- April 17, 2019
- Cats
- Victor Sobolev
The Blue Scottish Fold, otherwise known as the Scottish Fold, is a beautiful breed with a little quirk. Her ears are lowered down, but do not cause any discomfort to the animal. Blue Scottish Fold cats are very beautiful and very popular. As is typical of a true Scot, Scottish Folds are surprisingly calm, intelligent and are able to give their owner irreplaceable comfort in the home. In this article you can learn about the standard of the Scottish Fold cat breed, the characteristics of the animal, its character and possible difficulties.
Breed standard
This is a medium-sized animal, belonging to the short-haired type, with curled ears. Moreover, babies are born with straight ears, but after a few weeks they droop. The coat of a Scottish Fold cat is short and thick, with a pleasant softness to the touch. The body build is dense and powerful. The legs are of medium length, with large pads on the paws. The eye color of blue Scottish Fold cats is usually almond-shaped. In kittens they may be a different color, which will change over time. The weight of the pet varies from 3 to 6 kilograms, depending on gender. The size of the Scottish Fold cat is approximately 28-30 cm.
British Fold kitten
The main difference between fold-eared kittens is their small ears that hang down. They also have a hump on their nose . The head has a round shape and a clearly defined chin. The eyes of lop-eared kittens are widely spaced and slightly protruding. Since the cat's body is muscular and their legs are short, it seems that they are clubbing. The normal weight for them is considered to be 7-8 kg, so they are classified as large breeds.
In appearance, British kittens resemble a plush toy because their fur is short. The fur is usually colored one color. For example:
- Ginger;
- Blue;
- Cream.
The most popular among animal lovers are the British Blue Fold cats . This color is classic for them and comes in various shades of gray. At the level with these colors there are also such as:
- Tiger;
- Marble;
- Spotted.
And red is considered a particularly rare coloring for the British, so such a cat is considered very valuable. In addition, they have ingenuity and high intuition.
The history of the appearance of the blue British kitten
It is believed that Russian blue kittens, which were brought to England, are the ancestors of the British fold cat. In 1961, a cat was born on a farm in Scotland, whose ears hung down and was white in color. She was the beginning of the breed of British fold cats. They began to be considered a separate breed only in 2004, and before that they were classified as ordinary British.
Description of the blue Scottish fold cat
As a rule, it is believed that there are practically no incidents with these beautiful creatures. By nature, blue Scottish Fold cats are quite calm and affectionate. As children, they quickly get used to a new place and household thanks to their natural friendliness. They love their owners so much that they are ready to follow them on their heels, while doing so unobtrusively. The Scots have a stable and balanced psyche. They get along well not only with children and animals, but even with strangers. Scottish Fold cats have normal health and cleanliness.
As with any other living beings, there are some problems with the Scots. This usually occurs when the cat is still young and full of energy. Young Scottish Folds are very active and can run around rooms for hours. But adult individuals have a phlegmatic disposition and would rather sit on their owner’s lap than play and run around.
Exterior Features
Immediately after a fluffy baby is born, it is impossible to find out which of these varieties it will belong to. The time for determination begins 3 weeks after birth. Some ears then begin to bend into an envelope, while others remain straight-eared, but in all other respects they resemble their brothers.
Although the Scottish Straight breed is not allowed to be exhibited, these cats are needed to maintain the existence of folds, as they have the gene for drooping ears.
Scottish fold cats are not very large in size. Their paw and body muscles are well developed. The head is spherical with cute plump cheeks. The eyes of these cats are large, somewhat bulging, set quite wide on both sides of the wide bridge of the nose.
The tail is at least medium length, easily bending, characterized by energy and activity. Limbs with oval ends and large claws.
In addition to the fact that the unusually shaped ears are tightly flattened to the skull, they are also invisible from behind. See photo of the blue British kitten.
As shown in the photo, the fur of representatives of Scottish Folds is short, very dense and springy, it does not press against the body. The richness of colors and tones of this breed is amazing.
Sometimes purebred Scots have an interesting contrast between the color of their eyes and coat. The color of the fur of these cats differs in more than just colors and tones; stripes may be present in the exterior.
There are representatives of the breed with silky snow-white fur, a colored tail and two markings in the same tone. Some animals are painted in two tones in equal proportions.
Scottish fold cost
The price of a kitten depends on what the future owners plan to get a pet for. For people for whom it is fundamentally important to get a purebred show-class kitten for its subsequent participation in exhibitions, the cost will be at least 50 thousand. If they buy a baby just for the soul and its origin is not so important for the family, then it is quite possible to purchase an animal for between 10-30 thousand rubles. The Blue Scottish Fold cat is a fairly common breed. You can buy it in almost any city.
