in Scottish cats lasts approximately 9 weeks. One litter usually produces 4 kittens.

Caring for Scottish Fold cats

Folds are quite unpretentious by nature. But do not forget that they are very inquisitive, they love to climb into various secluded places, play with wires and cables that they can chew. They might get stuck somewhere or fall out of a window. Therefore, before bringing a kitten into the house, it is better to prepare a little.

Hide all wires and chargers, put valuables away. The animal should prepare a sleeping place, a place for food with several bowls and a tray with filler. Little kittens are very playful, so to prevent the kitten from getting bored, it is better to purchase special toys. Pay special attention to caring for your pet's coat.

Interesting fact: The Scotsman needs to be brushed once a week with a special soft comb. At the same time, you should not use a slicker because it can damage the delicate undercoat. If the cat does not go outside but lives in an apartment, bathing it once every six months is enough.

After bathing, the kitten should be wrapped in a soft towel, and then the fur should be dried thoroughly so that the kitten does not catch a cold. Once a month, trim the tips of the animal’s claws with special scissors; this must be done carefully so as not to cause pain to the cat. You should also clean your pet’s ears every few weeks. This is done with a cotton swab.

Scottish cats have an excellent appetite and are prone to obesity, so try to choose a balanced diet without overfeeding the animal. Kittens should be trained from the first days the animal appears in the house. The kitten must immediately be accustomed to the tray, scratching post, and sleeping place.

It is necessary to immediately stop negative actions, otherwise it will be almost impossible to wean the kitten later. Folds have an extraordinary mind and good manners from birth, so raising these cats is quite easy for the owners of these pets.

Personality of the Scottish Fold cat

Scottish Fold cats are mainly popular due to their striking appearance. Large eyes and flattened ears make the animal slightly sad, as if asking for protection; the soft fur attracts human hands - it is very pleasant to touch and stroke it. But it’s not only their external beauty that makes these cats so beloved; their character plays a big role. The Scots are distinguished by their flexible disposition; they are good-natured, gentle creatures who are practically incapable of showing aggression, sometimes even in self-defense. These animals become attached to the owner, but do not impose themselves, are responsive, and will always be happy to receive attention in their direction. The breed is well suited for apartment living; cats lead a sedentary lifestyle. In this regard and due to the characteristics of the breed, animals require special nutrition: a diet to prevent obesity, as well as special food that will provide the cat with all the necessary nutrients. Kittens require special attention; it is important that their skeleton is formed correctly, because they are predisposed to defects in this area. Breeders and owners of Scottish Folds say that the cats are very easy to litter box train, are clean and get along well with other pets.

Diet of Scottish Fold cats

A cat's diet should be varied and include all the necessary vitamins and microelements that the animal needs. For Scots, premium food is usually used, alternating dry food with canned food. Since hair constantly gets into the animal’s body when licking, it is better to give preference to foods that cleanse the cat’s stomach of hair.

In addition, it is good to feed the animal with natural products such as:

• Boiled lean meat (veal, beef, chicken, pork);
• By-products (liver, spleen, lungs, kidneys);
• Boiled fish of low-fat varieties;
• Quail eggs or chicken egg yolks;
• Cheese, fermented milk products (kefir, sour cream, yogurt, etc.);
• Boiled vegetables.

Under no circumstances should cats be given smoked meats and salted fish; cats’ livers cannot cope with such heavy food. Since pets of this breed are prone to obesity, it is better not to overfeed them. In addition to food, you should ensure that the animal always has clean water in its bowl. The remains of uneaten food should be removed and the bowls should be washed well so that the cat does not get poisoned by spoiled food.

For pregnant cats, portions should be increased; it is advisable to add special vitamin complexes and calcium to the food, which can be purchased at a veterinary pharmacy. Neutered Scots are more prone to obesity than cats of other breeds, so it is better to feed them with special light, balanced food for neutered cats.

Diseases and health problems

Due to the fact that this breed was created by nature due to a genetic mutation, Scottish Folds may suffer from genetic diseases such as osteochondropathy. This is a hereditary congenital disease that can be fatal to the animal.

These cats may also suffer from other congenital diseases such as arthritis, chondrodystrophy, arthrosis. These diseases are most often the cause of incorrect crossing of lop-eared and straight-eared pets. Therefore, when buying a kitten, you need to pay special attention to the kitten’s movements, gait, and tail movement.

Due to the unusual shape of the eyes, Scots often suffer from entropion, and the animal requires surgical intervention. Older cats may develop cataracts or glaucoma.

Important fact: Some cats may be allergic to certain types of food, so if you notice that your cat is itching and acting strange, it is best to take the animal to the vet.

Older cats may suffer from diseases of the cardiovascular system, stomach and liver problems may occur, so once a year the animal must be shown to a veterinarian. Through contact with other animals, a cat can also become infected with various parasitic diseases. Therefore, it is always necessary to take preventive measures and avoid contact with carriers of parasites.