How to get a Scottish Fold or Scottish Fold cat

The Scottish Fold cat is one of the most popular in the world. She won millions of hearts with her resemblance to a plush toy. The highlight of this breed is the special shape of the ears, which are slightly tilted forward and curved down. Behind the pretty appearance lies a noble and vulnerable character. Before you decide to get a Scottish Fold, you should get to know her better and study the recommendations for keeping, feeding and breeding a cat.

Content

1. History of the origin of the breed
2. Description of the breed Colors

Features of development

A kitten at 3 months is already a fully formed personality. It is at this time that he begins to demonstrate his character and disposition. At this stage, it will be very difficult to re-educate a cat child. Three-month-old babies can already easily navigate and can quickly understand and remember where the feeders, drinking bowls and tray are located in the apartment, where they can sleep, and where they shouldn’t climb.

At 3 months, a kitten can remember its name and respond to it. This is why kittens are most often given away or sold at this stage - they can already begin to live in new conditions and quickly adapt to them.

At 3 months, a small cat begins to grow actively. They can now be given solid food. At this stage, females and males take on more noticeable differences and look different. First of all, this refers to the size and weight of animals of different sexes. On average, kittens reach a weight of 1.5-2.3 kg at 3 months. Of course, a lot here depends on the specific breed from which the babies come.

By human standards, 3-month-old kittens are two-year-old children. They may react differently to new environments

Some kids very carefully explore a new space, thinking about their every step, while others will hide behind a sofa or other furniture for several days, relieving stress. In such situations, owners should understand that a small kitten needs some time to adapt

History of the origin of the breed

In 1961, a fold-eared cat was born on the estate of a Scottish farmer, who was named Susie. When she grew up, she gave birth to a litter. Several kittens have inherited the characteristic ear shape from their mother. One of them was later offered to British cat breeder Mary Ross. She chose a girl and named her Snoopy.

The next year, the woman received the first litter from her pet. She especially liked a cat with a white color and drooping ears. Mary decided to keep him and, when he grew up, crossed him with her pet British Shorthair. At the same time, the breeder bred his mother Snoopy to a blue Briton. The kittens that were born later became the progenitors of the new Scottish Fold breed.

The dominant Fd gene is responsible for lop ears. If both parents are its carriers, then the kittens born from such a pair develop various pathologies. Most often these are problems with the musculoskeletal system. For this reason, today it is allowed to breed Scottish Folds only with straight-eared Scottish Straights.

The breed is registered by felinological organizations CFA, TICA and WCF. However, until now it remains unrecognized in FIFE, but this fact does not prevent the breed from gaining more and more admirers.

Description of the breed

Scottish Folds are medium-sized animals. The height at the withers of an adult cat is 27–30 cm, weight – 4–5.5 kg. The appearance of the cat must exactly correspond to the description of the breed:

1. The head is round in shape with large cheeks and a strong chin.
2. The nose is small, but quite wide with a neat nose.
3. The eyes are large and round, the look is expressive. The color of the iris must match the color.
4. Ears are small or medium in size. The tips are folded and pressed to the head. The shells themselves are set wide, but do not protrude beyond the contours of the cheeks.
5. The neck is short and wide.
6. The body is downed and stocky. The shoulder girdle and chest are well developed.
7. The limbs are of medium length with small rounded paws.
8. The tail near the base is quite wide, gradually tapering towards the end, mobile, of medium length.
9. The coat is short with a very thick undercoat, soft and pleasant to the touch. The hairs do not adhere to the body.

According to the description of the breed, there are 3 types of lop ears - single, double and triple. In the first case, only the tips of the cat's ears are bent. In the second, the entire shell is folded, but there is still a small gap between the head and ears. Triple fold means that the shells fit tightly to the head.

Colors

The breed standard allows for a variety of coat colors - plain, bicolor, tabby, color-point, tortoiseshell, chinchilla, smoky, as well as ticked and shaded.
When evaluating animals at an exhibition, commission members strictly ensure that the color matches the color of the nose, paw pads and the shade of the iris. Examples in the table below. Table - Scottish Fold breed standard

Breed standards

Scottish Fold breeders focus on two basic standards: the American standard from TICA and CFA, and the European standard from WCF. Both options have an almost identical description of the appearance and body shape. The body of this breed is medium in size with rounded shapes, as well as proportional development in the shoulders and croup.

