So, mating a Scottish Fold cat with a male cat is prohibited. The reason for this was active gene mutations, which can lead to death, disability or deformity of future offspring.
Owners of Scottish Fold cats often wonder how to properly breed them. Many people believe that a Scottish cat should be crossed with a cat of the same breed. In their opinion, this is the only way to breed a purebred breed and improve its qualities.
Many breeders cross the Scottish Fold and Scottish Straight breeds; they are almost the same, but the latter are straight-eared. The kittens turn out healthy, some of them have straight ears, and some have drooping ears.
At what age should you start mating?
The optimal age for mating is considered to be one and a half years . If a cat has never had kittens before two years of age, irreparable health problems may arise. During this period, the animal is completely ready for fertilization and the appearance of offspring. The first mating of Scottish cats should not occur after the first heat. The cat is not ready yet, either morally or physically; all the discharge is already unpleasant for her. Against this background, she may have a nervous breakdown, she will become aggressive and distrustful.
The best time for mating is the third or fourth day of estrus 2-3. Cats of this breed are especially active in the spring; this will not be difficult to notice; they become more irritable, refuse to eat and begin to mark corners in the house. Cats, on the contrary, are more affectionate, demand attention, and stomp their hind paws.
How to choose the right partner
Every owner should know exactly with whom to cross a Scottish Fold cat in order to get beautiful and healthy kittens. The choice of a partner must be carried out responsibly and according to all the rules .
- It is best if the animals have similar colors and basic characteristics. This way you can breed ideal offspring that will meet all the requirements for a given breed.
- It is better not to mix different colors; this can lead to kittens with coat or eye color that is inappropriate for a Scotsman. But such breeds are considered not purebred, they are more difficult to sell and cannot be shown at exhibitions.
- It is impossible for a cat and a cat to have intercourse together if at least one of them has his ears pinned back. This can lead to defects in kittens; they are born very weak and die quickly.
- You should not breed animals if none of them have previous experience.
Solid colors of Scottish breeds
This group of colors is characterized by monotony, patterns, markings and ticking are absent.
Snow-white. The fur is iridescent, absolutely white. The eyes are the color of amber or heavenly. The standard also allows for different eye colors in an animal. The nose and pads are pinkish.
Black. The fur fully corresponds to the name, there is no red or grayish tint. The eyes are like amber, the nose and pads merge with the fur.
Blue. The edge is a cold dark gray shade. Eyes like amber. The nose and pads are the same color as the fur. See photo of Scottish Fold Blue cat.
Lilac. The fur is a warm soft gray shade, turning into cream. Eyes like amber. The nose and pads are in harmony with the fur (see all photos of the lilac Briton).
- Red. The edge is fiery. The eyes are like amber, the nose and pads match the color of the fur.
- Cream. The hair is light peach. Golden eyes, pinkish nose and pads.
Cinnamon, cinnamon color. Similar to milk chocolate. The nose and pads are pink-brown.
What the owner should know
In order for the offspring to be healthy, you need to know some features of mating Scottish Folds:
- You need to select a partner of a similar breed, that is, Scottish, but not Scottish Fold. In this case, the best option would be Scottish Straight. This breed of cat has straight ears. If a Scottish straight-eared cat is mated, then the opposite is true, the cat must be fold-eared.
- You cannot cross a Scotsman with a British breed. In this case, the cubs are too large, the tail and head are deformed, and the structure of the coat does not meet the standards.
- The male must have a uniform color, good quality coat, and a proportional build. You should definitely pay attention to the tail, it should be flexible. This factor affects the health of the animal's spine. This way you can avoid developmental defects in the baby.
- You should also pay attention to the cat's ears. It would be correct if they are directed forward, small, widely spaced and do not extend beyond the head. An important feature is the ear folds, it is very good if they exist. Such breeds are considered unique. It is best if there are two of them, and they are tightly folded on the head. It is very rare to meet a Scot who has three such folds.
- It is important to assess the health of the male; he should not have dandruff or any discharge from the eyes, nose or ears. The animal should not be emaciated or too large, everything should be within normal limits.
Many owners of Scottish cats begin to look for a partner through advertisements. This method is not bad; you can select a suitable candidate. But there is another simple way, breeder clubs that specialize in Scottish folds . The specialists working there will be able to help you choose a suitable male and tell you about his characteristics. By choosing this method of mating, you can be sure of healthy offspring.
Before mating, it is advisable to agree on the amount of the cat’s owner’s fee. He usually gets one baby, which has straight ears. There are always fewer fold-eared kittens; it very rarely happens that all the cubs from one litter are straight. If this is the case, then the cat’s owner receives money as a reward. The amount is equal to the cost of a Scottish Fold kitten.
