Signs of a Scottish cat: how to distinguish a Scottish kitten?

Training and education

Scottish Straight
Intelligent by nature, Scottish Straight cats are easy to educate and very difficult to fully train. Teaching a Straight to use a litter box and a scratching post is not at all difficult, provided that this process was started in time, before your pet matures. By the way, young Scottish cats are active and sometimes uncontrollable, so in the first months of the baby’s life you will have to put up with the inevitable destruction in the house.

Even if the fame of Yuri Kuklachev haunts you, it’s better not to get carried away with the serious drill of straights. Whatever the experts say, unquestioning obedience to commands is not the strong point of Scottish straight-eared cats. Instill in your pet the basics of etiquette and teach him to respect subordination - this will be quite enough. As for a full-fledged training program, save it for show-class individuals, who will later have to demonstrate their talents at exhibitions.

• If the animal allows itself too much, try to stop it with the command “No!”, which is given in a stern and loud voice.
• If the kitten does not respond to a stern tone, grab it by the scruff of the neck and imitate a cat hissing. The baby will understand this language faster.
• Do not try to poke the kitten's muzzle into the puddle it has made or try to hammer the basics of cleanliness into it with a slipper. After suffering stress, the cat will definitely play a mischief in another place, but this time it will be reliably hidden from you.
• Have you noticed that your plush beast is sitting in an unambiguous position on the carpet or trying to steal food from the table? Scare him with a loud whistle or clap of your hands. Make no mistake, fear is a very powerful educational tool.
• Never scold or praise a Scottish Straight cat after the fact. Despite a fairly high level of intelligence, the animal is not able to connect together yesterday's exemplary behavior and today's reward.

How to choose a healthy kitten?

Another important task is to choose a healthy kitten. To do this, you need to pay attention to such points.

1. Is the cat's fur normal? Are there any fleas? Is hair falling out? Are there any bald spots? Is there dandruff? If there are bald patches that indicate ringworm, leave this family immediately, because... it is also contagious.
2. Is the kitten moving normally? Is he avoiding jumping? Does he have a kink in his tail? Is his tail stiff and too short? All this may indicate the presence of a genetic disease.
3. Pay attention to the eyes. Aren't they watery with pus? Dark brown and transparent discharge is acceptable.
4. Look at the kitten's parents. How do they look? Are they healthy? If you choose a Scottish kitten, then one parent should be straight-eared, and the other should be fold-eared. Two straight-eared parents are also allowed. It is strictly forbidden to cross two fold-eared dogs! Read more about this here so you can choose a kitten fully prepared.
5. Is the kitten showing aggression or excessive fear when it sees you? It's normal if he gets a little scared. But the kitten should not hide in a corner and tremble.
6. Are his limbs twitching? Are there any nervous tics?
7. Ask the cat's owners what they feed the kittens and mother. If she was fed table-fed human food or economy food during pregnancy, this may mean that the kittens did not develop properly in the womb and may now have abnormalities.
8. Look at the kitten's activity. He should be quite active and curious.
9. Pay attention to the kitten's condition. He should not be emaciated: the spine and ribs do not stick out. When palpated above the ribs, there is a noticeable layer of skin and subcutaneous tissue. Skin and bones is a bad sign.
10. Look into the ears. It is allowed for there to be sulfur, but not pus or something resembling earth, because... it could be an ear mite.
11. The kitten's gums should be pink, not pale, not blue or inflamed.
12. Smell the kitten: it should not have a strong unpleasant odor (unless, of course, it just crapped itself).
13. Pay attention to whether the cat can extend its claws and how many of them it has on each paw. There should be 5 claws on the front legs, 4 on the hind legs.
14. Examine your stomach: it should not be bloated and taut, like a drum. This may indicate infestation and other problems. This happens often in kittens and goes away on its own, but still, if you have no experience with cats, you may not be able to cope with the problem. So don't take risks.
15. The kitten's anus should be small, without protrusions, there should be a hole there. If it is not formed correctly, you will notice.
16. To be sure, you can take a veterinarian or a friend who knows about cats with you to the examination. A veterinarian can be hired at a veterinary clinic.

Physiological causes of weight loss

Presence of offspring. If the pet has become a nursing mother, then she will have a strong appetite, but at the same time she may lose weight, especially if there were a lot of babies in lambing. After finishing feeding, mommy will immediately begin to recover. Anxiety. When a change of residence occurs or a pet does not see its owners for a long time, it experiences stress, which can affect its body weight, even if it eats well. Mating season. This point especially applies to those mustaches who have access to the street. In the spring, when they are looking for a mate, there is a big waste of energy and the fluffies in love lose weight. Hunger and change of usual food. If for some reason your pet is starving, then she will certainly lose weight, but a change in food can also affect her weight. Very often, when switching from a natural diet to commercial food, fluffies begin to lose weight because they do not accept the new food. In this case, there is no need to rush - do everything gradually and add food in small portions to the overall diet. When switching to another food that is unusual for the animal, be sure to monitor its weight. Age

Older pets lead a less active lifestyle, eat less and, as a result, lose weight (here it is important to exclude age-related cat diseases from a veterinarian)

What should a cat normally do?

If everything is fine with the animal after giving birth, it will definitely take care of the offspring that are born: the cat’s task is to remove the remnants of the placenta from the kittens, lick them and push them in the direction of the nipples.

First, your pet carefully licks her babies, first of all freeing their eyes and nose from the mucus that got there during the birth process. After this, the animal takes the umbilical cord into its mouth and, chewing it (at the same time, the umbilical cord is effectively crushed), chews it. In addition, “experienced” women in labor carefully lick the umbilical area: the saliva that gets into the wound, rich in antibacterial substances, prevents the development of inflammation.

Finally, the cat carefully and diligently licks the anal area of ​​each kitten individually. She does this for the effective removal of original feces. If the babies are not very “smart,” your pet will definitely push them towards the nipples. It is interesting that breeders have long made a simple and logical conclusion: kittens that “without prodding” accurately determine the direction of the “milk fountains” are 100% likely to grow up to be the largest and physically strongest.

Note that cats constantly nurse their babies for about an hour or two from the moment the latter is born. Since their eyes begin to open somewhere towards the end of the first week, the mother deliberately lies sideways to her babies so that they can always find nipples with milk. If your pet exhibits restless behavior and cannot calm down, forcefully put it down.