The head is beautiful and round, set on a short neck, with a strong prominent chin and whisker pads. The nose is short, and at the transition to the frontal part a small depression is allowed. The eyes are round, large and widely spaced. The ears are small, but tightly folded down and forward, while they do not extend beyond the head, so the head appears almost round. The tail can be long or medium in relation to the size of the body. According to American standards, the tail must also be movable.

Important fact! The European standard does not specify requirements for the nature of the coat, compared to the American standards, which provide clear characteristics for both long and short hair. It is indicated that the structure of the coat may depend on climate, season and color, as well as on the living conditions of the animal.

The TICA and WCF standards allow any form of color, while the CFA does not allow colors such as lilac, chocolate, colorpoint, including their combinations with the inclusion of white.

Each standard describes defects that are unacceptable for show class cats. Such defects include:

• Tail too short.
• Other disadvantages of the tail.
• Non-standard number of fingers.
• Problems with the vertebrae that affect tail mobility.

Character and habits

Scottish Folds are cats that were bred exclusively as a breed for home keeping. Its representatives have never lived on the street, so they tend to become very attached to their owner and home. Even rearranging furniture can cause stress for a Scottish Fold, let alone moving to a new place of residence.

Adult Scottish Folds have a phlegmatic character. They display a sedateness and aristocracy, which was probably inherited from British cats. They behave calmly and balanced in any situation. Kittens are usually playful and inquisitive, but they can hardly be called hyperactive.

Sensitive and vulnerable by nature, Scottish Folds need affection more than representatives of other breeds. Begging for the next portion of affection, the pet literally follows on the heels of the object of its adoration. Seizing the moment when the owner is free, the fold-eared cat will immediately try to capture his attention and sit next to him.

Scottish Fold cats do not tolerate separation from their owner well. For them, this is a real test, which can lead to loss of appetite or even illness due to stress.

Despite their strong affection for humans, Scottish Folds do not like to be picked up or cuddled. They prefer to bask in the arms of their owner, lying next to them on the bed or sitting in a chair. Scottish Folds are not very talkative; moreover, they have a quiet voice, reminiscent of a squeak. Some owners of Scottish Folds have never heard their pets meow at all.

Interaction with children

Scottish Fold cats are often bred specifically for children. An affectionate and calm pet can become a child’s best friend, provided that the child respects his personal space. Although Scottish Folds are not happy with annoying hugs, they do not allow themselves to be aggressive towards children. There are practically no cases when a cat is ready to use its claws and teeth; this is rather an exception to the rule. A lop-eared pet will prefer to retire to a safe place for a while rather than offend the baby.

How do Scottish Folds get along with other animals?

Scottish Folds feel comfortable in the company of a dog, especially if the pets grew up together. Friendship with cats of other breeds is also possible, but you need to keep in mind that Scottish Folds are jealous. If there are several cats living at home, then each of them should receive care and attention equally. The one thing Scotswomen cannot get along with is parrots and small rodents. Although cats of this breed seem slow, they have a well-developed hunting instinct.

Upbringing

Scottish Folds are smart, so they easily learn to order. They quickly remember how to use the tray and scratching post, and learn the rules of behavior in the house. The main condition for successful parenting is patience and perseverance. Rough treatment can only lead to the loss of the pet's trust. It is better to use reward methods - praise and treat the cat with something tasty when it shows obedience.

How Sema became Seva - the incredible story of the British fold cat

Despite the common misconception, nature is not always rational and harmonious. She, just like humans, is characterized by imperfection, which sometimes takes on the most excellent forms. For example, look at the Scottish Fold cat. Until 1961, all Scots cats were straight-eared. But one day, on a British farm near Copar Angus, a cat was born with a mutation - her ears were floppy. The strange kitty was named Susie, and she became the progenitor of the new breed.

