Scottish folds are uncommon felines , prise for their huggable skilful looks and sweet personalities . rollick round heads with tight , forward - look folded ear and large eyes , Scottish folds always run a lot of attention .
Scottish fold cats are a medium - sized computed tomography breed weighing 6 to 12 pounds . They ’re low - maintenance and love being with their people more than anything else in the world . They ’re smart , too , and loveplaying games or chamfer toysaround the house .
Marilyn Krieger , a Certified Cat Behavior Consultant in San Francisco experience asThe Cat Coachand generator of " Naughty No More : Change Unwanted Behaviors Through Positive Reinforcement , " say it ’s important to do research and always buy strain of cats , such as the Scottish fold , from reputable stock breeder .
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" go over to see if they are members of The International Cat Association ( TICA ) or the Cat Fanciers ' Association ( CFA ) , " she says .
Owning an unusual breed of cat is fun , but it ’s significant that you have it off the khat for all facets of her personality , not just for her unique characteristics ( such as close up ears ) . " These CT are n’t decorations , " Krieger says . " Like all breeds , you need to cater them the good care and enrichment possible , as well as daily tending . "
Appearance
If an owl and a cat had a infant , it would look a caboodle like a Scotch fold . Scottish folds are a intermediate - sized , stocky strain that love human tending from everyone in the family , but may focus their care on one prosperous person .
These gorgeous Arabian tea have rounded heads , forgetful necks , and large eye that , combined with their folded - over ears , give them a unequaled , owl - similar look . Their coat is mostly short and thick , but prospicient - hairy Scots sheepcote can also be found . Colors include clean , aristocratic , ointment , silver grey , black , cameo , and dark-brown . Coat patterns include solid , tabby , tortoiseshell , bicolor , spotted , and shaded . Their big , gorgeous eye can be gold , green , or low .
Scottish fold cats are also a safe option for flat dwellers because they do n’t get too with child . MaleScottish folds weigh approximately12 pounds , while female person generally crop between 8 to 12 British pound sterling . Scottish bend are a hefty stock and the folded auricle do not make them moresusceptible to mitesorear infections .
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Because most Scottish folds have a short , dense coat , train can be as bare asbrushing and combing the fur once a weekto move out loose tomentum and dead skin cells .
Temperament
Scottish folds are value for their easy , affectionate personality . They love their kin , but wo n’t be mount all over you for snuggle as presently as you take the air through the door .
" Scottish fold cats are typically odorous , calm , easygoing , level-headed , patriotic , and adaptable , " says Alison Gerken , DVM . " They are social cats who revel human fellowship . While they like attending from their human family , they are not demand and are generally quiet , soft - voiced cat . "
A Scottish folding is just as happy relaxing on the couch next to you as she is being lavished with attention . Scots folds are also quite intelligent and easilytrained to do basic tricks(but , of course , theyarecats , so any education is always ontheirterms ) .
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These happy - go - lucky feline also love each other ’s party and do n’t mind experience other furry roommates — click or cat — ifintroduced to them right .
And , despite their forrader - close ears , Gerken say Scottish folds still apply their ears to communicate and convey emotion .
" They may go back when fearful or frustrated , and they may move forward during maneuver or when they hear their intellectual nourishment container opened , " she says .
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Living Needs
Talk about a wash - and - wear kitty ! Because Scotch fold cats are intermediate - sized and mostly short - haired , they can last almost anywhere with minimum work on your part . They can be as happy in a one - way flat as they are in a spacious manse .
But there are some must - wealthy person before bringing home a Scottish fold kitten — or any CT , for that matter .
" Like all other CAT , they take adequate mental and environmental enrichment , " Gerken says . " So ensuring theyhave scratch post , vertical and horizontal spaces including perch and concealment places , a variety of toysthat should be spread out on a weekly basis to provide novelty , and structured social and play sitting with the family is essential for their well - being . "
While they postulate foreplay and ways to stay occupied , Scots folds are not passing dynamic felines , so you wo n’t find them climb your drape or leaping back and forth across your living way furniture .
Scottish folding are dependable family cat and can be well-chosen living with a individual somebody or afamily with children , Gerken aver . Just make certain to teach any kiddos how to properly interact with feline friends .
Care
Scottish fold cat do n’t involve a luck of grumpy grooming . Sure , they shed , but otherwise their lush coats only require a hebdomadal combing to keep them in great shape . Longer - haired version of the Scottish folding are almost as easy to maintain , although they ’ll command brushing a bit more often to avoid tangles and matting .
Although Scottish fold computerized axial tomography are a bit less gymnastic than other strain , do n’t simulate they ’ll just sit in a street corner and look odorous . They love and require attention and to be challenged with unexampled toys and activities .
" Being thinking , they may love synergistic toys , such as toys that fly or flutter , or food puzzle , " Gerken says . " They may also enjoy exploring , so concealment treat around the house for them to ascertain may be an engaging , fun biz for them . "
As with all cats , ensure she is litter - trainedand that herlitter box is keep white . You ’ll need totrim her nails regularly , andregular dental careis recommended , too . The Scottish fold ’s ears should also be checked regularly for cerumen buildup and signs of contagion , though Gerken read the breed does n’t seem more susceptible to any ear - related issue than a typical directly - eared cat .
Health
The Scottish fold ’s auricle are a product of a genetic trait that causes the ears to fold forward when the kitty is 21 to 28 days honest-to-goodness . This is due to a defect in the production of gristle ; there ’s a prospect that not all the kittens in a bedding material will have fold ear .
But those cute tone can come at a toll : " Unfortunately , in all cats with folded ears , the genetic shortcoming that causes the changes in the gristle of ears also get abnormalities of the cartilage of os , a condition calledosteochondrodysplasia , " Gerken says . " All Scottish fold cats rise varying degrees of degenerative joint disease do by these gristle and ivory change , which can guide to inveterate pain . "
Gerken says favorite parents should appease merry forsigns of arthritisin their Scottish plica , including a change in gait , abnormal posture , misshapen limbs , and a change in bodily function spirit level .
" Scottish fold cats are also predisposed to develop a type ofkidney diseasecalled polycystic kidney disease and a type ofheart diseasecalled hypertrophic cardiomyopathy , which cause the heart muscle to become abnormally thickened , " Gerken read .
Regular vet appointmentsare essential to keep your pet in top form and to check that your cat ’s folded auricle are clean of debris . Also , if potential , sweep your African tea ’s teethat least once a workweek to preclude periodontal disease .
Another affair to keep in mind : Because Scottish fold cats are not quite as active as other stock , they can become fleshy . advance your computerized axial tomography to play as much as possible and do n’t exaggerate the kickshaw so she continue fit and trim well into old age .
History
These loving , low - key felid all started withone kitten diagnose Susie , who was disclose on a rural Scottish farm in the other sixties . Susie was a barn cat living on the McRae farm who was born with a genetic mutation that bring out her unusual folded ears . This trait quickly caught the care of cat breeders , who began crossing her and her issue withAmerican shorthairandBritish shorthaircats . And that ’s how the niggling Scotch farm true cat named Susie became the cornerstone of a brand fresh strain .
Two British shorthair stock breeder name Mary and William Ross fell in love with Susie and , in 1963 , were given one of her turn up - ear female kitty . That cat — name Snooks — was bred with a red queen male , a match that resulted in the giving birth of one male kitten . That cat was subsequently bred to another British shorthair who gave birth to a litter of five kitty , and Susie ’s lineage was solidify .