Before mating, it is advisable to personally make sure that both partners are treated for worms and other parasites. It is permissible to treat the cat before intercourse for diseases such as rabies, chlamydia and other diseases, as well as to prevent worms.
The room where the whole process takes place must be clean, bright, dry and spacious, and it must be warm. The intercourse of animals can last several days, so you need to be prepared for the trip. You need to take with you a tray with filler, bowls for food and water, and the food itself. It happens that a cat is very aggressive, so before mating you need to trim its claws.
Your cat may not get pregnant the first time. In this case, it is necessary to bring her to the cat on the 2-3rd day of the next estrus and leave her there for a couple of days . In one day, a cat can cover a female up to 14 times, but after a few days he ceases to be interested in her.
Plain (solid)
The color of Scottish Fold cats is monochromatic and they should not have any other color. The fold-eared cat can be of the following colors: white and black, chocolate and lilac, blue and red, cream, fawn and cinnamon. The most popular color in the world among solid Scottish cats is blue. These are the majority of cats.
The white Scottish Straight cat can have different eyes, from blue and bright orange to rich amber and copper. Kittens of this variety remain white for the rest of their lives. If kittens have spots, then an adult cat remains white for the rest of its life.
The Scottish Fold black cat is mostly bright in color. A couple of white hairs are acceptable, but if the cat has large red and brown patches, then it is not a purebred.
Black Scottish Fold cats should be bright black in color and their ears, like all fold-eared cats, should be pressed to the head, unlike straight-eared cats. A straight-eared black cat always has its ears erect.
Chocolate
Scottish fold
chocolate looks impressive. The chocolate color is quite rare. Brown fold kittens should have a smooth, uniform coat of chocolate color. The dark brown coloring adds nobility to the cat.
A brown cat gets this color if he has chocolate, chocolate bicolor or chocolate color points in his pedigree. Chocolate Scottish kittens always delight their owners. They look very cool against a light background.
Lilac (lavender)
A lilac long-eared cat gets this color if he has either lilac color points or lilac in his pedigree. The lilac coloration goes well with orange, copper or amber colored eyes and a light brown nose. This color is also called coffee with milk.
Blue color (blue)
The Scots Blue can have a coat color of many shades of blue. Some cats may have a fur color closer to gray, and some closer to blue. Each hair must be saturated, then the coat will be perfectly blue.
Small pets have different patterns that disappear after a few months. Three months after birth, their eyes may be copper-colored.
Red (red)
Red Scots are a very rare breed. The ginger Scottish cat, like the ginger kitten, has a tail defect in the form of unevenly colored fur. In red-haired pets, red is sometimes more dominant than red.
These cats may have patterns on their foreheads and limbs, but this is not considered the norm. The Scots, unlike the British cat breed, can give birth to either a red fold-eared cat or a straight-eared cat.
The soft peach coat of a lighter color gives this cat an elegant appearance. At first glance, they are very similar to the red ones, but if you look closely, you can clearly see the difference. Cream hairs are lighter. Smooth patterns on the paws and tail are acceptable, but leopard spots are not acceptable.
Faun (deer)
The coat of kittens of this breed is a very interesting color. This shade should not be confused with lilac, which has a lilac tint. The paw pads and nose of these cats are beige-pink.
At first this color can be confused with chocolate, but this is not so. This look is lighter and softer. Its nose and pads are beige or pink-brown.
The coat color of these beautiful creatures has two colors, and a combination of white and any other shade is mandatory. Purebred bicolors must have a white belly, neck, chest, chin, limbs and, of course, muzzle.
Particolor (calico)
A Scottish cat of this type, called particolor, is a combination of white with tortoiseshell or spotted tabby color.
Harlequin captivated everyone with his unusual appearance. The cat is painted white (4/5 parts of the body), but the tail must be black, as well as the ears and the top of the head. The ventral part is white. The tip of the nose, like most people, is the same color - pink.
This breed only has colored tail, and sometimes has a few spots on the head. It happens that there are solid spots on the paws and back, but this is considered undesirable. When this breed develops red spots, it may also be called a Red Van.
What difficulties may arise
- It happens that during mating a cat falls on its side. There is nothing to worry about, you just need to hold it in the required position.
- Sometimes there is such a thing as a cat being faithful to one partner. If this is the case, then you need to change the cat, since all attempts at mating will be unsuccessful.