Photo: @juliajtr

Photo: @juliajtr

Today we have an unusual guest, or rather two guests. The Scottish Fold cat breed will be represented by the cat Vsevolod. A happy accident also intervened in his fate, as once in the fate of the cat-founder of the “dynasty” Susie. And Vsevolod himself will be presented by my charming colleague Julia @juliajtr , whose articles you can easily find on our website.

Photo: @juliajtr

- Yul, hello! Let's start with the introduction of Vsevolod?

- Hello! I solemnly present the Scottish fold cat Vsevolod, known simply as Seva to his friends. Seva is three years old, presumably.

Photo: @juliajtr

- Presumably?

- Yes, because Seva is a foundling. I don’t know his exact birthday and can only judge it based on his age.

- So, I’m already looking forward to the interesting story of your acquaintance!

— The story is really unusual, a little sad - but with a happy ending. We first noticed Seva near our house - it’s not often you see a purebred cat wandering the street. The animal was in a deplorable condition; not a trace remained of the natural gloss of the Scottish Fold. Seva ate whatever he found, usually in a nearby trash heap. Obviously, the cat needed to be saved, but one significant problem arose. We learned from neighbors that Seva still has owners. The owners, however, were purely formal, who used their pet as a toy, depending on the mood. When their little daughter dragged Seva into the house by her tail, her parents did not condemn her behavior at all. It is not surprising that most of the time the cat preferred to hide from such “benefactors.”

Photo: @juliajtr

We watched Seva for about a month. During this period, the animal’s situation did not improve; only kind people fed it almost the entire street. My daughter Masha also joined them. Every day at six o’clock in the evening she “set” a table for the cat outside. Seva quickly got used to this routine and patiently waited for her to get home from work at the appointed time. Several times we found an unfortunate cat huddled in a corner in the yard of our house: homeless cats, but more accustomed to wild life, carried out reprisals against their decorative relative. One day the cats drove him right into our entrance, Seva hid in a corner between the flights of stairs. Looking at this, my Masha’s heart could not stand it, and we made a joint decision to take the cat home. I understand perfectly well that this is not a very good thing to do, but at that time we simply did not see any other way out. Moreover, all the neighbors who participated in Seva’s fate fully approved of this decision. And the owners? We never found a single advertisement about the missing cat. No one went home or asked questions either. Most likely, they expected a similar outcome and were not particularly upset.

Photo: @juliajtr

Photo: @juliajtr

- This can be assumed in relation to your pet. If Vsevolod disappeared on the street all day and ate in a landfill, I don’t think his owners were particularly concerned about his fate.

— By the way, if I’m not mistaken, this cat’s original name was Sema. But the daughter categorically did not like the nickname, and she gave the pet the consonant name Seva - Vsevolod, if officially. So, Seva is at our house. But the condition in which he came to us was terrible. Of course, a visit to the vet followed the very next day. But even before this, the animal had to be brought into at least relative order. They bathed, dried, and fed. Seva took his bath with stoic calm, although, judging by his fur, it was the first bath in his life. And after a hearty dinner, he lay down to rest on the sofa next to his daughter, recognizing her as his new owner. However, why new? He's been treating her like this for a long time!

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Photo: @juliajtr

The next day we went to the vet. The specialist who knows and treats all our animals lives a long way away - about sixty kilometers from our home. This is how Vsevolod took his first voyage by car. And a new surprise - the cat behaved just fine during the trip! He lay quietly on his daughter’s lap and looked with interest at the landscapes flying by outside the window. At the clinic, we made the difficult decision to castrate Seva. Besides him, our family also has a cat and a dog, and Vsevolod was supposed to be kept at home, which means inevitable mental suffering, heart-rending screams and smells. To spare an animal from suffering only for it to suffer again? Therefore, castration was destined to happen. In addition to the operation, we gave the pet the necessary vaccinations, got a passport, and, of course, conducted a thorough examination. Fortunately, Vsevolod did not have any serious illnesses. Almost the entire clinic staff approved of our decision to take the cat for ourselves.

