Scottish cats: breed species, especially the content and education

Scottish cat can become a favorite pet and even a family member. This breed has several varieties that have both common features and significant differences. Our article is devoted to this fluffy representative of the fauna, which has an elegant appearance and has a good disposition.

This breed was the result of natural genetic mutations. About 50 years ago in Scotland, an ordinary domestic cat was born kitty with small hanging ears. The animal was quite pretty, however, for many years its features were considered as defects. In the next generation, after crossing the female with an ordinary yard cat, several babies with hanging ears appeared - the history of the Scottish cats breed began from that moment on.

This animal is a direct descendant of the British Shorthair cat. The peculiarity of this breed is that in one litter both lop-eared and outright representatives are born. This is due to the obligatory presence of one straight-eared parent. In this way, Foldness is transmitted to offspring in 50% of cases.

By the 70s of the last century, the breeding of Scots was not so intense, as in England they came to the conclusion that babies are born with problems of the locomotor function. Later, genetics corrected this mutation without harming the health of the kittens. After 10 years, the Scots gained popularity, and standards were defined for the breed of these animals. Since 1994, the Scottish cat has been officially recognized by the American Cat Lovers Association.

Scottish cat looks charming, she has a nice round muzzle and huge innocent eyes. Cat's coat is plush, pleasant to the touch.

Breed features:

• strong muscular body, which has the correct proportions;
• properly developed short neck;
• head is rounded and medium in size, cheeks well developed;
• ears are wide apart and have narrowed tips;
• paws are small, thick;
• the tail is volumetric, of small length, its base is wide, and the end is pointed;
• eyes are large, round-shaped, widely spaced, bulging, they are blue, yellow, orange or almost red;
• wool is thin, tightly covers the cat's body, the color can be of any shade.

Scottish cat has a medium size. Adult pet weighs from 3.5 to 6 kilograms. Newborn kittens have some defects in the structure of the spine, tail and limbs. When all babies are born, the ears have the usual appearance. When the kittens are 3 weeks old, a crease begins to form on their ears.

As for the wool coat of the cats body, nature has done an excellent job on this issue. Scots have a luxurious fur coat in a wide palette of shades or their wool can be monophonic and have a tiger, marble, spotted pattern. Looks impressive animals, the main color of which is white with colored spots.

• Van This species of breed has a white coat and several spots located on the head.Color tail monophonic.
• Harlequin. Only a fifth of the body of an animal is painted white, large patches of a different shade may be present on the fur coat, and most often they are located on the head, back, rump. The tail is usually painted in one color. If the color of the cat is predominant white, then her eyes, as a rule, are blue.
• Bicolor Only half of the body of the pet is painted white. There is a white collar on the neck of the cat, and on the face there is a white spot in the form of an inverted check mark.

Many breeders prefer a solid color Scottish cat, but the color of the animal may be different.

• Pure white color without impurities. Some kittens may have spots at birth, but they disappear when they grow up.
• Black color the animal is usually present from the root of the hair and to its tip. Such a cat will have black face and even nose. Factor for disqualification is the presence on the coat of an animal white, rusty or brown hair, as well as gray undercoat.
• Blue color should be characterized by uniformity. By standard, the Scots can be painted in any shade of blue. Among the minuses of this color can be distinguished the presence of white hairs, rusty and brown shade, as well as a different shade of wool and undercoat.
• Meets and purple color wool with a pink tint. The nose of such a cat usually has a lavender-pink hue. The undercoat is gray, and there may be patterns on the fur coat.
• Red (red) color should be uniform and saturated. At the apex of the head and on the paws there may be a slight pattern in the form of half-molars. Such representatives of the breed tip of the tail has a light shade.

There are also Scottish cats with tortoise colorwhich combines black, red, cream, blue and chocolate colors. All listed shades are uniformly mixed throughout the body of the animal. The undercoat of these animals is gray, and the nose is two-colored.

The advantages of the breed include the following features:

• sociability, attachment to a person, good mental development;
• independence and restraint;
• the attractiveness of the appearance, the uniqueness of the image due to fold and large eyes;
• lack of care;
• cleanliness.

Breed minuses:

• profusion molt;
• possible rancor;
• hyperactivity kittens;
• lack of a sense of proportion in food consumption;
• the likelihood of health problems.

The kitten of the Scottish cat, while still small, has the habits of an adult representative of the breed. At 2 months, babies are gentle, curious and very playful.

This animal is characterized by kindness, however, despite its outward appearance and similarity with a plush toy, this cat is quite capricious and self-willed. An adult does not show aggression and loyal to small children, but always able to stand up for itself if it is hurt or discomfort.