- Another problem can be the different sizes of animals, especially a cat that is too massive. In this case, the male will not be able to cover her, grabbing the withers, he will end up on her back. Here you need the help of the owner, who will hold the cat by the withers.
- The cat may be too aggressive. In this case, mating will not work.
- It happens that due to stress, the female stops estrus. It may not exist for several days, after which it resumes. After this, the animal can be brought back to the male.
COMPLICATIONS DURING MATING
Not all meetings go equally well. Sometimes a cat cannot get pregnant the first time - then you have to bring her to the same cat again and again. There is nothing strange about this, especially after the first mating.
Communication problems may also arise. The most common one is that the cat does not let the groom near. In this case, the owners should additionally excite her by stroking her in the area of the external genitalia, back and abdomen. Sometimes medical intervention is required: a probe is inserted into the vagina, after which mating occurs. Injections of drugs that induce ovulation are also given. But these are already extreme measures, which are worth taking only after weighing all the pros and cons. Most often, persistent but delicate behavior of the cat or a change of groom is simply required.
The opposite situation can also happen: the cat itself does not approach the cat. Perhaps he just didn’t like her, or maybe it was the color. If in early youth a cat was offended by some young lady, after that he may not approach females of the same color. Then, no matter how affectionate his new bride is, a similar color can disrupt the sexual mood. There is only one way out of this situation: select other partners.
Another common problem that we mentioned above is that the cat falls on its side during mating. Usually this position makes sexual intercourse impossible, but some cats can fertilize females on their sides. If this does not work, the person controlling the process must hold the cat so that it takes the correct position.
What is the owner of the male responsible for?
Before inviting a Scottish cat for mating, the owner of the male must know some rules so that the whole process does not lead to psychological and physical injuries .
- If animals have difficulties, they need help.
- Some animals can show aggression, therefore, at the slightest problem, it is better to postpone all mating actions. Maybe after a while the cats will get used to each other.
- Upon arrival at your destination, it is best to keep the cat in its portable vehicle for a while. Let her get used to it, sniff it, rest and gain strength.
- If animals are too aggressive, it is better to place them in enclosures so that they can get used to each other.
How does the knitting process take place?
All actions take place in the territory of the male’s residence. Before breeding a Scottish Fold cat, it is contraindicated to wash it, as this will deprive it of the characteristic odor that attracts the male.
Most often, the entire process occurs without the help of the owners, but it happens that animals get lost, especially cats. In this case, they need to give time to rest, get used to it and sniff.
The male may show interest, sing songs to the female, and she, in turn, responds to his advances. If the female is not ready to mate, the male senses this and simply leaves. In this case, further actions will be ineffective; you need to wait for the next heat.
The following are the rules for mating Scottish cats:
- Age of the cat. You can take her to a male only during estrus and at the age of 1 year. Even though they reach puberty at 6-7 months, they are not yet ready to have offspring. Moreover, the animal is not yet fully formed, and this can lead to serious health problems.
- You cannot cross two Scottish Folds, or with a British male. This can lead to health problems for kittens.
- If you plan to use kittens for exhibitions, you need to take a responsible approach to choosing a partner, his pedigree, color and other characteristics.
- It is imperative to monitor the health of the animals; in case of any ailment, it is better to postpone the mating process.
If you follow all the rules, then mating a Scottish Fold cat will bring beautiful, healthy and strong offspring.
Curled ears are the result of a genetic mutation and the calling card of Scottish Fold cats, or “Scots.” A cartilage defect is the direct cause of lop ears in representatives of this breed. Therefore, if they are not bred very skillfully, serious pathologies with the musculoskeletal system or tail can occur.
If the purpose of mating is to improve the breed, then select individuals whose appearance is as close as possible to the breed standard. Features of Scottish Fold cats are as follows:
- the head is round, with round whisker pads and a short, wide nose;
- the ears are small, curved down and forward, and fit compactly to the head;
- from the rounded tip of the ear to its lobe, a right angle with its apex on the lobe appears;
- the eyes are large and round, widely spaced;
- the coat is short, thick, soft, spreading along the skin; can be of any color;
- the tail is tapering, with a round thickening at the tip, flexible;
- longer and tapering tails are considered more beautiful;
- The paws are muscular, of medium thickness and length.
There are 3 classes based on the severity of the characteristic features of the breed:
- Shows are animals with the most pronounced characteristics of the breed. The cats of this class are the most valuable, they are the ones chosen for mating;
- Breed – animals with slight deviations from the breed standard. Females are of greatest value for breeding. The offspring of a “breed” cat and a “show” cat can improve the breed;
- Pets are animals with significant deviations from the breed standard. They are not used by specialists for breeding, but are kept as pets.