Photo: @juliajtr

- So, Vsevolod found a new family and much better living conditions. How long has he been with you, what kind of cat is he, and does problematic vulgarity affect his character?

— Seva has been with us for about a year. Since our family has two more pets - the elderly cat Sima and the dog Ozzie, Vsevolod’s main task was to successfully fit into the existing team. And the newcomer coped with this task perfectly! From the first day he was very flexible, so the “old-timers” accepted him quite peacefully. And now their relationship is completely idyll - everyone knows their place and respects the interests of the other. Seva spends most of the day sleeping or playing. As for the problematic past, one of the residual habits of that time for Vsevolod is gluttony. He first empties his bowl and then checks the contents of Sima and Ozzie's bowls. It is not surprising that with such nutrition he became fat. However, my daughter always dreamed of a beautiful, fat and docile cat - Seva fits perfectly into this image!

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He has simply amazing coat color, readers will be able to see this by looking at the photographs. And this cat also has a full set of Scottish Fold “chips”. For example, due to the special structure of the spine, Seva sleeps perfectly on her back, practically stretched out. Sometimes he stands on his hind legs like a gopher and rotates his head like a real owl. This guy loves to talk! His evening runs are invariably accompanied by an interesting set of sounds, which is also typical for this breed. Having assessed his appearance according to established standards, we assume that this is a very “high-quality” cat that fully meets the requirements of the breed. But, of course, that’s not why we love him. For us, Vsevolod is the best cat in the world!

Photo: @juliajtr

“I believe that the best cat in the world has decent maintenance.” What can you recommend to readers who are already tempted to get a representative of this breed? I’m guessing you probably have a couple of “life hacks” up your sleeve.

— You won’t believe it, but with this cat no special “life hacks” are required, he is extremely simple and unpretentious in maintenance, despite all his decorativeness. Perhaps Seva’s main advantage is that he is not at all afraid of water and loves to swim. If for other cats bathing is a real execution, Vsevolod himself happily watches the trickles of water and endures the whole procedure with complete ease. The main disadvantage... I can only name a very large amount of hair during shedding. You have to work with a roller on clothes, especially dark ones. However, the best remedy for excess hair is regular brushing. We always comb Vsevolod after bathing, when the fur dries a little.

Photo: @juliajtr

Photo: @juliajtr

- Great. With all the love for pets, the fewer problems they cause for their owners, the better. Let's talk about diet - what does Seva eat?

- Oh, many! Probably, the hungry past in the garbage dump, where this cat became almost omnivorous, is taking its toll. His formal diet, which we specially selected, is Perfect Fit dry food. The problem is that besides him, he regularly encroaches on the bowl of Sima’s cat, who, due to her age, eats wet food. From the “straight” side, Vsevolod enjoys eating seafood and does not disdain veal and duck. But this is from a healthy diet. As for what is harmful, this cat may well eat peanuts or a piece of chocolate. But such cases, fortunately, are very rare.

Photo: @juliajtr

“This is probably a legacy of a difficult past, when the animal did not have much choice in food. Another proof that you and your daughter did the right thing then. At best, Seva would have lasted a couple of years on pasture.

- Without a doubt. The past also affected his other habits, some of them, by the way, very funny. For example, Seva loves to hide. Due to the need to survive in extreme conditions, he learned to hide masterfully. Sometimes we simply cannot find him and we panic - what if he ran away? Our fears are not groundless, because Vsevolod lived on the street for quite a long time and a certain craving for freedom remained in him. The cat loves to sit on the window, bury himself in the flowers, and watch what is happening below. He happily sleeps next to the dog, which acts as a large and lively “warmer” for Seva. So, about hide and seek. This is exactly hide and seek, I am convinced that the cat is amused by our excitement and attempts to find him! When he is disappointed in a person’s search abilities, Vsevolod seems to give in to us and begins to “meow” slightly, reducing the search area. Well, the happy discovery of a pet becomes everyone’s joy, first of all, joy for the cat.