• After about two weeks, the cat no longer “indulges” the cubs so much, and only lies down to feed when they all start poking at her stomach at once.
• Starting from the age of four or five weeks, when the offspring have long and sharp teeth, the mother increasingly refuses to feed them and runs away, sometimes hissing indignantly.
• By eight weeks, kittens can be completely weaned and finally transferred to “adult” food.

Be sure to watch whether the cat licks the genital area of ​​newborn kittens: for about three days, the instincts that promote natural bowel and bladder emptying do not work in babies, and therefore the mother must induce these processes artificially.

And she also has the unpleasant responsibility of eating all the excreted feces and urine (natural expediency - so that there is no smell of anything around the den). However, in practice such care often lasts much longer than three days, and the cat stops licking the “private” areas of her kittens only after the babies themselves can crawl outside the place of their birth.

Development of kittens by weeks and months. The age of the kitten and its characteristics.

The development of kittens occurs quite intensively in the first months of life; their structure and nutrition undergo many changes. And this time of growth of a kitten is considered the most important in its development and formation, so you need to do everything correctly and, most importantly, on time!

The article contains a lot of useful information: up to what age does the growth of a cat and the growth of cats continue, the size of the cat and what size the cat will be in each month of its life, the development of a kitten by month: stages of kitten development (kitten development calendar), the growth of kittens by week, weight kittens by month, the behavior of kittens in each period of development, how to raise a kitten so that it grows up social, when kittens open their eyes and much, much more.

The development of a cat and the development of a cat are slightly different; a cat does not gain weight as rapidly, however, as a rule, cats are more curious and active than males. But in general, everything happens at the same time, without serious lags on both sides. The development and growth of kittens by month in the table will help determine the age of your pet!

Until what age will kittens remain babies? How many months will a kitten remain a kitten?

Determining the age of a kitten: if you want to determine the age of a kitten based on external data and characteristics, carefully study the table and find the characteristics that match your pet. Determining how many months a kitten is is quite simple, because a kitten changes a lot every month

Here are the characteristics that you should pay attention to to find out how many months a kitten is: weight and size of kittens by month, teeth (baby, permanent, or during the period of teeth change), fur and undercoat, eye color, behavior. So how do you find out the age of a kitten? Read the description in the table and compare!

Also, how to find out how many months a kitten is and how to determine the age of a kitten will be helped by a photo.

Development of a kitten from birth to one year

See the kitten growth chart for stages of kitten development.

How much does a kitten weigh per month?

The size of a kitten at 2 months increases significantly, the paws become thick, slightly lengthen visually, and the tummy no longer “sticks out” as much.

Kitten 6 months: photo below.

A 7 month old kitten has already reached sexual maturity. Also at this age, the animal most often sheds, especially if this period occurs in the autumn and first winter months

It is important to comb the kitten thoroughly, because... he licks himself and swallows his fur

Make sure you have a soft brush at home with round tips.

At nine months, a kitten already looks like an adult animal. Growth slows down, weight gain is not as intense. As for nutrition, you should stick to kitten food for up to a year.

A kitten stops growing at eleven months. It should be fed little by little with food for adult animals. The transition should be very smooth so as not to injure your pet’s digestion. The number of meals can be reduced to 2-3 times a day.

Let your pet grow beautiful, healthy and certainly make you happy!

Periodization of the kitten's life stages. The first stage - mom is nearby

Kittens grow up to 1 year, during which significant changes occur every month. At the same time, 2-2.5 years is the period when the body finally gets stronger and becomes an adult.

Preparatory stages

If you decide to purchase a purebred kitten, then you need to take care of some important aspects in advance:

• Food containers. It is recommended to purchase 3 bowls, which will be made of ceramic, nickel-plated metal, or Teflon-coated options. Place them in a secluded place;
• Toilet tray. For a baby, choose an option with low sides. Place it in a place where the kitten can reach it. Choose a special filler with a “stimulating” aroma;
• Carrying. Fold-eared kittens need regular examination by a veterinarian, and for this the animal must be taken there in comfort. In addition, if you want to pursue your pet’s career, you will have to regularly take him to exhibitions;
• Toys. Many people believe that it is not necessary to spend money on this. This is a serious mistake, since games are important for the normal physical and psychological development of the animal. It is not recommended to use various ribbons, garlands and foil toys;
• Scratching post. If you do not want the wallpaper and furniture to be torn, then you definitely need to purchase this item;
• Shampoo. Your arsenal should include a dry option that will help clean the fur from dust, as well as a special shampoo for short-haired cats.

How to care for a British kitten in the first days in a new place?

For an animal, moving to a new home is always a big stress. In order to reduce possible negativity, prepare in advance the conditions for its normal existence. Give the kitten time to get comfortable, make sure that all dangerous places are isolated. Play will help your animal relax, so use any method to engage him.

Another important rule - do not leave the animal alone, as it may get scared. Do not raise your tone, behave calmly, give the baby the opportunity to sniff you. Bring the kitten to the area where the toilet is located, as well as bowls of food and water.

Bring the kitten to the area where the toilet is located, as well as bowls of food and water.

To train him to use the toilet, place him in a tray several times, which should contain a mixture of filler: the one you bought and the one you used in your pet.

How to care for lop-eared kittens and rules of education:

• Do not tease or play with your baby with your hand, as this will provoke aggression. As a result, this will become a habit for the kitten, and he will constantly scratch and bite. For entertainment, use special or self-made toys;
• If you see an animal misbehaving, do not hit it under any circumstances. Since this will cause him to mistrust, and in the future, with any wave of his hand, he will be afraid. To distract the kitten and show him what he is doing wrong, just clap your hands and sternly say “Fu”. The same category of prohibitions includes the use of a spray bottle and a vacuum cleaner;
• All breeds of cats, Scottish and British as well, perfectly understand the intonations of the human voice. The animal must understand why exactly it is being scolded and praised. This refers to the fact that everything should be done on time, so if you discover something dirty only after a while, there is no need to scold the kitten.

Nutrition rules

If you have a baby from 2-4 months, then it will look something like this:

• Breakfast: half a pack of baby cottage cheese, without any additives;
• Snack: a small piece of shredded chicken with broth;
• Lunch: dry food for kittens;
• Dinner: a little raw beef minced through a meat grinder.

Be sure to remember that there should be a bowl of purified water next to your food.