The behavior of the Scotsman indicates his sociability, the desire to contact with the owner, to play outdoor games. Already grown cats often do dirty tricks behind a person’s back. This pet is not touchy and not vengeful, but rather jealous. Scottish cat will try to be in the center of attention of the whole family.

Pet loves to sit on the hands of his master at any time of the day. This creature is intelligent and docile, as well as livable and balanced. Scots emit quiet sounds in the form of a meow, but they do it infrequently. They are not characterized by a constant snort.

The Scottish cat easily gets on with other cats and dogs, and also easily gets used to a new family member. Scratching and biting is not typical for Scottish, so if the pet is aggressive, it can be caused by a disease or a particular character of the individual.

Charming and charming cats have good health. On average, their life expectancy is 15 years. Provided that the animal has a good heredity and is properly looked after, the pet can live for two decades.

The following factors can reduce the lifespan of Scottish.

• Bone weakness - representatives of the breed are prone to defects in bone and cartilage, which can occur in an adult animal.
• The possibility of obesity - when imbalanced nutrition Scottish quickly gaining excess weight, which has a negative impact on the heart and liver.
• If the pet is long-haired, then the presence of uncleaned mats can interfere with its freedom of movement. Lack of care for hair can cause physical inactivity and muscle weakness due to the development of physical inactivity.
• A lop-eared animal has problems with its ears, where can accumulate dirt and sulfur, which cause inflammatory processes with severe complications.

In order not to shorten the life of your beloved pet, you should adhere to the following rules:

• timely vaccinate a kitten;
• properly feed the animal;
• feed the pet with mineral supplements to strengthen the bone and cartilage systems;
• regularly carry out hygiene procedures associated with cleaning the ears, combing the wool;
• the sterilization procedure can significantly increase the lifespan of Scottish regardless of the sex of the pet.

When purchasing a kitten, it is good to check the state of his health, in particular the joints. You should also pay attention to the health of the parents of the animal, having studied their medical records.

This breed is presented in several varieties, each of which has its own characteristics.

• Scottish Fold. This is a Scottish Fold cat, the main feature of which can be called a spherical head and hanging ears adjacent to it. In addition, fluffy cats have wide open round eyes. These animals look like curious children. Scottish fold has a soft and smooth plush coat, which has a well-defined undercoat.

In an animal of medium size, the body has rounded lines, the limbs are well-shaped, the legs are round. The tail has a medium length and a pointed end.

• Scottish Straight. The body is of moderate length. On the toes, fingers tightly compressed. The head of the pet has a rounded shape with a prominent forehead and a round muzzle.

Ears are medium, erect, with pointed tips. The lower jaw region is round, with a short neck located under it. Wool in an animal has an average length.

• Highland fold. This is a variation of Scottish cats with a round head, a strong chin and a high forehead in the shape of a dome. The neck is quite powerful, the cheeks are well developed. The cat's nose is wide and short; there is a smooth transition to his forehead. The ears of the animal are folded and lowered forward, but due to the large length of the coat, it can be concluded that they are missing.

The eyes are widely spaced, they are round and large. The torso is compact. By cons varieties can be attributed lack of mobility of cats and their short-legged. On the legs are rounded fingers, gathering in the pad.

The tail has an average length, it is flexible and narrowed to the end. The Scottish Fold long-haired cat has a beautiful coat, it is soft, light, silky, has a uniform structure.On the back, face and paws, the coat is shorter in size than on other parts of the body.

• Highland Stride. Scottish cats are considered to be a rare breed. They look beautiful, graceful, have upright ears and elongated flowing wool. These Scottishs do not need daily combing, so caring for an animal is easy. Their ears are small, stand straight, have a rounded finish and are evenly covered with hair.

Scottish cats are considered one of the easiest to care for. They feel great in a small apartment, and in a private house. For an animal, it is worth buying or making your own private sleeper with your own hands. It is also recommended to purchase a scraper, the length of which must correspond to the growth of Scottish. Do not refuse to buy and carry the purchase to transport the pet, if necessary.

The content of the Scots do not show fastidiousness. In order for the animal to live comfortably in the room, it must be clean and safe. This pet is extremely clean, he puts his coat in order and quickly gets used to walking in the tray.

Before you bring a small pet into the house, need to perform the following steps.