Photo: @juliajtr

Even all the trials of the past could not spoil this amazing creation! Vsevolod is an almost ideal pet who gets along well with animals and people. Unlike other cats, he is very easy to handle, allowing his owner to do almost whatever he wants with him. It's like you have a soft toy in your hands! On the other hand, this is not just a beautiful decoration for the home; Scottish Fold cats have a fairly high intelligence. They are also incredibly clean, at least Seva is. My bathroom and I have wipes folded up for cleaning up dog hair after a walk. There is also a cat litter box there. After completing all his business, Vsevolod pulls off one of the napkins and seems to wipe the floor around the tray. And then he covers it with filler, hiding his “works” from the owner’s eyes. Not every person is so scrupulous about cleanliness!

Photo: @juliajtr

- That's for sure. Readers already know that in addition to Vsevolod, you also have a cat and a dog. Are you thinking about other pets?

- Not yet. I was actually very lucky. There are no bad pets, but some of them unwittingly cause inconvenience to their owners. Or they don’t suit their character. In our family, a real idyll reigns - neither Sima, nor Ozzy, nor Seva have ever disappointed me. Especially Sev, who has reasons to be embittered both at life and at people. But no, I didn’t see anything from him except sincere gratitude and love!

Photo: @juliajtr

—Yul, thank you for this beautiful and instructive story. Yes, yes, you and I have a whole story of one, separate cat, which wonderfully reflects the amazing breed of British Fold cat. Now, according to the tradition familiar to you, a few words to our readers.

- Friends! For all cat lovers, I can with a clear conscience recommend the Scottish Fold cat as a pet. According to my observations, this breed has practically no disadvantages! In addition to its exceptionally attractive appearance, the animal has a gentle disposition and some special delicacy towards its owner. This clean and elegant pet will surely decorate not only your home, but your entire life. Thank you for your attention!

Photo: @juliajtr

- Thank you and good luck!

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Posted by Yulia Telenitskaya (@juliajtr) Oct 1, 2021 at 10:32 PDT

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Alexey Egorov

Author, employee of “My good one”. Having an attachment to things with history, he constantly strives to learn new things and discover something unusual, something that has not yet been tried. Loves the vastness of the oceans, mountains, fields and the feeling of unity with nature.
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Recommendations for the maintenance and care of the Scottish Fold

Bathing

Since Scottish Fold cats have short fur that does not tangle, it is enough to brush it once every 3 days. When shedding begins, the procedure is carried out daily so that the pet does not swallow hair - representatives of this breed are clean and love to lick themselves. It is recommended to bathe the animal once a month using cat shampoo. Human is not suitable - it can cause irritation and allergies.

Hygiene of ears, eyes, oral cavity

It is important to pay special attention to caring for your ears. Their tips point down, so the cat cannot clean the shells itself. Inspection is carried out once a week. Having found excess sulfur inside, the external auditory canal is carefully wiped with a sponge soaked in a special lotion.

If a dark mass appears in the ear, your pet should be taken to the veterinarian. Black wax is a sign of ear scabies infection.

Eye hygiene is equally important. Scottish Fold cats have a shortened nasolacrimal duct, so discharge sometimes appears in the corners. They are carefully removed with a cotton pad, after moistening it in boiled water or saline solution.

The oral cavity also requires care. To prevent the formation of tartar, it is recommended to brush your cat’s teeth once a week with a baby brush and pet toothpaste.

The claws are trimmed about 2 times a month, but not with ordinary scissors, but with a nail clipper.

Walk

If a kitten has been accustomed to walks since childhood, then being in the fresh air will bring him joy in the future. If you are planning to get a Scottish Fold cat, you should buy a harness in advance. Walking is allowed at any time of the year in calm, dry weather. Pets that are regularly outdoors should be treated for fleas and ticks.

Choosing a healthy kitten

More stringent criteria are applied when selecting kittens for breeding. Applicants must be sufficiently mature: if possible, they are purchased in the fall, since the heat makes its own adjustments to the exterior. Some kittens' ears stand up or stand up completely. In this case, decide for yourself whether you definitely need a Scottish fold or whether a Scottish straight will suit you, especially since the latter will also produce babies with rolled-up ears.