When the animal has grown, the nutrition changes slightly and can be like this:

• Breakfast: a pack of baby cottage cheese and boiled chicken with broth;
• Lunch: dry food with various additives;
• Dinner: raw beef.

How to choose the right Scottish kitten?

We choose a kitten not only with our minds, but also with our hearts. After all, we will have to walk side by side with our pet for the next 15-20 years. He will become a member of the family. He will live with us in perfect harmony... Or vice versa? This depends, among other things, on how correctly we select our future friend, singling him out from among all the others. So, how to choose the right Scottish fold and straight-eared kitten - healthy, purebred, beautiful, with a good character? And what are the features of Scottish fold and straight-eared kittens that distinguish them from all the others?

How to distinguish between a boy and a girl

The main sexual characteristics in cats include:

Placing the kitten on your palm or a soft, warm towel, you need to lift its tail and assess the distance between the genitals and anus. It is less in females, more in males. Exact millimeters are not needed here, so there is no need to torment the animal with a ruler. Everything is determined approximately, “by eye”.

The shape of the genitals also matters. If a colon is visualized under the tail, then it is a boy. In cats, the holes in the back of the body resemble an inverted “i”. Thus, girls' genitals are shaped like a vertical line, while boys' genitals are dotted.

Clearly distinguishable sexual characteristics can be observed between 4 and 12 weeks of age. At this time, in cats, the testicles from the abdominal cavity descend into the scrotum. Therefore, an animal for exhibition career and breeding should be taken only when this age limit is reached.

You can also determine the sex of a kitten by tactile palpation. It can be used carefully even in newborn animals. This requires some skill, but over time you can learn to quickly and accurately determine the gender of a litter. So, with light stroking movements you need to move your middle and index fingers in the area of ​​the genitals and anus. If small (3-5 mm) tubercles-testicles are felt under the pads, then it is a cat.

Upon reaching 4 months, the gender of the kitten can be determined by the characteristics of its physique. Cats have a more massive head, a dense muscular frame, and greater weight. Cats are more elegant, miniature, and graceful in their movements.

Rules for determining lop ears

Fold-earedness in a purebred furry pet is determined as follows:

• It is recommended to determine the age, choose a Scotsman after a month of life, and buy by 8-9 weeks. Then you can finally determine whether the cat was born straight-eared or not.
• The Fold cat looks a little different than the British. It differs not only in the shape of the ears, but also in the structure of the body. The muzzle is wider, the cheeks are small, the eyes are set deeper. It can be seen that the chest area is larger, the limbs are smaller.
• Experienced breeders advise examining which Scotsman has a nose and tail. A purebred cat has no humps or nodules on the bridge of its nose.
• It is better to choose and purchase a fold-eared pet in the cold season, because folds have a peculiarity - in hot weather the ears rise slightly.

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Difference No. 1: photos of British and Scottish ears

Felinologists can distinguish cats of two breeds by the shape of their heads: the Scots have a rounder head

You need to be a very observant person to notice by the shape of the head how a Scottish cat differs from a British cat: their photos, if you do not take into account the different ears, are very similar. British cats have short and thick legs, while representatives of the Scottish breed have longer and slimmer legs. Scots have thinner and longer tails, but the main requirement of the standard for the tails of cats of this breed is their mobility

If we talk about habits, then British cats, unlike Scottish ones, do not like or do not know how to sit in a column. But the Scottish, judging by the photo, really like the meerkats’ pose. Although, I compared - the cat’s paws are massive

Scots have thinner and longer tails, but the main requirement of the standard for the tails of cats of this breed is their mobility. If we talk about habits, then British cats, unlike Scottish ones, do not like or do not know how to sit in a column. But the Scottish, judging by the photo, really like the meerkats’ pose. Although, I compared - the cat’s paws are massive.

Of course, the main difference between the representatives of these two breeds is the ears. Otherwise the difference is not very significant. How does the British Fold differ from the Scottish Fold in behavior? But there are cases when representatives of this breed even attacked guests who were ill-willed towards their owner.

Representatives of the British elite are selected for mating not just of the same breed, but also of identical color. They are allowed to mate only with Scottish Straights - straight-eared sires, and both characteristics will appear in the offspring of different kittens. It must be remembered that until three weeks old, Scottish ears do not show characteristic differences. If you have to choose a Scots kitten with straight ears, you need to listen to the advice of experts to help distinguish it from a descendant of the ancient British breed.

Despite the strong similarity in appearance, the British and Scots should never be crossed with each other. Breeders recommend that one of the parents be fold-eared and the other straight-eared (see whether there are fold-eared Britons).

The most important difference that will help you not confuse the breeds and not be deceived when buying a pet is that British Fold cats do not exist in nature. Scottish kittens, on the contrary, come in both straight-eared (Scottish Straight) and fold-eared (Scottish Fold) varieties.

Among Scottish Fold cats there are different characters: slow, agile, slightly aggressive, affectionate, but this breed has one feature - to remember what is beneficial to it. Note. Only chocolate-colored cats of the Scottish breed produce litters of different colors and shades. The British Shorthair cat is a kind of aristocrat; she will not play with children, will not tolerate being carried in her arms, or, at most, stroke her fur. The British breed kitten is shorter, with massive paws and stockier than the Scottish one. The British cat breed is characterized by late maturation (cats under 3 years old, cats over 1 year old or finally after the second birth), in contrast to the Scottish breed.

How to understand whether a kitten is lop-eared or not - 4 basic rules

If a person is interested in purchasing newborn fold kittens, then it is important to find out information on how to correctly determine whether a Scottish fold kitten is lop-eared. After birth, it is difficult to distinguish whether a cat is a fold cat or not. Unscrupulous breeders try to sell straight-eared pets to unknowing buyers for a high price. To avoid being deceived, it is recommended to study the main differences and recommendations for choosing a cat.

Appearance

What is the difference between the British cat breed and the Scottish one? This question has probably bothered many people. At first glance, it is very difficult to find key signs. However, if you delve deeper into this issue, it will immediately become clear to you why these two breeds are separated and in no case can they be classified into the same category. It is better to compare pets step by step.

Skeleton

How to distinguish a British kitten from a Scottish one will become clear if you pay key attention to the shape of the skeleton. In general, both representatives have a strong, well-developed and athletic body. The chest of these individuals is massive and wide.

