Lop-eared Scot: description of the breed, nutrition, features of maintenance and care

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

Recently, pets like cats have gained incredible popularity. The gray lop-eared Scot was especially fond of people. What is the reason for such sympathy, let's try to figure it out in this article. After all, besides this breed of cats, there are many others that not only can not be inferior to them in appearance and character, but also surpass them in some respects. So why exactly the Scottish Fold cat breed?

The story of their origin

The first mention of the breed recorded in the twentieth century. Initially, it was a mixture of ordinary yard cats with the British, but later the breeders became interested in them and in 1963 started breeding cats with floppy ears. Almost immediately after its appearance in the USSR, the Scottish Fold cat breed went to television screens. This happened in 1970, when little viewers watched the cartoon "Carlson is back." Matilda the cathousekeeper, was a representative of cats with floppy ears.

Appearance

What do we pay attention to first of all? Of course, in appearance. And really, how can you not be stupefied by these cute hanging ears and deep eyes? But besides the ears, the Scotsman has lop-eared eyes, which are unnaturally large for a cat and most often of a beautiful blue color. Another distinguishing feature is the large round head, which is also rare for cats. It is worth noting the dense, short coat and colors of the lop-eared Scots, which can be varied. On this basis, it is better not to try to distinguish the breed.

Character

Looking at the attractive appearance of the lop-eared Scot, the character also cannot be ignored. What if the little angel turns into a big prankster? But this is not about the Scots, because their character is even better than their appearance. The main plus is calmness and balance. With such a pet, you can even sit down to watch a movie, which he can watch to the very end.

These are very kind and friendly animals that are always happy to spend time with the owner. They have a soft character, and it is almost impossible to quarrel with this cute cat. Kids love to play, they are always interested in everything new. Adults are not so active, but they also love communication. It is interesting to watch how a little kitten just explores all the corners of his new home. And adult lop-eared Scots will bypass them in search of the most convenient place forrest.

The hosts have little to no trouble with them. Since they quickly get used to a person, they like to spend time with him. However, often these animals choose a pet among people and tend to be with him more often. This character trait is mostly inherent in dogs. You do not need to devote too much time to the cat and fiddle with him for hours, just surround him with care and affection. Fold-eared Scots remember nicknames pretty quickly, but you don't need to give them too long or complicated names.

Features

The Scottish fold has a very soft and calm character, they are also very clean and not at all vindictive. Most likely, you have met such breeds of cats that can take revenge on the owner for yelling or not rewarding him with a treat because of a bad mood. The Scots are not like that at all. They are easy to accustom to the tray and to the scratching post, so if you take up the upbringing of the baby in time, then in adulthood he will not spoil your furniture.

Another feature is their ability to move quietly. Although they gain quite a lot of body weight, and their paws are large, their jumps and other movements are almost inaudible. The same goes for the voice. The Scots rarely scream at all, only in case of emergency, but even then the owners have to listen.

They love to travel and are quite comfortable with transportation. During long trips, they rarely cause unnecessary trouble to the owner. Thanks to his sociability and calmness, oftenbecome participants and then winners of various exhibitions and competitions.

Four-legged friends

As already mentioned, the Scots love to communicate with people, but they do not mind making friends with other animals. Therefore, they will be quite calm about the fact that another cat or other animal will live in the next room. They manage to make friends even with dogs. If you are worried that two pets will turn the apartment upside down at once, then in vain. The lop-eared sloth will not rush around the rooms. This is not at all suitable for his calm lifestyle. Mice almost never appear in the house where the lop-eared Scotsman lives, because they know that jokes are bad with this hunter. And, it would seem, it does not at all look like such a calm cat, but he leaves no chance for rodents.

Friendship with children

Children and Scottish folds quickly find a common language. It is especially interesting for a child to play with a curious kitten. An adult cat will rather calmly relate to many pranks that children allow themselves. But this does not mean that parents can do everything to allow a baby who can not only torture a cat, but also make him angry. And such a state of the animal often leads to the fact that children receive various scratches and bites.

Purchase

Scots can be safely attributed to the young breeds, and in this regard, it may seem that it is not so easy to find it. But this is far from true. Breeders are actively engaged in breeding the breed, and it is quite simple to acquire it. Yes, and the price is quite affordable, although not all thoroughbred animals have such a lowprice. When choosing a baby, you first need to look at his pedigree and all the attached documents, talk with the breeder and observe the behavior of the kitten you like a little.

Some people think that Scottish Folds are cats that have an exclusively gray shade of wool, but this is a delusion, since shades can be very diverse. It is better to purchase a kitten that is already accustomed to the tray, has all the necessary vaccinations and has undergone primary socialization. Basically, these are kittens from two to three months. If you plan to take part in various exhibitions, then first of all pay attention to the tail of the animal. It should be devoid of all sorts of creases, kinks, movement should be without any difficulty.

The main pride of this breed is broken ears. They can be a bit erect as a child, but don't be alarmed as the ears will start to curl up as your cat grows. This is quite normal and depends on the development of the breed or individual.

Features of care

Scottish Fields can be not only short-haired, but also long-haired. Grooming for the first coat is quite simple. You just need to periodically comb it with a furminator. This is necessary in order to remove the fallen hairs from the thick undercoat. For more fluffy representatives of the breed, this procedure should be frequent. This is due to the fact that long hair forms tangles and rolls. It is not necessary to cut the representatives of the breed.