When examining the kitten, pay attention to the configuration of the bite - in the Scottish Fold it is scissor-shaped. Cats (unlike dogs) do not have such strict requirements for their teeth: the main thing is that they are complete, intact and even. It happens that the color of an adult “Scotsman” is strikingly different from what was stated when purchasing it.

In order not to be disappointed in your expectations, write this clause in the contract, and choose a kitten together with a person who can give a forecast on the final coat color of a mature pet. The kitten you choose should be healthy and playful, have a thick and uniform coat, without spots or gaps. No dirt in the ears. The eyes should shine, but not from tears or painful discharge. A healthy kitten is always interested in what is happening: lethargy and apathy are excluded.

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Proper nutrition is the key to health

Fold-eared Scots are real gluttons. According to breeders, pets are ready to eat a double portion in one sitting. An insatiable appetite often leads to weight gain, and obesity can affect your health. This must be taken into account when planning your diet. Veterinarians advise switching Scottish Folds to super-premium or holistic dry industrial formulas. Feeding is done in the morning and evening in the dosage recommended by the manufacturer.

Those who prefer to feed their cat natural food need to remember one rule - approximately 80% of the diet is meat, and the remaining 20% ​​are supplements in the form of cereals, vegetables, eggs, and cottage cheese.
The table below shows foods that you can and cannot feed your Scottish Fold cat. Table - Allowed and prohibited products for Scottish Fold

How and what to feed?

The menu for a 3-month-old kitten must be carefully planned. You need to immediately decide what exactly you plan to feed your cat - natural products or ready-made industrial food.

As for natural foods that kittens can eat, experts advise adding the following food to kittens’ diets from 3 months:

• boiled and finely chopped low-fat meat (beef or chicken);
• high quality raw meat;
• kefir and fermented baked milk without additives, low-fat fermented milk products;
• fresh chopped vegetables - pumpkin, zucchini, cabbage;
• egg yolk, boiled and chopped or raw;
• lean sea fish without bones;
• porridge with milk, water or broth;
• vegetable oil in small quantities to improve digestion.

Cat food cannot be salted, peppered, sprinkled with spices, fried, pickled or smoked. Food from the table is also not suitable for kittens. Discard chicken and fish bones - discard them. Don't give sweets.

Ready-made food can also be given to kittens, but it is better to choose premium or super-premium options that do not contain preservatives of unknown origin, coloring components or flavor enhancers. There should be no unnecessary chemicals in such food. If you decide to feed a 3-month-old kitten with this food, then you need to take into account some rules.

• Dry and wet food cannot be mixed together. If your kitten eats this type of food, it will lead to serious health problems over time.
• It is better to stick to a certain brand of food and discontinue it if necessary.

The finished food must contain natural ingredients. Meat must be present. If the product is not saturated with proteins, then there will be too little benefit for the little fluffy. Choose only high quality branded products. You can consult with your veterinarian about which commercial food is best to take, especially if you have a demanding kitten of a certain breed.

Health and lifespan

Scottish Fold cats, on average, live about 13–15 years. When the breed was first created, its representatives could not boast of good health. Due to mistakes made during crossing, the animals suffered from an incurable disease - osteochondrodysplasia. It is characterized by abnormal development of bones and cartilage. This disease is caused by genetic disorders and is found in kittens born from the mating of a fold pair.

Other diseases that Scottish Fold cats are susceptible to:

1. Diabetes. At risk are cats that are obese and have problems with the endocrine system.
2. Cardiomyopathy. The main symptoms are fatigue, shortness of breath, and developmental delay.
3. Urolithiasis disease. Develops due to salt deposits in the bladder. Symptoms are difficult and painful urination, blood in the urine.

The lifespan of a pet is influenced by the quality of care and nutrition. Timely vaccination and anti-parasitic treatment will help your pet stay healthy.

Caring for Scottish kittens

Newborn Scottish kittens do not immediately open their eyes. Immediately after birth they are blind and completely helpless. Only on the 6th day do kittens’ eyes open.