However, there are differences here. The thing is that the Scottish cat has a completely straight chest - from the base of the neck to the pelvis. As for the British, the situation is slightly different: there is a characteristic curve, but the shapes are not so rounded

The chest of these individuals is massive and wide. However, there are differences here. The thing is that the Scottish cat has a completely straight chest - from the base of the neck to the pelvis. As for the British, there is a slightly different situation here: there is a characteristic bend, but the shapes are not so rounded.

Head

You can distinguish a British kitten from a Scottish one by the shape and structure of the head. It is believed that Scottish cats have an owl's head. The thing is that the size of the muzzle is small, while the ears are small, and the eyes are quite expressive. As for British kittens, they are characterized by a larger head, at least visually. This effect is noticeable, since the lower jaw of the animal is quite large and massive.

Ears

These cats also differ from each other in their ears. Perhaps this sign is one of the most common when it comes to the need to separate breeds. The thing is that if you still need to take a closer look at the head or shape of the pet’s skeleton, then in the case of the shape and structure of the auricle everything is clearly visible.

A cat of the Scottish breed can be either straight-eared or fold-eared - this is allowed by the breed standard

How then can one distinguish such an individual from a British cat with straight ears? Pay attention to the position of the ears: the Scots will have exceptionally straight ears, while their British relatives will have widened ears at the base and slightly curled tips.

Paws

The difference between British and Scottish cats is visible not only in the shape of the ears, but also in the structure of the paws. As has already become clear, the British look massive, and this is noticeable not only in the shape of the head, but also throughout the entire body. Therefore, their paws are shorter and squat, but quite strong. Even their pads are massive and large. As for the Scots, their paws are slightly longer, so they are not as massive, but the pads are also large.

Tail

Since British cats, based on key physical characteristics, are somewhat larger than their relatives, this is also reflected in the structure of the tail. It is thick and a little shorter than the Scots

Those who choose the basic differences between these animals should pay attention to both the size and structure of the tail.

Signs of lop ears

The following rules will help you determine if a kitten is lop-eared with high accuracy and not fall for the bait of charlatans.:

• Choose a kitten that is at least three weeks old. The older he is at the time of purchase, the easier it will be to determine that he is lop-eared. It is advisable to buy a kitten at the age of two to three months.
• Folds not only have unusual ears, but also a slightly different body structure. Their muzzle is wider, with small cheeks, and their eyes are wider apart. The chest is usually larger, and the legs and tail are shorter and thicker.
• Feel the kitten's nose - there should be no hump on the bridge of the nose. You also need to feel the tail - there should be no humps or knots on it.
• Buy a fold-eared cat in the cold season. The fact is that folds have an interesting feature - in extreme heat, kittens’ ears rise a little.

In addition, there are some general rules for choosing purebred kittens:

• The kitten must be completely healthy. His fur should be thick and silky, his eyes should be clear, and his tummy should be soft. His mood is also important - if the kitten is healthy, he will be playful.
• If in the future you want to breed purebred kittens or participate in exhibitions, then the kitten you buy must have a veterinary passport and pedigree.
• Since healthy offspring are obtained only by crossing a purebred cat with an ordinary one, you should ask who the kitten’s parents are.
• When buying a purebred kitten, be prepared to pay a high price for it. Such kittens are really expensive, and if the seller offers you to give them away cheaper, this is a reason to think about whether they are offering you defective animals.

By following these rules, you can easily choose a healthy purebred kitten. But do not forget that the criteria for choosing a four-legged friend are not limited to these. After all, each animal has its own character - some are docile, and some are wayward.

To make it easy for you to get along together, carefully monitor the reactions of the kittens you choose. You can determine the cat that is right for you as follows :

• If your baby growls at you, tries to scratch you or run away, it’s better to choose someone else;
• If the cat purrs and sits happily on your lap, this is the beginning of a strong friendship!

Source

Duration of pregnancy

A cat's pregnancy lasts on average about 9 weeks. A more accurate period depends on many factors such as age, weight and breed characteristics. For example, owners have found that the process of bearing offspring in short-haired females lasts 58-68 days, in cats with long and medium-length hair it lasts 63-72 days.

How many kittens can a cat give birth to?

The length of pregnancy is also affected by the number of babies inside the womb. The more there are, the earlier the due date will come. Females bearing one to two kittens are able to walk for as long as possible before giving birth. In addition, their health depends on the number of cubs. Statistics show that babies from multiple litters are weaker and sicker.

For your information! In one litter, a female can bring from 2 to 8 kittens, the exact number of which depends on many factors.

7-12 months

Stages of further development of Scottish:

7 months. It's time for puberty

When the first shedding occurs, it is important to comb the fur on time and make sure that the animal does not swallow its own hairs. They offer him cat grass and a special hair removal paste. 8 months

Castration and sterilization are carried out. 9 months. Scottish already resembles an adult cat, but he can still continue to be given baby food. 10 months. Animals actively demand “love acquaintances.” However, mating at such an early age is undesirable - the cat’s body has not yet formed for procreation. 11 months. The animal is gradually transferred to adult food. The frequency of lunches is reduced to 3 times a day.

One-year-old “Scots” are no longer growing. However, they continue to develop: gain mass, increase in width, build muscle. This process is completed by 2-2.5 years.

Scottish cats at 9 months:

Photos, videos of Scottish cats at 1 year:

Symptoms

The first thing you need to pay attention to is the general condition and mood of the cat. An unhealthy Scottish Fold will be characterized by lethargy, apathy, lack of appetite, sometimes irritable reactions and unreasonable aggression. The nose becomes dry and very hot to the touch

Perspiration may appear on the fur. When measuring temperature, the readings will exceed 38.5 °C

The nose becomes dry and very hot to the touch. Perspiration may appear on the fur. When measuring temperature, the readings will exceed 38.5 °C.

An unhealthy Scottish Fold will be lethargic, apathetic, and lack of appetite.

In specific diseases, the cat owner can focus on the symptoms.

Table 2. Symptoms of diseases of internal organs

In the early stages, 2-3 mild symptoms may be observed. As the pathology develops, the number of manifestations increases. It is necessary to monitor your fold ear and consult a doctor at the first suspicion of abnormalities.

Refusal to eat may indicate health problems in your cat.