The lop-eared pet will not refuse a massage either. For hiscarrying out, you need to purchase a special rubber brush or a brush with rounded teeth. These cats are not afraid of water, but this does not mean that they need to be bathed often. Bathing is recommended in case of emergency and only with the use of a special shampoo.

And again, attention should be paid to the ears. The problem is that the auricles are closed with tips, so a lot of wax accumulates there, which must be removed. For cleaning, cotton swabs and a special liquid are used, which can be bought at a veterinary pharmacy or pet store.

When choosing a tray and a bed, make sure that they fully correspond to the size of the pet, otherwise it will be uncomfortable there, and the cat will refuse to use these items. The bed should be located in such a way that the pet is in an artificial shelter. It is good if you place it near the cabinet wall. And do not place it in such a way that it gets a draft. The scratching post should be quite high so that the cat can stretch to its full height during claw procedures. And don't forget to trim them several times a month by a couple of millimeters.

Walking

Initially, this breed was bred for home keeping and, accordingly, its representatives got such a character that various walks are of little interest to them. The cat will like it more if you have various gymnastic equipment at home that will help him keep fit. You can make them yourself, or you can buy them in the store. What's included?

• Designs from wooden sticks.
• Tiered shelves.
• Cardboard boxes.

Such items will help not only an adult to keep their muscles in good shape, but also the baby will develop much better and faster. It will be much easier for those owners who live in the private sector. The cat will be able to do all the necessary exercises in the garden. However, do not leave it unattended. And do not forget to purchase a special collar for him, which will protect your lop-eared pet from fleas and ticks, since no one is safe from meeting these pests while walking in the fresh air.

Food

What to feed the Scottish fold? Like most domestic breeds, this cat prefers natural food or a high quality dry product. But you don't need to mix them. The owner must choose one way of feeding and stick to it. Boiled chicken, pieces of fresh beef and offal are included in the basis of natural food. The liver is recommended to give exclusively boiled. As for fish, the inhabitants of the sea are included in the diet, but only after pre-cooking.

Take a closer look, maybe your pet will want to eat cereals. You can give rice, millet and oats cooked in milk or broth. Sometimes you can add egg yolk to cereals. It is recommended to include fermented milk products in the form of low-fat cottage cheese or kefir in the menu. It is also allowed to use cream and sour cream, but in a minimal amount, since these products are too fatty andcan lead to various liver diseases.

For those who decide to take the easier route and feed their pet dry food, you need to choose only premium products. They have all the necessary vitamins and minerals. As for the brand, here the choice is up to the owner. You can seek advice from a veterinarian who, after a preliminary examination of the cat, will be able to choose the most suitable food for him.

Diseases

The most attractive part of the Scot's body is the ears, which can later become a big problem for him. The fact is that such a feature is a mutation that often leads to rickets in kittens, and in adults it causes osteochondrodystrophy. Such diseases cause a lot of discomfort to pets, and over time they can generally lead to disability. Unfortunately, modern medicine has not yet found a way to fight this mutation.

When choosing a Scottish fold cat, pay attention to its mobility. You need to touch the paws and tail: if their movements are severely inhibited, then these are the first signs of the diseases mentioned above. And it is impossible to cure them even at such an early stage.

In the previous paragraphs, it was said that the cat's bed should not be in a draft. This is due to the fact that he can quickly catch a cold or even get sick with bronchitis. And also to the weak points are the Scotsman's fold eyes. The task of the owner is to ensure that they do not water, as this has its ownside effects. And the main one is nasal congestion. And if we talk about the general condition of the animal, then it has good immunity and is considered quite hardened.

It is also worth mentioning that these cute cats often suffer from hemophilia. Their blood clotting deteriorates so much that even with the slightest scratch, it is very difficult to stop the blood.

Scottish Fold: Vaccinations

The first vaccination should be given at two months and that is the breeder's task. Buying a kitten without this vaccination is not recommended. However, after this vaccination, all the rest should be done by the new owner of the fluffy pet. The Scottish Fold cat does not require any special vaccinations, and all vaccinations are done in accordance with established standards. The animal receives vaccines once a year against such diseases as hepatitis, plague, rabies and many others. Before this procedure, the owner must deworm the pet, regardless of whether the cat has worms or not.

Knitting

Due to the gene mutation of the breed, seals have many problems. In addition to various diseases, they have difficulties with viscous. The problem is that two cats with upturned ears cannot be bred. This is due to the fact that their offspring will be too weakened, and the chances of survival are practically reduced to zero.

Nature made sure that animals could safely reproduce. That is why every litter of these cats includes kittens whose ears are upright and curved. Remember that knittingScottish Fold and Scottish Straight may enter. Scottish Straights are representatives of the breed with straight ears. They cannot be admitted to exhibitions, but breeding of offspring is impossible without them. Only from such mixed pairs can he althy kittens be born.

A young male needs a kitty that has had several matings, but an inexperienced female needs an experienced partner. The female bears offspring for no more than nine weeks.

Representatives of the breed always perform with great success at various exhibitions and competitions. The Scots are always on the list of winners. If this cat got into the family, then after a short time he will become its full member. This breed was created for home, warmth and love in the family. And she does her job well.