History of occurrence
Often, the creation of a new cat breed hinges on a natural genetic mutation that occurs unexpectedly in an otherwise ordinary cat. Such was the case with the Scottish Fold. Members of the breed today can all trace their heritage back to Susie, a white cat with unusual folded ears who earned her keep as a mouser in a barn in Scotland’s Tayside region. Susie might have lived her life in obscurity had she not been noticed in 1961 by a shepherd named William Ross who had an interest in cats. When Susie had kittens with a local tom, Ross acquired one of them, a female he named Snooks. In the natural way of things, Snooks had kittens, and one, a male was bred to a British Shorthair. Thus began the development of what were first known as “lop-eared cats,” later as Scottish Folds, a nod to their country of origin and their defining characteristic.
Other breeders became involved and it was determined that the gene mutation for the fold was dominant, meaning that if one parent passed on a gene for straight ears and the other a gene for folded ears, the resulting kitten would have folded ears. A gene for long hair was another gift Susie passed on to her descendants. The longhaired variety is known as a Highland Fold in some associations.
Scottish Folds were first imported into the United States in 1971. By the mid-1970s, they had been recognized by most cat associations in North America. They can be outcrossed to American Shorthairs and British Shorthairs. Ironically, they are not recognized as a breed in their country of origin over concerns that the folded ear might lead to ear infections or deafness and because of a related cartilage problem.
General form
The Scottish Fold cat occurred as a spontaneous mutation in farm cats in Scotland. The breed has been established by crosses to British Shorthair and domestic cats in Scotland and England. In America, the outcross is the American and British Shorthair. All bona fide Scottish Fold cats trace their pedigree to Susie, the first fold-ear cat discovered by the founders of the breed, William and Mary Ross.
Отличительная особенность породы Scottish Fold
Head: well rounded with a firm chin and jaw. Muzzle to have well rounded whisker pads. Head should blend into a short neck. Prominent cheeks with a jowly appearance in males.
Eyes: wide open with a sweet expression. Large, well rounded, and separated by a broad nose. Eye color to correspond with coat color. Blue-eyed and odd-eyed are allowed for all white and bi-color and van patterns.
Nose: nose to be short with a gentle curve. A brief stop is permitted. Profile is moderate in appearance .
Ears: fold forward and downward. Small, the smaller, tightly folded ear preferred over a loose fold and large ear. The ears should be set in a caplike fashion to expose a rounded cranium. Ear tips to be rounded.
Body: medium, rounded, and even from shoulder to pelvic girdle. The cat should stand firm with a well padded body. There must be no hint of thickness or lack of mobility in the cat due to short, coarse legs. Toes to be neat and well rounded with five in front and four behind. Overall appearance is that of a well rounded cat with medium bone; fault cats obviously lacking in type. Females may be slightly smaller.
Tail: tail should be medium to long but in proportion to the body. Tail should be flexible and tapering which may end in a round tip. Longer, tapering tail preferred.
Coat (shorthair): dense, plush, even. Short to medium-short in length. Soft in texture. Full of life. Standing away from body due to density, not flat or close lying. Coat texture may vary due to color and/or regional/seasonal changes.
Coat (longhair): medium-long to long hair length. Full coat on face and body desirable but short hair permissible on face and legs. Britches, tail plume, toe tufts, and ear furnishings should be clearly visible with a ruff being desirable.
Character
After his ears, the first thing you will notice about a Scottish Fold is his habit of posing in odd positions—flat out on the floor like a little frog, sitting up—for all the world as if he were a meerkat on a nature program—or lying on his back, paws up in the air. And although you might assume that his ears are less mobile than those of other cats, such is not the case. He uses them to communicate quite effectively, adding comments in a quiet, chirpy voice when necessary.
This is a smart, moderately active cat. The Scottish Fold enjoys teaser toys that test his agility and puzzle toys that challenge his intelligence. His favorite activity is anything that involves human interaction.
There is nothing a Scottish Fold likes better than to be with his people, participating in whatever they are doing. He is a sweet cat who enjoys attention. The last thing he wants is to be left alone for hours on end, so he’s not the best choice unless someone is home during the day or you can give him the company of another cat. Rest assured, however, that he will expect you to play with him when you get home from work or school or at least sit down so he can get in a little lap time or curl up next to you while you watch television.
Maintenance care
Comb the Scottish Fold’s coat weekly to remove dead hair and distribute skin oils. A longhaired Fold may need to be groomed a couple of times a week to ensure that tangles don’t develop.
Brush the teeth to prevent periodontal disease. Daily dental hygiene is best, but weekly brushing is better than nothing. Trim the nails every couple of weeks. Wipe the corners of the eyes with a soft, damp cloth to remove any discharge. Use a separate area of the cloth for each eye so you don’t run the risk of spreading any infection. Check the ears weekly, especially if they are tightly folded. If they look dirty, wipe them out with a cotton ball or soft damp cloth moistened with a 50-50 mixture of cider vinegar and warm water. Avoid using cotton swabs, which can damage the interior of the ear.
Keep the Scottish Fold’s litter box spotlessly clean. Cats are very particular about bathroom hygiene, and a clean litter box will help to keep the coat clean as well.
It’s a good idea to keep a Scottish Fold as an indoor-only cat to protect him from diseases spread by other cats, attacks by dogs or coyotes, and the other dangers that face cats who go outdoors, such as being hit by a car. Scottish Folds who go outdoors also run the risk of being stolen by someone who would like to have such a beautiful cat without paying for it.
Lifespan — 11-20 years.
Dignity
Good with children, good with other household cats and dogs, medium shedding, high sociability with strangers.
Diseases
After his ears, the first thing you will notice about a Scottish Fold is his habit of posing in odd positions—flat out on the floor like a little frog, sitting up—for all the world as if he were a meerkat on a nature program—or lying on his back, paws up in the air. And although you might assume that his ears are less mobile than those of other cats, such is not the case. He uses them to communicate quite effectively, adding comments in a quiet, chirpy voice when necessary.
This is a smart, moderately active cat. The Scottish Fold enjoys teaser toys that test his agility and puzzle toys that challenge his intelligence. His favorite activity is anything that involves human interaction.
There is nothing a Scottish Fold likes better than to be with his people, participating in whatever they are doing. He is a sweet cat who enjoys attention. The last thing he wants is to be left alone for hours on end, so he’s not the best choice unless someone is home during the day or you can give him the company of another cat. Rest assured, however, that he will expect you to play with him when you get home from work or school or at least sit down so he can get in a little lap time or curl up next to you while you watch television.
