It seems that the world hasn’t been surprised by the variety of cat breeds for a long time. If we have learned how to breed even wild beauties, then we can’t go any further than breeding. And each of the breeds has crowds of fans, and everyone is sure that his pet is the most magnificent and the best. Among the most revered breeds is the Scottish lop-eared cat, otherwise known as the Scottish Fold.
History of the breed
This unusual breed was recognized in the 60s, so it is considered still a relatively young breed. Her story began quite typically: a farmer in Scotland began to see the birth of unusual kittens. The ears of these kittens were pointed forward and curved down. Everyone understood that this was caused by a certain mutation, but the kittens looked so unusual that their popularity began to grow. It is now difficult to determine from which kitten the origin of the Scottish folds. According to one source, the ancestor was a Jerseys cat, which was bought from a farmer by a prominent Scotchman.
According to another version, one of these kittens went to a woman who named her cat Snooks. When the pet grew older, the owner was mortified by the birth of her first litter. And the geneticists she knew quickly helped the breed get stronger, fixing the genetic mutations at an acceptable level. They also helped the new breeder quickly derive a unique algorithm for breeding the new breed.
At first, in spite of help, Mary Ross had a hard time: they did not want to recognize the breed. This was due to strict requirements for hybrids and breeding in general. The associations do allow cross-breeds, but in this case, the mutation threshold for the breed was seriously overestimated, and the committee rejected the first lop-eared kittens. If the mutation had only affected the ears, there probably would not have been a problem. But the changes, and radical ones, affected the vestibular apparatus of the cats and the spine. Surprisingly, over time, these mutations have been minimized. True, it is impossible to completely rid the lop-eared breed of it, because the gene is responsible for it.
Scottish lop ears do not necessarily have bent ears. Even those kittens with straight ears (Scottish straight) are accepted as a norm. Cats of this breed can be fluffy and long-haired, or may have a short coat and dense undercoat. Strong build, powerful paws, broad bone, a dense tail of medium length, ears, often adjoining the head - this is the portrait of Scottish-fold. A distinctive feature of the breed - ears. It is interesting that Scottish kittens are born with completely normal ears, and up to a month do not differ from other babies. And only on the second month of life their ears begin to turn into a “envelope. This breed is characterized by any color from striped to pink. Straight-eared Scots are usually not allowed to participate in exhibitions, but they are necessary for breeding lop-eared. Crossing only lop ears with each other produces sickly offspring and is, therefore, forbidden.
The character of a Scottish Fold
The Scottish Fold does not cause disturbance since kittens. He won’t scurry around the apartment, hang from curtains, or jump on closets. The breed has a weak backbone and weak vestibular apparatus, so kittens show restraint in games. Much more often you will see your baby stand confidently on its hind legs. This funny habit helps kittens keep their spine healthy from a young age. This is the only breed that just loves back massages. The lop-eared Scottish has a gentle and level temperament. A cat of this breed meows rarely, but if it does, it means it has something to say to you. Extraordinarily artistic, it is able to convey to the owner their desires and demands. However, the pet will not be annoying, because it has a distinct personality. It is better to sit next to you on the sofa than to lie down on your lap. Often this aristocrat comes only when she deigns to talk to you. If she has no desire, to keep the Scottish in your arms is impossible. Obedient and well-mannered, the cat will easily accept all your conditions. It is noteworthy that this breed gets along quietly with dogs. The latter become excellent company for the pet.
Features of keeping a Scottish Lop-Eared
Special care of the pet will not require, except to comb out once every few days. You should pay attention to her health, especially its ears. The cat may often have otitis, if it visits the street, then it is in the ears may appear parasites. Because of the unique shape of their ears, they always produce an excessive amount of wax. Therefore, cleaning the ears is a strict necessity, as wax is a great breeding ground for all sorts of germs and parasites.