• Remove extra items from the access zone of the kitten. For example, wires, breakable and sharp objects.
• Purchase animal dishes for food and water. The best option would be heavy metal or ceramic dishes.
• Set the tray and fill it with filler. Kittens should buy a tank with low sides, and as they get older they change it to a higher model.
• Prepare a place to rest - it can be a lounger or a blanket folded several times.
• Buy food, toys, kogtetochku.

Scottish cats can be shorthair and semi-longhair. With cats who have short hair, little trouble. Weekly, their wool is combed out using a special mitten or a brush with natural bristles. Semilong-haired representatives of the breed should purchase a comb, which has a Teflon cloves. To comb the animal is to teach from a young age.

Animals kept in the house are bathed monthly. Usually, the Scots react normally to water, but they only need to wash their wool if it becomes dirty. For this procedure is required to buy a special shampoo for cats. When bathing a pet you need to watch that so that the water does not fall into his ears. After washing, cats are wiped and sent to a warm place where there is no draft.

For water treatments, they prefer shampoos without color and smell, in which there are no harmful chemical ingredients and allergens. Scottish cats that participate in exhibitions bathe depending on the color of the coat. Dark animals need to be washed a week before the event, and light animals - 5 days.

Haircuts for Scottish cats - this procedure is unpleasant, but common. Shear pets and make them hairstyles with the same purpose as the rest of the animals. To carry out such a procedure is possible only under the condition of the formation of mats, as well as after the application of medicines or in order to remove dirt.

Domestic cats need a claw cut. This process is quite simple and does not bring discomfort to the animal. Scottish need to sit on his lap and, taking his paw in hand, put pressure on the pads. When the pet releases the claws, they can be cut. In this process the main thing – Do not damage the living body of the claw. Trim claws need to be neat, once every 2-3 weeks.

The eyes and ears of Scottish cats need to be regularly examined. These animals usually have clean auricles, but when a plaque appears in them, contamination is eliminated with a cotton swab.When cleansing the ears, you can use a special lotion.

The special structure of the Scottish breed of cats causes the contraction of their nasolacrimal ducts. For this reason, the pet may appear slight discharge from the eyes. In this case the eyes must be cleaned with a cotton pad or a napkin with chlorhexidine.

To the pet's teeth were in good condition, the owner can buy him a special toy - an edible chewing stick. Alternatively, you can use a toothbrush and toothpaste for cats. Cleaning the teeth of a Scottish cat should be done 1 or 2 times a week. Scottish people don't like this process, so to teach them better from an early age.

Scottish kittens do not need special care. They can be fed dry food, but of good quality. Combing kittens is not worth it, if there is no reason. Babies with long hair should be gradually trained to comb, conducting the procedure twice a month. Bathing little scottish need to hold only if they are very dirty in the mud.

From an early age, kittens need to cut their claws so that they get used to this procedure. Ears do not need to be cleaned, but if they smell foul, then this is a reason to go to the vet. Sleepy eyes should be cleaned 1 time in 7 days with a cotton pad dipped in chlorhexidine.

On the genetic line, the health of Scottish is not considered ideal. In animals, bone deformation and tail hardening may occur, and problems with movement occur. The reason for such problems is the folding of a fold with a fold. Representatives of the Scottish cat breed may suffer from heart disease or renal polycystic disease.

Every year is required to vaccinate the animal from dangerous diseases. The first vaccination is carried out in 2-3 months, and if the owner does not have time on time, then the animal is vaccinated after his teeth change. 14 days after the first inoculation, repeat the procedure. 10 days before the vaccination procedure, kittens should be given anthelmintic.

Vaccination scottish need for such ailments as calcivirosis, panleukopenia, rhinotracheitis, chlamydia. It is mandatory to vaccinate an animal against rabies. If your pet is on the street for a long time during the day, he will need protection against fleas and ticks. To this end, you can buy a special spray collar drops.

In the absence of a desire to breed Scottish cats, you can castrate or sterilize your pet. After this operation, the animal will not be able to have offspring. The procedure is carried out for both sexes.

In a sterilized pet, the desire to mate is preserved. This procedure is carried out up to one-year-old animal, at its onset of puberty. During sterilization cats ligate the fallopian tubes, and cats - sperm ducts. These operations are safe for the health of animals and do not take much time.

Scottish cats have a tendency to obesity, so the pet's diet must be taken seriously. You can feed it dry or wet food, as well as natural products. In the diet of the animal should be a large percentage of meat. If the owner decided to give preference to factory feed, then you need to buy special food for this breed and only high quality.

In the natural food for the Scottish pet must be present such components:

• lean meat varieties, which are treated with boiling water or given frozen;
• boiled offal;
• fish boiled without bones and better if it is marine;
• eggs and dairy products, kittens give milk;
• vitamins and minerals in the form of food additives.

