Name | Scottish Fold or Scottish cat |
Origin | United Kingdom |
Life expectancy | 12-15 years |
Colors | Gray, white, sand, bicolor and brindle |
Hair | Dense and smooth |
Height | Up to 25 cm |
Weight | 2-6 kg |
Temperament | Tender and friendly |
Needs | Companionship, regular brushing, ear cleaning |
Perfect for | Families with children and other pets, seniors, etc. |
Origin of the Scottish Fold
Its origin dates back to the 1960s, when an apparent spontaneous mutation gave rise to this breed of cat, recognized by the fold of its ears. Scottish farmers then decided to cross the first Scottish Fold, named Susie, with British Shorthair cats, but their offspring began to show different types of malformations.
Hence, the breeding of this breed was banned until geneticists and breeders from the United States joined forces to put an end to these health problems. Finally, in the 1970s, the CFA (Cat Fanciers Association), which has one of the largest registries of cat breeds in the world, officially recognized the Scottish Fold as such.
Types of Scottish Fold Cat
There are different varieties of Scottish Fold depending on their coat.
Hair type
- Scottish Fold Shorthair: Its coat is also soft and silky.
- Semi-longhair Scottish Fold: It arose as a result of its crossing with cats of the British Longhair breed.
As for the color of its coat, we can find Scottfish Fold cats in gray, blue, brown, bicolor and brindle, as well as being able to present a similar tone to sand (among others). Likewise, the black Scottish Fold is also one of the main varieties of color that the coat of this cat breed can have.
Scottish Fold puppy
Even as a puppy, the Scottish Fold’s character is friendly. However, it is a cat breed that also needs a lot of affection. It is therefore important to spend time with him and offer him different toys to keep him distracted. It should be noted that educating this type of cat does not require much effort, since it easily adapts to different environments.
Character and behavior of the Scottish Fold
As we have already mentioned, the Scottish Fold is known for being affectionate and playful, in tune with its sweet appearance, as well as intelligent. In fact, thanks to this last characteristic, it is capable of learning with ease whatever it is taught, making its education not require much effort. It is a cat that needs daily exercise to release its energy and to avoid becoming overweight, since it tends to be gluttonous. This can be a problem, since it is a breed of cat that tends to obesity (with the problems that this entails for their health).
How to feed the Scottish Fold according to its age?
Adapting the diet according to age is essential for the Scottish Fold, as well as any other cat breed, to stay healthy. The reason is that their nutritional needs are different for puppies, adults and seniors.
Staged feeding
The energetic Scottish Fold puppy needs a feed specifically formulated for puppies that also provides high quality protein. On the other hand, what the adult Scottish Fold needs is a feed that will optimally maintain its physical condition. Its diet will have to be rich in essential fatty acids and vitamins, among other ingredients, to reinforce its immune system. For the senior Scottish Fold it is advisable to use a feed or wet food that maintains its ideal weight, especially taking into account that its physical activity will be reduced due to age.
Scottish Fold Cat Health
The health of the Scottish Fold cat, for which we have dedicated a specific article, needs special attention due to its genetics.
Typical health pathologies in this breed
One of the most frequent pathologies affecting the Scottish Fold is otitis. This is due to the particular shape of their ears, which in turn favors the appearance of infections and other problems of the auditory tract, which can lead to hearing loss (or even deafness). That is why it is important to clean their ears weekly with the appropriate products.
Another condition to take into account is osteochondrodysplasia, a hereditary disease that produces malformations of the bones and joints, causing stiffness, lameness and even paralysis. It is therefore essential to have regular veterinary check-ups, as well as to avoid crossbreeding Scottish Folds due to the health problems that this can cause for the new specimens.
Care
Due to the aforementioned genetics, other factors must be taken into account to keep the Scottish Fold cat healthy.
Hair
Their dense coat requires brushing once a week, without forgetting that this habit will have to be daily during the moulting season. In addition, the administration of malt will prevent the annoying formation of hairballs or trichobezoars in their digestive tract.
Ears
The folded shape of their ears requires a frequent hygiene routine. For this purpose, it will be necessary to have at hand the products recommended by the veterinarian, such as ear cleaners, always taking into account the procedure recommended by the expert.
Adoption of a Scottish Fold
Having read more about the adorable Scottish Fold, it’s no wonder you’re considering adopting him, especially considering he’s a loving and playful cat who adapts easily to different environments.