Then their ears begin to open. At first, the babies look the same. After 3 weeks, the Scottish kitten's ears rise or fall, and the tips begin to curl. After three weeks, babies begin to walk and try to get out of the box. The sex can be determined after the first month.

At 2 months, a Scottish kitten is ready to start feeding on its own. A Scottish kitten is completely ready to separate from its mother at 3 months. A 4 month old kitten eats 6 times a day. As kittens grow older, their eye color changes.

In a week, the Scots cub gains approximately 200 grams. At two months they gain a kilogram of weight, and after the fourth month they already weigh 1.5-2 kg and are considered teenagers.

Breeding Features

Sexual maturity in Scottish Folds occurs at 7–8 months. However, it is too early to give a cat for breeding at this age. You need to miss at least 3 heats. This time is necessary for the expectant mother’s body to become stronger and for her to be able to bear healthy offspring.

Breeding cats of this breed has some peculiarities. Crossing of lop-eared individuals was prohibited in order to prevent genetic mutations. The mating of two folds usually results in kittens with abnormal bone and joint development. You can only cross Scottish Folds with Scottish Straights, straight-eared cats. In rare cases, representatives of the British breed are chosen as a mating partner in order to update the set of genes.

Pregnancy lasts approximately 65–68 days. A Scottish Fold cat has a litter of 2 to 5 kittens. Half of the cubs inherit the gene for lop ears, the rest have straight ears. You can determine which of them is fold and which is straight once they reach three weeks of age.

A little history

For the first time people started talking about representatives of this breed in the middle of the twentieth century. By and large, the first Scots appeared by chance from the British and mongrel cats. Later, breeders became interested in the breed and already in 1963 began breeding fold cats.

By the way, the first appearance of the Scots on television occurred in 1970 in the Soviet cartoon “Carlson is Back,” where the nanny-housekeeper’s cat, Miss Bok Matilda, was a representative of the Highland Fold. But Scottishfold can be seen in the anime “The Return of the Cat”.

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How to choose a Scottish kitten and how much it costs

Before buying a cat, you should spend time studying information about the breeders who breed this breed. You need to choose a nursery with a good reputation. Kittens are taken from their mother at the age of 12 weeks. By this time, babies already know how to eat and go to the tray on their own.

The cost of Scottish fold cats depends on belonging to a particular class. The most expensive ones are those that have every chance of taking part in exhibitions and breeding work in the future. Their appearance exactly corresponds to the approved standard. The price of an animal can reach 60–80 thousand rubles.

Scottish cats classified as a breed may have slight deviations from the standard, but they are suitable for breeding. The cost of such kittens varies between 25–50 thousand rubles.

The most budget option is pet-class kittens. They do not participate in championships and breeding work due to the presence of defects. The cost of keeping animals is from 15 to 25 thousand rubles.

The price is influenced not only by belonging to a certain class, but also by the reputation of the nursery, as well as color.

When buying a Scottish kitten, you need to evaluate its appearance. A healthy pet has clean ears and eyes, it is moderately well-fed, active and easy to interact with. The breeder must provide the buyer with a pedigree and a veterinary passport, which contains information about the vaccinations given.

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.

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Pros and cons of the breed

Table - Advantages and disadvantages of the Scottish Fold breed

Scottish Fold cats are ideal for both families with children and single elderly people. These are loyal and gentle pets for whom it is so important to feel loved.

Owner reviews

Those who have spent several years in the company of a Scottish Fold cat speak of her with love. According to the owners, these are ideal pets, capable of showing tender feelings and not lacking intelligence. Cases of aggression are very rare for them, although if they need to defend their lives, the cat can stand up for itself. This does not happen in the family where she is raised. A fold-eared pet should not be left alone at home for a long time and it is undesirable to give it to other people for foster care - it can get sick from melancholy.

The Scottish Fold cat has become a favorite for many. This is a gentle, friendly pet without a hint of aggression, and is also very beautiful. It is impossible not to fall in love with such a cute animal. This breed is suitable for married couples with children and single people. By paying enough attention to raising your pet in childhood, you will find a faithful, loving friend.