The second stage is independence and growing up

Cat vaccination periods

Fold cat breeds

My INSTAGRAM (watch more videos): afina_cattery Would you like to say “THANKS” to the Afina-TV channel? Material wealth... A breed of cats with an abnormal ear structure was first recorded in 1961, although they existed before. But it was from this time that scientists began to study such animals. They concluded that lop-eared kittens are born due to a gene mutation. Very soon, scientists realized that if you cross two lop-eared individuals, the offspring will be very weak.

The Scottish Fold differs from its fellow Scottish Straight mainly in the different structure of the ears. Their ears are miniature, covering the external auditory canal, as if hanging down. This breed is also called Scottish Fold.

Fold is divided into 3 degrees:

• First degree - the ears are not raised very much above the head, the tips can look in different directions or forward, the cartilage is folded in half.
• In the second degree, there is a double pleated fold on the outer edge of the ear. The ears do not protrude beyond the contour of the head.
• In the third degree, at the tip of the ear, in addition to the presence of a double pleated fold, there is an additional fold (triple fold). In such a kitten, the head looks more rounded, since the ears are in the contour of the head. Representatives of the third degree are very rare among folds; even in America such kittens are unique.

The Scottish Straight has erect ears and looks quite normal. In such kittens, the gene responsible for the bending of the ears is not externally manifested, although one of the parents is a representative of the fold-eared phenotype. Unlike exotic fold-eared kittens, small straight-eared kittens look more inconspicuous, but they have all the qualities of good quality and superiority.

Each litter often produces up to several kittens with folded ears. Breeders are looking forward to and predicting what their offspring will be like, because suddenly the situation can change radically. And only on the 21st day does it become clear which of them is which. During this period, kittens' ears curl or droop.

You can often notice that in some Scottish Folds the ears can react to all sorts of weather or other conditions - they rise in the heat, during the mating period, during pregnancy, when changing the diet and type of food. The folds are straightened, the ears at the tips can turn in different directions and rise. They can even bend backwards, which is extremely rare.

Such changes in some animals can be either temporary or irreversible. But kittens of the Scottish breed have ears that are straightened completely, or half, in size still differ from the ears of cats of ordinary breeds. It is extremely rare to find “durable” ears that do not change throughout life. Such representatives can be classified as show class.

Scottish Straights are a cat breed that can improve the genotype and bring the breed to the forefront, without the use of various experiments with matings of other breeds. Straight is necessary for high-quality breeding of folds. Its difference from the Scottish Fold is its erect ears.

Want to know about Scottish Straight cats? Watch our video and learn everything about the breed. Balance...

Adding to the family: how to care for a mother and her newborns

In the first weeks of life, kittens go through stages from helplessness and huddling around their mother to independent activity and exploration of their environment.

On day 10, their eyes open: they feel more confident and begin to crawl around the cat. After a month, the kittens are fed food that will be their diet throughout their lives. At the same time, they leave the boxes that served them as shelter during the helpless period of life and master the surfaces. This is a favorable period for training a kitten to use a litter tray.

Color genetics

We invite you to familiarize yourself with the Scottish Fold cat photo smoky

Kittens' eye color gradually changes: from dull blue to their real color. This process takes up to 2 years and is called reblooming. The inclusions appear first, which then spread and provide a permanent color. Green eyes take the longest to form.

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How to distinguish a cat from a cat?

The best time to examine small kittens to determine sex is during the first days of their birth. But this is almost impossible to do, since the peace of newborns is protected by the mother cat. At 2 months, babies' bodies have a short fur length and the genitals are more noticeable upon examination. At 1 month after birth, kittens already begin to become covered with a “fur coat”, and it becomes more difficult to distinguish the details of interest. The sex of a newborn baby can be determined with greater certainty once it reaches 2 months of age. Then sexual characteristics begin to appear more actively, the baby is no longer so attached to the mother, and the cat will allow the owner to examine its offspring without fear.

Probing

You can determine the sex of a small kitten by palpating the testicles, but you should be careful.

When determining the sex of 2-3-month-old kittens, manipulations must be carried out quickly and carefully so as not to cause discomfort to the animal or frighten its mother. Before starting the procedure, you should wash your hands with unscented soap, your palms should be warm so that the fluffy does not freeze. It is necessary to place the newly born cat on its stomach, carefully lift its tail and try to feel the testicles between the anus and genitals

You can feel small bumps in a one-month-old kitten. If they don't exist, it's a girl

It is necessary to place the newly born cat on its stomach, carefully lift its tail and try to feel the testicles between the anus and genitals. You can feel small bumps in a one-month-old kitten

If there are none, it's a girl.

The space between the anus and genitals

You can understand the sex of a newborn kitten by measuring the distance between the two holes under the tail and carefully examining their appearance. The procedure looks like this:

1. The newborn kitten is placed on the palm of your hand or a warm towel with its belly down.
2. Raise the tail and look at how far the anus and genitals are located from each other.
3. To study in more detail what is under the kitten’s tail, you can take a photo with your phone and put the baby back to the mother.

The differences are that in male newborns the holes will look like two vertical points, the distance between which is at least 1 cm. Another “hole” will be visible between the “colon” ​​- over time there will be a penis. In small female kittens, under the tail, the anus and vulva resemble an exclamation point and are located next to each other.

According to the shape and type of genital organs

Boys' genitals look like a colon, while girls' genitals look like a vertical line with a dot.

Month-old cats have genitals that look like a dot. A cat's appearance resembles a vertical line. This is their main difference. It is quite easy to notice differences even in kittens before the 12th week of life. Afterwards, you can check the gender of the born kitten based on its habits and character. In breeds such as Britons and Sphynxes, the differences are immediately noticeable.

With the above methods of studying the sex of small kittens, it is strictly forbidden to do such manipulations as:

• lift the kitten by the tail and paws;
• putting too much pressure on the stomach;
• hold in hands for a long time;
• carry out the procedure while feeding.

By coat color

You can tell a boy from a girl by the color of their fur. Tortoiseshell or the presence of three different shades in the “coat” means female. If there are two colors or the fur is completely red, then with a high degree of probability we can say that this is a cat. But with this method of determination, it is difficult to correctly understand the gender of a born Sphynx, Scottish or British kitten, since the difference in the color of girls and boys of the breed is insignificant.

Traditional methods

You can visually identify a male and a female by the outline of their faces and figure; in cats, the lines are smooth and graceful.