Blue Scottish Fold cat: care and maintenance features
The little Scottish Fold is a real livelier, bursting with energy. When a new family member arrives, you will need to buy the following supplies for his comfortable living in the house:
- two bowls - for food and drink;
- toys - to distract the baby’s attention and not play with him with his hands;
- scratching post;
- combing brush;
- tray;
- basket or sleeping mat.
Before the kitten arrives, you should remove all objects that are dangerous to it: sockets, wires and small things that it could accidentally swallow.
The house must be clean so that the little fragile creature does not get sick.
Keeping a blue Scottish Fold cat will cost owners no more than any other breed.
It's easy to care for. To keep the fur looking neat, it is enough to brush your pet two to three times a week. During the molting period, the procedure is carried out more often.
Ears, eyes and nose should always be clean. If any discharge appears, it should be removed immediately using a cotton pad soaked in water. You need to bathe your cat no more than once every six months.
To the peculiarities of caring for a blue Scottish fold cat, we can add that these creatures are sometimes susceptible to diseases of the joints, eyes and skin. For this reason, you need to closely monitor the animal.
Caring for a blue British kitten
The British cat does not require any special care requirements. You will need to purchase a special brush and comb it at least once a week. Only when the animal begins to shed will it be necessary to do this daily. This period occurs once a year for cats. And since the British dog’s coat periodically becomes dirty, you can buy a special dry shampoo and rub it into the animal’s coat.
It is not recommended to wash a cat of this breed in water. Water procedures can be used extremely rarely, in cases where the pollution issue cannot be resolved otherwise. The water when swimming should not exceed 40 degrees, but should not be cold either. It is necessary to avoid getting water into the ears and eyes of the animal. The shampoo must be chosen in accordance with the color of the animal. Drafts in this process can be very dangerous for British Folds. Immediately after the procedure, you need to wipe it with a towel and plant it for further drying.
The cat must be examined every day . Clean the cat's eyes and ears. Thus, the kitten is accustomed to these procedures from childhood and it becomes a way of life. The ears should be cleaned with a cotton swab and make sure that there are no rashes or plaque on the ears. The eyes are also cleaned with a cotton swab and monitored for the absence of pus, otherwise it will be necessary to take the cat to the veterinarian. Your cat's claws need to be trimmed to half their length every month.
What should you teach your cat?
All pets must be trained to a certain discipline. A cat is not a dog, and it is unlikely that it will unquestioningly follow commands to please its owner. But even such an independent and freedom-loving creature must know the norms of behavior - what can be done and what cannot be done.
Thanks to their high intelligence and quick wit, blue Scottish Fold cats grasp everything literally on the fly, and raising an exemplary pet who will fill life with only joyful moments will not be difficult.
So, what should a domestic cat know and be able to do?
Sharpen your claws only on a scratching post
Claws are an important attribute of any cat. With their help, the animal climbs trees and other surfaces, and also uses them as a means of defense. Sharpening claws, doing a kind of manicure, is a natural need for a pet. Unknowingly, cats begin to tear up everything that gets in their way: furniture, carpets, wallpaper. To avoid this, you need to accustom your pet to order. Every time a cat starts sharpening its claws in an inappropriate place, immediately pick up the animal and bring it to the scratching post. This needs to be repeated several times. Gradually, the animal learns to sharpen its claws where it is needed.
Pet health
In general, cats of this breed have good health, but are sometimes susceptible to certain diseases. Often, pets suffer due to improper mating when Scottish Folds are mated with each other, which is absolutely forbidden to do. The list of common diseases includes:
- entropion of the eyelid;
- allergy;
- deafness.
In addition to the above diseases, Scots in adulthood have problems with the digestive tract and the functioning of the cardiovascular system. To avoid them, you need to monitor your pet’s condition and take him to the veterinarian more often.
Nuances of care
A snow-white fur coat needs careful care:
- it is necessary to monitor the cleanliness of the house;
- brush and bathe your cat regularly, especially after walking outside;
- do not let the animal go for a walk in rainy weather;
- wash your eyes and clean your ear canals;
- change the filler in a timely manner;
- monitor nutrition - provide super-premium food;
- carry out deworming once every 3 months;
- treat for fleas and ticks twice a year;
Characteristic diseases
Snow cats are generally healthy, but heterochromia is common among individuals with heterochromia and blue eyes.
For example, Scottish fold cats suffer from pathologies of the cardiovascular system, have problems with the kidneys and teeth.
Persians have breathing problems due to the special structure of the skull and the curvature of the nasal septum. Animals suffer severely from renal failure, viral rhinotracheitis and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.
Exotics are prone to conjunctivitis.
Orientals have digestive problems, suffer from bronchial asthma, heart pathologies, and strabismus.
Balinese dogs are diagnosed with congenital heart defects.
Why is deafness common among white cats?
