Scottish cats: subspecies, standards, character, care

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

Scottish cats are very similar in appearance, character and habits to the British. Just like them, the Scottish are massive, heavy, with large, round, wide-set eyes. But they also have their own unique feature. The Scottish breed is divided into two subspecies: fold and straight. This definition refers to the auricles. They, in fact, are either hanging or upright, like other cats. The most valued representatives of the Scottish fold, lop-eared. But without their brother with normal hearing organs, it would be impossible to breed the breed.

The fact is that the Scottish Fold cat breed was the result of a gene mutation. It was she who was both a unique feature of this "race", and a threat to the life of its carriers. In 1961, a white kitten was born on a farm near Tayside, near the city of Dundee, whose ears began to curl forward and downward as they grew older,covering the ear canal. He became the progenitor of the breed. However, it soon became clear that two folds could not be crossed. As a result of such mating, an extremely sick offspring that is not adapted to life is obtained. Kittens are born with a flattened tail, crooked paws. Their vertebrae grow together with age, which leads to paralysis, and then to the death of the animal.

This circumstance was the reason why the world felinological associations did not want to register the breed for a long time. It wasn't until 1991 (32 years later) that the CFA approved the standard for folding. Straight-eared Scottish cats are the key to the continued existence of the breed. To get he althy offspring, folders must be crossed with straights.

In principle, apart from possible exposure to degenerative joint disease, folds are in good he alth. Scottish cats of both subspecies live from 15 to 20 years. If you have a lop-eared pet, at a young age, pull it by the tail more often (until it crunches). This procedure is a prophylaxis against fusion of the vertebrae. Short hair care is very simple: it is enough to comb it once a week with a brush-mitt.

Scottish cats can have any color and any pattern on the coat. The standard requires only a short, soft coat with thick down. Representatives of the breed should be slightly lighter and more graceful than the British, have a rounded muzzle and almond-shaped upper eyelids. An adult cat, as a rule, weighs up to five kilograms, ladies - up to three and a half. But, just like the Britons, Scottishshould have massive bones, rounded paw pads, a developed chest and a round head.

Scottish cats have a balanced character: they are devoid of any aggression. In addition, these animals are extremely intelligent. Even small kittens are easily accustomed to the scratching post and tray. A characteristic feature of the Scottish is their voice - somewhat muffled, creaky, pleasant. They also tend to stand on their hind legs often and for a long time. This gopher pose amuses the owners of the Scot a lot. It looks especially funny when a cat watches TV like that. The Nordic disposition of the Scottish allows them to adapt well to different conditions. Whether it be a house full of children or dogs, or a quiet home for a lonely person, the Scots always feel great.