You can distinguish a cat from a cat according to folk signs by their gaze - in a male it is more arrogant and bold, while in a female it is timid and fearful. Six months after birth, cats become more like their adult relatives. Their body shapes change, and this can also indicate what gender the animal is. Girls look more graceful, have a thinner “figure” and a neat “face”. Boys have a more powerful body and a larger muzzle. But such identification methods for some breeds, for example, Maine Coons, Scottish, British, Sphynxes, are not accurate, because these pets have a unique body, head and muzzle structure.

How to identify a Scottish kitten?

Sometimes, for those people who do not know the characteristics of Scottish fold and straight-eared cats, a mongrel or British kitten is sold under the guise of a Scottish one. If you are not a professional, you will not be able to distinguish such a kitten from a British kitten if it is straight-eared. However, the main differences between the Scots and the British, as well as the characteristics that distinguish them from other breeds, are as follows:

• they have short, plush fur (but there are semi-longhaired Scots - Highland Fold and Highland Straight);
• they look like bear cubs (quite well-fed);
• they have large round eyes;
• they have a round muzzle, and their head resembles a ball;
• ears can be erect (for straights) and folded (for folds);
• the mouth resembles a smile when viewed from the side;
• neat noses;
• The parents of the kittens have pedigrees that indicate the breed.

The main features of Scottish Fold cats, understandable to non-professionals, are a round head, large round eyes, folded ears and the presence of documents.

I often hear excuses from buyers that they bought a one and a half month old kitten for pennies from Valya and Galya, because the nursery is expensive. It is not true. Gali and Vali come up with an excuse for their greed by selling suckling, unvaccinated kittens, without spending much on raising them. Yes, the nursery is expensive. But only those animals that are of interest for further breeding are valuable. Each nursery has kittens that are simpler in their phenotype (appearance), but which in any case are much more beautiful, well-groomed, healthier and more pedigree than a kitten from Gali and Valya or at the poultry market. I remember how I once found a painting at the market. They brought kittens in a box to resellers, they swooped in and began to take them apart. They take one out of the box and say: “Oh, this one will be a British one, and this one will be a Maine Coon.” By purchasing a kitten as a pet from a professional nursery, you get a truly purebred, genetically healthy animal, with full vaccinations and a certificate of breed (kitten or pedigree). Such a kitten will have a mature gastrointestinal tract, without the pancreas being undermined by improper homemade food. He will be treated for worms, protozoa, fleas and ticks. A kitten that is sold as a pet in a nursery may have such a low price that you will be surprised when you find out that from a “breeder” you literally get a pig in a poke for almost the same money. When contacting a nursery, buy kittens from parents with divorce grades. Before you buy, call the club and ask if this litter is registered. Don’t be afraid to ask questions and ask to see documents for animals (pedigrees, diplomas, veterinary passports). Don't be afraid to ask for a link to your social media profile. Don’t be lazy to check the phone number on Google and read reviews. A breeder with a name has nothing to hide. If you cannot check at least one of the listed points (no divorce marks, no phone number can be googled, no social network page or website, the breeder does not provide club contacts, etc.), leave - otherwise you will be fooled.

Choosing a kitten class

Breeders know that the division into classes is very arbitrary: it only helps determine the baby’s career prospects. Often kittens of the same litter fall into different classes, but this is always the personal point of view of the breeder. In addition, in the process of growth there are transitions from breed to pet, from show to breed and vice versa.

Show class (show – display, demonstration)

This includes kittens that fully comply with the breed standard, without disqualifying characteristics or shortcomings. Reference cats are included in the top show class (top – top, highest). These animals remain in nurseries for breeding and exhibition activities. Show-class kittens (the pride, decoration and advertising of the nursery) are practically not put up for sale. Such copies are sold for a lot of money and with reservations - “on conditions” or “in co-ownership”.

Breed class (breed – tribe)

This group is represented only by cats with excellent pedigrees and excellent reproductive capabilities. They also appear at shows and win titles that give them the right to participate in breeding. With proper selection, show-class offspring are obtained from such females.

Such animals are often sold with the condition of mandatory removal of the reproductive organs, which does not prevent them from having a pedigree and claiming exhibition regalia (in the “castrati” category). The price for breed-class cats is in the average price range. It happens that show-class kittens are found among breed-quality animals. This happens due to oversight or due to insufficient experience of the breeder.

Pet class (pet – pet)

These are purebred kittens that, in the opinion of the breeder, are not of interest either for exhibitions or for breeding. They often have disqualifying defects that do not threaten health or life.

Such kittens are sold already neutered or with the condition of spaying. A pedigree for a pet-class animal is issued only at the request of the buyer: in this case, the entry “not for breeding” appears in the documents. The cost of pet quality kittens is the lowest.

How to come to terms with loss

But sometimes kittens die, despite competent and timely help. There is no universal way to help ease the pain of loss. But those who have encountered such grief are advised to adhere to certain rules.

First, you should understand that it is normal to experience grief. Therefore, a person must give himself permission to suffer for a certain amount of time. It is advisable not to keep emotions to yourself, but to cry or shout them out in some deserted place (in the forest, in a closed car, or in a house when there is no one in it). Exercising or performing monotonous activities can also help distract you.

Secondly, it is necessary to get rid of the feeling of guilt for the death of the kitten. Paradoxically, the more effort a person makes to save his pet, the more he reproaches himself subsequently. You need to understand that the law of natural selection exists in nature and it is pointless to argue with it.

Thirdly, you should get a new furry pet. Some people, having experienced the loss of one kitten, do not dare to have another baby for fear of going through the pain again. But, as practice shows, the happiness that a new “family member” brings overcomes the bitterness of loss. In addition, new worries take up all my free time.

Also, after the kitten has died, the owner needs to decide what to do with the deceased animal. Most cities have laws that prohibit burying pets in flowerbeds and parks within the city. Therefore, it is best to take the kitten’s corpse outside the populated area and bury it in a picturesque place.

In large cities there are crematoriums and cemeteries for pets. This is an expensive procedure, but many wealthy people prefer to use such institutions.

They say that a dead animal runs to heaven on a rainbow. There is no need to darken his path with bitter tears. It is better to remember the happy moments spent together.

Who should you choose, a male cat or a female cat?

If you are not purchasing a pet for breeding, then buy a male. He is a brighter representative of the breed. They grow large. You can castrate them from 6 months, but it is better to do this from 8-10 months, when the skeleton is already fully formed. Properly raised males and females of this breed are equally affectionate animals. If you plan to have cubs from your favorite cat, then buy a girl and very preferably with a metric or immediately with a pedigree. If she has a weak phenotype (single folded ears), then it is better to castrate her, like a cat, after six months. Females have their ovaries and uterus removed. This operation is more complicated and more expensive than for males. Short-haired or long-haired kitten?