If the food of the animal is of poor quality, then its appearance will suffer from this, food allergies may occur, the state of wool and the digestive tract will deteriorate. The main rule of feeding Scottish is the refusal to mix natural food and industrial feed. Porridges cooked in broths or in water are considered useful for pets. Vegetable mashed potatoes and egg yolks can also be given to them.

In the finished cat food there are all the necessary nutrients for the animal. Pet food is better to buy premium class, it is not cheap, but very healthy. The castrated cat is fed with special feeds.

Since habits are difficult to eradicate, it is worth starting a Scottish cat from an early age. As soon as the kitten crosses the threshold of the house, he should make it clear what is possible and what is not. When educational activities need to take into account the biorhythm of the animal. You should not learn a kitten in the early morning, in the evening, as well as in the afternoon.

Scottish need to train to the tray, and also make it clear that he is forbidden to damage interior items and indoor plants. The cat should not allow itself to steal food from the table and aggressively respond to prohibitions. Besides, pet must get used to live in peace with other pets, relax and go to the toilet in specially designated areas.

Cat Scottish breed is able to perform certain commands. You can train an animal with rewards and punishments. A special feature of Scottish is the ability to stand on its hind legs for a long timewhen a pet is interested in something from above - this ability is often used during training.

The Scottishs are ready to mate at the age of 10 months, but mating should not be allowed at this time, since A female’s pregnancy can be complicated, and the offspring tend to die. Knitting should be carried out at 1.5 years, when the animal's body is fully formed. The choice of a partner must be made in advance, since the estrus of a cat lasts up to 6 days. Cats and cats are especially active in springtime, while the male shows anxiety, aggression, and intensively marks the territory.

It is possible to knit straight-line representatives of the Scottish breed only with straids and folds. Mating with British cats is prohibited. When choosing a male, preference is given to an adult, healthy and vaccinated cat. When mating, the cat is left in the cat's territory, for this purpose, a tray and dishes are brought to it and the claws are trimmed in advance.

In case of successful mating, you will notice that the cat feels nauseous in the morning, she has a good appetite, but there is a change of favorite dishes. A pregnant animal may show apathy, drowsiness, lethargy. Duration of gestation of kittens is 60-65 days, and in some cases the pregnancy lasts 72 days.

The following activities are prohibited during the carrying of kittens:

• treatment with pills, preparations for fleas and worms;
• probing the cat's belly;
• change of diet, for example, natural food for store food;
• you can not carry a cat on his hands;
• It is forbidden to send future mommy for walking on the street.

In the offspring of the Scots, signs are split, in which case both lop-eared and straight-line kittens are born. The breed may include kittens with or without mutant traits. Between themselves, the kittens have no special differences, in addition to the shape of the ears. To avoid deformation of the skeleton of an animal, it is worth crossing straight and lop-eared representatives of the breed. Foldness in babies can be single, double, triple.

When breeding Scottish cats Do not forget about the following points.

• Every owner of a purebred pet should know that its cultivation requires material investment. Despite the fact that scottish girls are not very demanding, they still find it harder to settle down in new conditions than a regular domestic cat. Do not forget about the proper nutrition and the cost of it. Just like other animals, a purebred pet needs a vet visit and vaccination.
• A kitten of the Scottish breed can be bought at the exhibition or in the nursery. The seller must be in the hands of documents that confirm the cat's pedigree. Also, the kitten must be present a special label confirming its pure blood.

If you are the owner of a purebred animal, then you can reduce it with a partner found in a specialized club of cat breeders. There you can buy a purebred kitten.

Many people prefer Scottish cats as pets. Reviews of those who have already acquired such a pet, testify to their sociable nature. Many owners note the sharp mind of Scottish, ingenuity and good behavior. Aggression for the animals do not notice, the Scots are very patient with respect to children.

Scottishs - one of the most interesting representatives of the animal world. They are distinguished from other breeds by an unusual color and peculiar shape of the ears, an independent and friendly character. This pet loves a lot and tasty to eat, so that he did not suffer from obesity, the diet of the animal will have to follow. Scottish cats have a low allergenic coat; however, they should not be turned on by people who don’t tolerate the coat of any animal species.

Scottish cats are not only cute and cute animals, but also true friends. If you wish to acquire a pet, you should pay attention to this breed. People who have this creature at home do not regret their choice. This cat is smart, affectionate, caring, kind, undemanding.

On the features of care for Scottish cats, see the following video.