How many years do Scottish cats live and what does it depend on?

Scottish cats are known not only because of the unusual shape of the ears. Scottish Folds is a delightful breed, the advantage of which is the wonderful calm and enduring nature of the animal. Cats quickly adapt to new conditions and events, whether it be a visit to a veterinarian or participation in exhibitions. They are quite obedient, well understand the mood of the owners, so there are no special difficulties in education. Many people wonder what is the average life expectancy of such cats at home.

Lop-eared cats do not bother the owners. They will not defiantly meow in order to achieve the desired. The loyalty of this breed should also be particularly noted. The animal is able to get close not only with a certain member of the family, but with the family as a whole. Responsive pets will always help you in a stressful situation. However, with a small amount of attention cats can stalk you and require a few minutes of affection.

At night, cats do not run around the house, they do not have excessive emotionality. However, they are quite touchy, so the key to your happy coexistence is the timeliness of feeding, cleaning the trays, as well as providing the animal with entertainment equipment.

With children, cats establish a warm relationship, do not let out claws when playing. With other people's children who came to visit, they behave a little indifferently, but they may allow themselves to be stroked or touched. Cats do not conflict with other animals, they can allow them to dominate, rarely act as initiators of quarrels. Congenital tact and condescension exclude impulsive reactions, so something that goes beyond the norms of behavior happens much less frequently than among representatives of other breeds.

This is a relatively new breed. Her ancestor was an unusual lop-eared cat, born in 1961 in Scotland. Her offspring was crossed with representatives of the British breed. Although the resulting species has similarities with the British, it has its own distinctive features:

• torso and head has a rounded shape, medium size, but at the same time the animals have a strong constitution;
• paws rather impressive with large soft pads;
• ears are relatively small, rounded, down;
• large eyes, round and very expressive, their shades can vary;
• wool can be of different color, different density and softness.

To acquire a healthy baby, you need to carefully examine the kitten and observe its behavior. It should be borne in mind that at birth, kittens weigh about 100 g, their sizes are very small. Therefore, it is recommended to acquire animals after a period of formation and strengthening of the body at about 2–3 months of age. Also, at this age, the movement of a pet from a breeder to a new owner will be more favorable, and adaptation in the new conditions will be more successful.

This breed has a high risk of occurrence of diseases caused by problems with the bone system.Therefore, attention should be paid to the mobility of the joints of the limbs.

Cats of this breed have good health due to a combination of carefully combined genes, which is the basis of their longevity.

The average life expectancy of a pet, provided with full care and attention of the owner, increases and can reach 15-20 years. In favorable conditions, excluding the presence of negative factors, animals can live more than the established average period. There are cases when Scottish Fold lived to be 32–33 years old.

Sterilization also affects the lifespan of fluffy pets. Thus, in neutered and spayed individuals, the risks of developing diseases of the reproductive system, which are most common in older cats, are reduced. However, various stresses, inappropriate conditions, difficult situations have an adverse effect on the psychological and physiological state of animals.

Regular visits to the veterinarian, timely vaccination, a balanced varied diet, hygienic procedures will help preserve the health of your pets. Increase the life expectancy of your pets will allow compliance with a number of recommendations for the care of them.

And it is also necessary to understand that the breed has certain features, so its vulnerabilities should be taken into account.

• Bones. Cats of this breed have a fairly strong skeleton, but congenital anomalies are often found. As they grow older, there are problems with the growth of cartilage and bones, which can be corrected, but the life expectancy of pets decreases.
• Excess weight. This breed is prone to fat, so a balanced balanced diet plays a significant role. It is important to avoid food that is scarce in protein, high in carbohydrates. It is necessary to moderate excessive appetite of pets. Taking into account the ratio of weight and height of the cat, you can identify problems and adjust the diet in time.
• Wool. Bathing and combing the animal can significantly reduce the risks of diseases of the digestive system, as well as give a well-groomed look to lop-eared pets. The hair of this breed is thick, so the cats have difficulties with its independent cleansing, it begins to stray into mats. When wool gets into the digestive system, lumps appear that are hard to expel and disrupt the work of food processing organs and the absorption of beneficial micro and macro elements. For long-haired Scottish folds, you need to take care of it daily, buy pasta to remove hair from the body.
• Ears. The breed has a special structure of auricles. Dust, insects, dirt quite easily get into the ear canals, causing inconvenience for cats, and in some cases, the disease. Therefore, Scottish Folds need careful care for their ears.
• It is necessary to carry out hygiene procedures of the oral cavity. It is especially important to pay attention to the condition of the teeth of cats that are on natural nutrition. Signs of disease are gingivitis, bad odor, tartar.

About how many cats live and how to extend the life of your pet, see the next video.