The Scottish breed has both short-haired (Scottish Folds, Scottish Straights) and long-haired (Highland Folds, Highland Straights). Long-haired pets kept in apartments require daily care. Brush them at least 1-2 times a day. Then they will definitely not have tangles. If you are ready to devote time to this procedure daily or at least once every 3 days, then this breed is for you. Buy several iron combs with wooden handles, as they are reliable

If you don’t have much time and desire, pay attention to shorthaired

How to choose the right one?

There are some recommendations and rules for choosing purebred Scots:

• The animal must be healthy with dense hair, clean eyes and a soft belly to the touch.
• Real folds look cheerful, playful and content.
• It is necessary to have a pedigree and a passport of the animal, especially for its participation in exhibitions and competitions.
• It is necessary to find out from the breeder who the kitten’s parents are, since their genetics affects the health of the babies.
• A real fold-eared cat will have a high cost. If a seller sells a pet cheaply, then you need to think about whether it is defective.

By following these rules, you can easily choose a pet with good health. If you want to make an affectionate, gentle, playful friend, following all the recommendations, this breed is better suited. In order to quickly and easily make friends with your pet, you need to carefully watch the reaction and behavior. It is possible to determine a suitable cat this way: if it does not attack a person, does not snort, and does not try to run away. If a lop-eared pet purrs, then this is a sure sign of the beginning of friendship between him and the future owner.

Source

When can you tell that a kitten is lop-eared?

Many people ask the editors of the MURKOTIKI website whether Scots can have straight ears? We answer: they can. This variety of Scots is called the Scottish Straight, or Scottish Shorthair Straight-eared cat. Both fold-eared and straight-eared kittens are born in one litter.

Determination of fold ears in Scottish kittens is not immediately possible. Newborn fold-eared kittens are no different from straight-eared ones. But then how can you tell if a kitten is lop-eared? When do folds' ears drop? All Scottish kittens are born straight-eared. The moment when lop ears can be detected in kittens is 18-20 days of life. It is at this moment that it is already clear who in the litter is straight and who is fold.

When lop ears are determined in kittens, the price is set approximately at the same time, because... Fold-eared ones are more expensive than straight-eared ones: they are more popular. That is, the curvature of the ears of Scottish cats directly affects the price.

When it is clear that a kitten is lop-eared, it is still difficult for an inexperienced breeder, and even more so for a buyer, to predict how good the ears will be and whether they will stand up later. The ears are finally formed only in the sixth week, so it is better not to choose a kitten before this period.

Tails and eyes

Let's continue the comparison of British and Scottish cats. The attentive eye of a cat lover may notice other differences between these breeds. How do Scottish cats differ from British cats besides the shape of their ears and body type? The British have a short and thick tail with a “carrot” tail, that is, tapering towards the end. Their eyes depend on their color.

The structure of the coat also differs. The British have a dense, “plush” coat, the Scots have soft wool, but cannot boast of such a thick fur coat. Their fur is looser. The colors of British and Scottish cats are currently very diverse, so they can hardly serve as a distinctive feature.

True, these breeds are still too similar to each other. Sometimes only a specialist can understand the difference between Scottish cats and British cats. It is important for buyers to carefully study the pedigree of cats and figure out what breed their parents belonged to.

Straightening - pros and cons

Despite the fact that this breed of cat attracts many breeders and ordinary fanciers, their peculiarity does not always have a positive effect.

Fold-eared cats are more likely to suffer from various ear diseases, even before they are raised. Parasites spread quickly and remain unnoticed until the last stage, because the structure of the auricle is conducive to the formation and accumulation of wax. These areas should be inspected and cleaned regularly by lifting the ears.

Often, the elevated state disappoints the owners, because at an early age the animal may still have fold ears. Many people, in pursuit of the ideal breed, begin to cross incompatible species, after which sick kittens are born with many pathological abnormalities. Don’t despair if the kitten’s ears straighten; in some cases, they may “fall” again.

Fold cats themselves are friendly and quickly become attached to their owner. Because of this “zest”, cat care is carried out more carefully and tolerantly. Sometimes problems arise from physiological characteristics, so it is important to regularly carry out preventive measures. In a raised state, sulfur and other dirt do not accumulate in them, and any symptoms can be immediately noticed.

Changes related to the position and structure of the ear canal occur 5 weeks after birth. They can be temporary, that is, if the ears rise in hot weather, it is more likely that after some period they will fall again.

It also happens that irreversible straightening occurs. More often after the first birth or first mating. There is no need to forcefully try to return your former lop ears. This can happen to any kitten in the litter, even if he has a good pedigree. It is rare to find cats whose position does not change throughout their lives, and therefore such breeds are raised for presentation at exhibitions and other similar events.

Straightening occurs for various reasons; before getting a cat of this breed, you should consider the characteristic features so as not to be disappointed in the choice later. Fold-eared cats require special care, even if the structure of the ears has changed. When buying a purebred cat, you need to study its pedigree - this will help you avoid scammers who offer ordinary animals at high prices.

>How to choose a fold-eared kitten?

How to choose a fold-eared kitten? 0 February 6, 2015

Conditions of detention

Scottish cats are considered one of the easiest pets to care for. They feel great both in a small apartment and in a private house. It is worth buying or making your own personal sleeping place for an animal. It is also recommended to purchase a scratching post, the length of which should correspond to the height of the Scottish cat. You should not refuse to buy a carrier to transport your pet if necessary.

The Scots are not picky when it comes to content. In order for an animal to live comfortably in a room, it must be clean and safe. This pet is extremely clean, he puts his fur in order and quickly gets used to going to the litter box.

Before bringing a small pet into your home, you need to complete the following steps.

• Remove unnecessary objects from the kitten's access area. For example, wires, breakable and sharp objects.
• Buy food and water dishes for the animal. The best option would be heavy metal or ceramic cookware.
• Place the tray and fill it with filler. Kittens should buy a container with low sides, and as they grow older, change it to a higher model.
• Prepare a place to rest - this can be a sunbed or a blanket folded several times.
• Buy food, toys, scratching post.

