Scottish fold is a young cat breed. The first kittens appeared a little more than 50 years ago - in the 60s of the 20th century. Animals with cuddled ears quickly fell in love with customers, having conquered Europe first, and then moved to the USA.
One of the features due to which the black fold cat has become the favorite of a large number of people is a direct stand. Imitating the gophers, these animals like to sit on their hind legs, lifting the body, and lowering the front. Only their goals are different - in this way the animals knead the bones of the spine.
Surprisingly, although the black fold cat belongs to the cat family, in most cases it is afraid of heights. This feature is due to the device of the vestibular apparatus. But when playing games, they don’t jump on the curtains and rarely jump onto the wardrobes. Lop-eared Scots love to play and fool around, but they will do it with dignity.
Story
The first animal of this breed - Susie - appeared in Scotland with a half-wild cat. Father remained unknown.
Suzy began early enough to bring offspring, which the owners had difficulty attaching to friends. A resident of Scotland Mary Ross in 1963 received one of Susie's kittens as a gift - it was a white cat who received the nickname Snooks. In her first offspring a kitten was found, very similar to those that we know today as Scottish fold. It was a white cat with heavy paws, which was called the Snowball. The owner did not have the skills of a breeder, but the woman thought she had a chance to see the birth of a new breed.
After Snowball grew up, he was crossed with the British Shorthair. At the same time, the next knit Snook brought with the British blue. It was in such a simple way at home that the first Scottish fold cat was obtained . The black color of the first litter, ears wrapped in envelopes interested the breeders who helped Mary to develop the final breeding algorithm.
The last few decades, this breed has become one of the most popular in the world. As a result of the failure in the gene pool that arose due to the fault of crossbreeding with short-haired cats, geneticists had to make a lot of efforts to eliminate it. If both parents were fold, such a cross sometimes led to violations in the musculoskeletal system. This is what made Scottish breed partners without bent ears to be used in breeding.
A lop-eared black cat most often appears with ordinary ears. They fold only after four weeks after birth.
Appearance
The light blue color of the coat is considered classic. But since a large number of different exotics took part in the formation of the breed, today a huge variety of colors is permissible. Scots can be blue, cream, white, bicolor, black, tabby, chinchilla and so on.
The head of the animals of this breed is round, with a flat forehead, ears down. Legs are relatively short, legs are rounded. The nose is straight and wide. The coat is short, thick.
On average, a black fold cat weighs 8 kg.
Intelligence
Animals are playful and quite active - especially kittens. They quickly get used to sitting in the hands of the owner. The black fold cat is prone to basic training. These animals quickly realize for what purpose the house has a claw point, some individuals are able to turn on and watch TV.
The intelligence of the fold Scots is at a fairly high level, their intuition is well developed, they have high adaptability. These animals are able to quickly get comfortable in any environment, "read" the emotions of the owner, adapting to his mood. Lop-eared pets are not aggressive, they are almost not able to take revenge.
Character
The nature of these animals is very stable, they do not succumb to tantrums, quickly become attached to the house and owner, while being self-sufficient.
A striking feature of the breed is its voice. It does not look at all like a gentle purr, rather, like the creak of an old tree. Scots rarely cry, mostly communicating their needs with polite words.
In conflict situations, ordinary cats hiss, bite, in every possible way show aggression. However, this does not apply to the Scots, who are born diplomats. If they could go to work, they would certainly break into politics!
Socialization
These animals get used to the family extremely quickly. Experienced owners are sure that cats are especially fond of babies and elderly family members. If they really liked the person, they will go everywhere after him, trying to attract attention. However, no matter how much they like to talk, they will not distract from business, grabbing their feet or jumping to their knees. The most important thing for these cats is to be near their loved one.
Other animals, including cats, delight the Scots, as they love good company. Even living together with a dog does not spoil cats' moods - they quickly get used to such a neighbor, playing with him and even caring for his coat.
Features
The high intelligence of cats of this breed indicates their good learning ability, but a scream can forever discourage the animal from obeying. Moreover, the cat can become aggressive and cowardly, if you shout at him regularly.
Lop-eared Scots do not tolerate rudeness. So, wearing cats of this breed for scruff will not work - they simply will not allow this. Firstly, because of their severity, such a situation is painful for animals. Secondly, it is harmful to the spinal column. Cats need to be worn in such a way that all paws can lean in the air on something.
The owner needs to be extremely patient in order to raise a Scotsman. It is important to understand the individual characteristics of cats. For example, remember that even the smartest animal is not able to memorize several commands. It is necessary to move from simple to more complex exercises.
Care
Most breeders talk about the low whims of cats of this breed. Combing their fur is necessary daily with a massage brush. Animals get used to it quite quickly, enjoying the procedure that is beneficial to their health.
A lop-eared black cat, whose photo will decorate any catalog of breeds, contrary to stereotypes, does not resist swimming. Often gets used to water procedures after three to five times. Despite this, you can wash it only if absolutely necessary - with the appearance of fleas or significant contamination.
The unique shape of the auricles leads to the rapid accumulation of dust and sulfur in them. Therefore, you should regularly inspect them - 2-3 times a month. When cleaning, a cotton swab should be used, on which hygienic liquid for the ears is applied.
The claws of animals should be cut no more than once a month - for this it is worth buying a steel claw cutter and a claw claw. Claw must be cut to 2 mm. Do not use scissors - this can harm the nerve endings or fingers of the animal.
Nicknames
Many owners, having acquired a new pet, are tormented by the question of what to call a fold cat (black). First of all, it should be taken into account that thoroughbred animals have pedigrees and hallmarks of breeders. Each kitten is registered, so all animals from the same litter should have names starting with the same letter - this narrows the list.
The Scottish fold cat (black) can be named as you like, but still most owners prefer beautiful, sonorous nicknames that will sound good at exhibitions. For a house, thoroughbred animals most often have a simpler, shorter and more convenient name. For example, King all-round at home may well be a bow.
Disease
Owners need to take care of the health of the cat, prone to longevity. Despite the fact that the average duration of the fold is 19 years, you need to regularly wear them to the veterinarian and monitor your health at home.
First of all, you should monitor the appetite, sociability and behavior of the cat. If there are alarming factors, it is necessary to check the temperature, count the pulse, pay attention to other symptoms. If something bad happens to the animal, you should immediately consult a doctor.
British fold
In fact, it is impossible to say that you have a black British fold cat at home, since such a breed does not exist. It can be either British or fold. The British appeared much earlier, their ears do not bend and the muzzle is more complete.