At what age to knit
A cat's first heat begins at the age of 5–6 months, depending on the environment, climate and nutrition. It may not be too noticeable. If you breed a cat at this age, it may have a bad effect on her young body and cause further infertility, and the offspring may not be viable.
It is best to skip the first 2 heats. The most favorable age for breeding a cat is from 1 to 1.5 years, when it reaches full physical development. If the female is not untied until the age of 1.5 years, then later, during the first mating, she will show significant resistance to the cat.
Before introducing animals, it is advisable to trim the cat’s claws in order to protect the cat in case of aggression towards him. You should also make sure that the female is in satisfactory health, in particular, check her for common infections:
Tabby (tabby)
Tabby is one of the most popular cats among Scots. The color of Scottish tabby cats is distinguished by the presence of a pattern in a certain area on the coat. The pattern on the wool can be anything. A distinctive feature is considered to be a pattern in the form of the letter M on the forehead.
Tabby color depending on the type of pattern:
- striped like a tiger (has vertical stripes on the sides);
- spotted;
- marble (pattern of chaotic spots and stripes of different sizes).
And depending on the color combinations to the following:
- golden tabbies;
- cream tabby;
- blue;
- black marble;
- marble on silver
- silvery blue (gray tint);
- silver (silver color);
- cameo.
The Scottish chinchilla got its color from the British, and they, in turn, took this color from the Persians. The cat gets this color if the mother and father are chinchillas.
Chinchillas are divided into three types:
Who can this breed be crossed with?
In this breed there are cats and cats of two varieties: fold-eared - with curled ears and straight-eared - with erect ears.
Important: Throughout life, the ears of lop-eared dogs may straighten a little, while those of straight-eared dogs may bend slightly, but this does not in any way change the type of breed they belong to. In this regard, there are errors when indicating the breed in animal passports, and it is important to keep this in mind when choosing partners for mating.
Only fold-eared and straight-eared people can be confidently matched. In this case, the offspring will be genetically healthy. About half the kittens will be of the fold-eared variety, and half will be of the straight-eared variety.
It is risky to mix Scots with outbred cats, as well as with cats of any other breeds. The offspring can be either healthy or have health problems of varying severity.
You cannot reduce:
- Lop-eared with lop-eared. In this case, the defect in the cartilage tissue will affect not only the ears, and it will most likely be weak and sick. This will especially affect the limbs. Skeletal deformations, shortening of bones, thickening of joints, fusion of vertebrae are possible;
- Scots with British or exotics. The Scots have weak cartilage tissue, while the British have a heavy skeleton. When mating with Britons or exotics, kittens were born whose vertebrae fused in the future. The problems may turn out to be so serious that the only option left is to euthanize the animals.
Important: A Scottish Straight cat can easily be mistaken for a British Shorthair, which cannot be crossed with.
It is best if the cat is selected by the breeder from whom the cat was adopted. An experienced cat is more desirable than one that has never bred. It is correct to bring a cat to a cat, and not vice versa.
Mating cats and female cats in Odessa
How to choose a cat for mating in Odessa
Cat mating is the process of breeding kittens by mating felines of the same breed. Such activities are very relevant for those people who strive to ensure the continuity of the breed for their domestic cats through the birth of new kittens. In addition, breeding kittens through mating cats can become a very profitable source of income if the kittens born are sold to people who want to have purebred cats.
In an effort to mate cats (females) with your pet, you should carefully select a partner, a cat for future mating. So, in addition to having the appropriate breed, the partner for mating must be in good health, without any diseases, so that the kittens born are not only distinguished by the continuity of the breed, but can also grow and develop successfully. In addition, in a situation where mating of cats is carried out for commercial purposes, it is desirable for the selected partner to have certain titles and awards, since in this case the born kitten will be especially highly valued by buyers.
When choosing a cat for mating, you should be guided by these listed criteria. And our bulletin board perfectly meets similar criteria, where, in the section dedicated to mating cats and males, the user always has the opportunity to choose the most suitable feline partner for his pet. We have a huge number of cats of various breeds, and their number is constantly growing
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Care and maintenance
Caring for and maintaining a Scottish fold cat does not cause much trouble.
For short-haired individuals, combing should be done no more than once a week (this is their main advantage compared to long-haired ones - for the latter, combing must be done every 2 days).
Each cat takes care of its own hygiene - everyone knows how cats love to lick themselves. Unfortunately, in doing so, they can ingest fur, which ultimately clogs the intestines, which is why it is so important to regularly comb the coat with a special brush that collects excess hair.