In 1997, scientists conducted a study in which they were able to find out some facts about deafness in cats:
- Deafness can be complete or partial.
- Hearing loss is diagnosed in 20% of cats with a white coat and an iris of any color other than blue.
- 40% of all cats with heterochromia are deaf. Hearing loss is detected in the ear on the side of the blue eye.
In addition, scientists have explained the cause of hearing loss in cats. Responsibility was placed on the insidious mutant gene Dominant White (W-). At the stage of embryo formation, melanoblasts are formed in the area of the neural tube, which produce pigment and transport it to the retina. With normal embryo development, the pigment is delivered on time. These kittens are born with yellow or green eyes.
What to feed?
To keep your pet happy and healthy, you need to carefully monitor its diet. If the owner plans to feed the cat natural food, then his diet should include the following products:
- meat (beef, turkey, veal);
- boneless fish;
- offal (boiled);
- vegetables;
- eggs.
It is not recommended to feed cats raw, unprocessed meat to avoid infection with helminths. Also, do not give your pet milk. It is useful only for small kittens, but not for adult animals.
Products prohibited for cats include:
- sweets;
- alcohol;
- fatty and fried foods;
- smoked meats
Such food is not only not healthy for the animal, but can also have a detrimental effect on its health and body function.
If the owner decides to feed the pet prepared food, then preference should be given to well-known premium companies, such as Royal Canin or Purina. Scottish Folds happily eat both wet and dry food.
Your cat should always have a bowl of clean, fresh water.
Difficulties with Scottish Folds
Scottish Folds are peaceful and affectionate creatures. They love their owner and all family members. There are no particular difficulties with keeping Scottish cats. In childhood, kittens are overly active and can cause some trouble for household members, but with age, the playful baby turns into an important and phlegmatic cat. Fold-eared cats are perfect for families with children and for retirees, but they definitely won’t fit into the environment of people who lead an active lifestyle. Scots shed actively several times a year, and during this period you will have to clean more often. Another problem with keeping a blue fold cat is its insatiable appetite. Especially in castrated and neutered animals. To prevent your pet from gaining excess weight, you need to control your food intake.
In general, turning a blind eye to some difficulties, we can say that the Scottish Fold is a wonderful pet.
Character and habits
It’s great that Scottish Fold babies easily get used to using the toilet and quickly understand what a scratching post is for. These kittens have a cheerful and mischievous disposition. In addition, they are very smart, quick-witted and understanding pets.
Scottish Folds easily settle into a new place and intuitively pick up on the mood of the breadwinner, even when he is far away. These cats have natural sensitivity and strive to please and console when their owners are sad. They have a sentimental and tender soul.
Scottish Folds are completely good-natured and not vindictive, but they cannot stand being treated harshly and rudely, or being yelled at. Owners do not want to shout at their cats too much, otherwise they may become timid and weak-willed.
Scottish Folds are excellent companions for not very young and elderly owners, as they do not tend to jump around and make a mess. The Scot loves to sit close to the owner and immerse himself in contemplation of his activities.
Representatives of this breed are unobtrusive. If they need something, they will not yell, but will speak quietly. These cats are easy to train. They easily learn the rules established by the owner in the home.
If an animal is trained from infancy, then as it matures it will be able to remember that it is forbidden to climb onto beds and other forbidden points. The uniqueness of the habits of Scottish Folds is that they like to stand on their hind legs, as if interested in something.
Such pets are unpretentious in everyday matters, do not hesitate if they find themselves in an unknown place, and simply relate to traveling on any type of transport.
Owners' opinion
Owners of Scottish Folds often leave comments about their pets. Most owners speak positively about their favorite plush cats. As a rule, they are balanced, intelligent and beautiful. The Scots are kind to all people and animals. But owners often write about problems associated with this breed. These include high activity of the pet at a young age, disobedience, ignoring family members, damage to furniture and fragile health.
Often, most of the problems that a cat creates are the fault of the owner himself, who did not react in time and did not show the pet how to behave correctly. When it comes to health, you need to carefully monitor the condition of the animal and not leave the situation to chance.
Scottish Folds are the smartest and most graceful creatures that, with proper training and care, will be excellent pets.
Breeds of long-haired blue-eyed cats
- Maine Coon;
- Persian;
- British and Scottish Longhair;
- Turkish van;
- angora;
- Javanese;
- balinese;
- Norwegian forest;
- Neva Masquerade.
Shorthair
List of cats with short hair:
- British;
- Scottish;
- Manx;
- exotic;
- Cornish Rex;
- oriental;
- Bengal;
- Himalayan;
- Anatolian;
- Russian white;
- foreign white
Bald
The white Sphynx has no fur. His skin is light pink, almost white, and his eyes are blue. Animals need careful care. They feel comfortable only next to their beloved owner.