Nail care

Domestic cats need their nails trimmed. This process is quite simple and does not cause discomfort to the animal. You need to put Scottish on your lap and, taking his paw in your hands, press on the pads. Once your pet has released its claws, they can be trimmed. In this process, the main thing is not to damage the living body of the claw. Claws should be trimmed carefully, once every 2-3 weeks.

Eye and ear hygiene

The eyes and ears of Scottish cats need regular examination. These animals usually have clean ears, but when plaque appears in them, the contamination is removed with a cotton swab. When cleaning your ears, you can also use a special lotion.

The special structure of the skull of the Scottish breed of cats causes the narrowing of their nasolacrimal ducts. For this reason, your pet may experience slight discharge from the eyes. In this case, the eyes need to be cleaned with a cotton pad or chlorhexidine wipe.

Dental care

To keep the pet's teeth in good condition, the owner can buy him a special toy - an edible chewing stick. Alternatively, you can use a toothbrush and toothpaste for cats. A Scottish cat's teeth should be brushed 1 or 2 times a week. Scottish dogs do not like this process, so it is better to accustom them to this from an early age.

Kitten care

Scottish kittens do not require special care. They can be fed dry food, but of good quality. Kittens should not be brushed unless there is a reason for it. Babies with long hair should be gradually accustomed to brushing, carrying out the procedure twice a month. Little Scottish cats need to be bathed only if they are very dirty in the mud.

Kittens need to have their nails trimmed from an early age so that they get used to this procedure. You don't need to clean your ears, but if they smell bad, that's a reason to go to the vet. Watery eyes should be wiped once every 7 days with a cotton pad soaked in chlorhexidine.

Fold ear in kittens: norm, photo, description

Among the cat breeds recognized by international felinological organizations, only Scottish Folds and Highland Folds are fold-eared, that is, Scottish shorthaired and semi-longhaired fold cats. We clarified about recognition by felinologists, because There are also outbred fold-eared cats, which are obtained as a result of random genetic mutations, but no one further fixes this gene and breeds a new breed. In the middle of the 20th century, it occurred to the Scot Mary Ross to do something similar, who, not having the skills and knowledge of a breeder, intuitively felt that she might be dealing with an emerging breed.

What do newborn fold kittens look like? Here are lop-eared kittens at birth: photos of newborns.

When properly crossed, the lop ear gene is inherited from one of the parents. It is dominant, that is, if it is included in the cat’s genetic makeup, it should appear visually. However, there are nuances.

Loss of characteristic: when the ears rise

Straight-eared kittens are called straights, and fold-eared kittens are called folds. The clear difference between them lies in the presence and number of folds on the ears. One fold causes the ears to straighten over time. This does not mean that the kitten is straight. To answer the question about his breed, an examination is carried out. It is especially important for owners who plan to crossbreed kittens. An incorrect conclusion about the straightness of an animal leads to the crossing of two lop-eared individuals and sick offspring. If there are two folds, then it is impossible to predict the outcome: the kitten can remain fold-eared with the same success as become straight-eared. Three folds ensure the ears don't straighten out.

External differences between British and Scottish cats

Folds with erect ears are sterilized to prevent the transmission of a dominant gene that has lost visual expression.

There is a clear sign that distinguishes a fold-eared cat with erect ears from a straight-eared one: the size of the ears. The first one has smaller ones.

Temporary changes in the position of the ears are also possible, the cause of which is weather conditions. The heat causes the Fold's ears to rise slightly.

Important! To purchase fold-eared kittens, choose a time of year with moderate temperatures.

In addition, the ears of the folds also rise in females after giving birth.

Video - Scottish Fold cat

The cat behaves strangely after giving birth - what to do and how to help?

Many owners are shocked when their pet suddenly becomes aggressive. A young mother may hiss, growl and even rush at the owner when trying to examine or touch the kittens. In fact, there is nothing surprising in this behavior, since no one except the mother can protect the kittens. The cat will not go to extremes if you take care of the comfort and safety of the family in advance.

To protect your pet from stress, place the nest in a separate room, away from guests, children and other pets. Try to ignore the presence of kittens when changing your cat's water or giving her food. Pay more attention to the young mother, praise her, try to behave as loyally as possible.

There is an explanation for aggression. In the wild, kittens can be threatened by adult males and females:

Males kill kittens so that the young mother comes into heat sooner and is ready for re-mating.

Females can kill kittens for the sake of obtaining “simple food” or out of jealousy. A cat that has recently given birth and lost offspring can steal other people's kittens, guided by maternal instinct.

Against the background of aggression, you may notice that the cat is hiding the kittens, covering them with her body. In such a situation, you cannot control whether all babies receive adequate nutrition. This behavior can be called normal if:

The cat does not leave the kittens for a long time or covers them with something before leaving the nest.

The pet leaves the nest to drink, eat and go to the toilet.

The cat does not try to take her kittens with her every time she goes somewhere.

You should see the kittens at least once a day, for example, while the cat is eating. If the kittens remain warm to the touch, you hear and see them squeaking and actively moving, it is better not to disturb the mother cat. If you suspect that the cat is not feeding the babies or is not paying enough attention to caring for them, you need to take action.

Most often, the reason for ignoring kittens, if we are not talking about postpartum depression, is the non-viability of the babies or congenital malformations. No matter how cruel it may sound, after giving birth, the cat can choose which kittens will survive and which are doomed.

Having stopped feeding weak babies, the cat pays maximum attention to stronger kittens. If you notice that your pet is ignoring specific kittens, they need to be taken from the nest and transferred to artificial feeding

It is advisable to consult a veterinarian who will examine rejected babies and be able to draw conclusions about developmental defects. In rare cases, a cat may reject kittens due to insufficient milk for feeding.

Constant sleep of newborns - an alarming signal or normal development of the body

Newborn kittens sleep up to 22 hours a day. This is not a cause for concern, because at this time the baby’s nervous system is developing. Sleep contributes to the favorable course of this process. In the first months, the kitten should not be separated from its mother and brothers and sisters. If his weight is normal, it means that development is proceeding normally, and constant sleep is conducive to this.

Newborn kittens sleep up to 22 hours a day

You can familiarize yourself with sleep norms for the initial stages of a kitten’s life in the table.

In order for a kitten to switch to nighttime sleep mode, it should be provided with sufficient activity during the day: play, run. Thus, by night he will be tired, sleep will be necessary to restore strength and will coincide with the biorhythms of the owners.