Due to the curled ears, regular ear cleaning is a mandatory procedure for all Scottish cats - earwax accumulates in them quite quickly. Scots don’t need to bathe – they take good care of their hygiene themselves.
However, if the kitten is very dirty, it is necessary to wash it with warm water, avoiding getting water into the ears and eyes. It is not recommended to use soap - chemical components in detergents can cause allergies in cats.
After bathing, be sure to wipe your pet dry and avoid exposing it to drafts - a kitten that is not completely dry can easily catch a cold.
Did you know? Scottish breeds are the only cat breeds that like to be brushed against the grain.
Scottish fold mating has its own characteristics. Crossing two individuals of this breed is strictly prohibited - it leads to serious bone mutations. In history, there have been attempts to cross two Scottish Folds - all the kittens born had bones.
Crossing a Scotsman can be done with a Scottish Straight cat. A fold-eared female can be crossed with a straight-eared cat, and a fold-eared cat can be crossed with a female with straight ears.
It is noteworthy that as a result of such a union, both straight-eared and lop-eared kittens will be born, however, it is possible to determine whether the ears are curled or not only 3 weeks after the birth of the offspring (initially, all newborn kittens are the same, and the cause of lop-earedness is some defect in the cartilage, which cannot hold the ear straight - this will be determined no earlier than 20 days after birth).
Mating Scottish Folds with straight-eared ones is the most successful crossbreeding; it is practiced by specialists involved in breeding the breed.
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Scottish cats have different colors. Scottish cats are famous because of their charming appearance and variety of colors. The color of kittens directly depends on certain genes. As a rule, these are two main shades, black and white.
Scottish Straight colors, for example, are gray with black stripes around the entire body. They are distributed as a percentage. That is, the animal’s fur is painted in two colors in different proportions. Its own gene is responsible for the dominance of one color or another.
Pregnancy
A cat's pregnancy lasts approximately 65 days. During this period, she has an increased appetite, sometimes nausea and vomiting in the morning, and walks are advisable for her. Your cat may want to eat something it hasn't eaten before, such as grass or carrots. There are special foods for pregnant and lactating cats.
A few days after the start of pregnancy, the cat stops calling to the cat by meowing and begins to look for a suitable place to give birth. The owner of the expectant mother should prepare a bedding or cardboard box in advance that is easy for the cat to enter and allow the cat to explore it.
In the fourth week, the cat's nipples turn pink and swell. During pregnancy, it is better not to pick up a cat in your arms, so as not to harm the unborn kittens. Kittens born before the 60th day are very weak and may die.
On the day of birth, the cat’s tail begins to get wet, it is worried, meows loudly, and may lose its appetite. A pale greenish mucous discharge appears from the vagina, which she often licks before giving birth. When the mucus plug comes out, pushing begins.
If you decide to give birth, that is, to make this process easier for the cat, then it is useful to know the following:
Pushing stimulation. Stroking the cat's stomach in the direction of the tail increases the pressure, if necessary.
Opening the shell. The kittens come out while in a transparent film. Breaking it will help the woman in labor.
Breathing stimulation. Lightly stroking the kitten along the spine stimulates breathing. He will clear his throat and start breathing.
Cutting the umbilical cord. The cat sometimes forgets to break it. To do this for her, you should tie the umbilical cord with a thread at a distance of 2 cm from the fetus, and then cut it 1 cm from the fetus.
Offspring
A cat is capable of giving birth to 5–6 kittens 2–4 times a year.
All kittens are born with straight ears. “Sagging”, that is, the formation of a fold in 50% of kittens begins from the 21st day of life, if the parents are selected correctly. At this time, it is determined which type of breed - straight-eared or fold-eared - each kitten belongs to.
Those of them whose ears remain straight have all the features of the Scots with the exception, of course, of the ear fold. Scottish Straight cats do not take part in exhibitions, but they are necessary for the continuation of the breed (see above).
Kittens grow quickly. From 3 months, their body, legs and head become elongated, which does not look very attractive. But by the age of 8 months, the appearance of the pets becomes harmonious. And by the age of 3, cats are fully formed.
What is the character of a Scottish Fold cat?
Scottish Folds are distinguished by their kind, calm and balanced character. Their lifestyle is quite measured, hyperactivity is usually not typical for them. You are unlikely to constantly find such a pet trying to climb onto the closet and over the curtains, or simply rushing briskly around the rooms. But this does not mean that Scottish Fold cats are absolutely passive and behave like plush toys. They are naturally quite curious and enthusiastically explore everything that surrounds them.