The Scottish fold cat is a rather young breed, which is known for its unusual appearance and peaceful nature. Funny ears pressed to the head became the hallmark of these amazing creatures. However, such a mutation carries the danger of genetic disorders. Consider the most common diseases of fold Scottish cats and their symptoms. We will analyze methods of treatment and prevention.
History and features of the breed
In 1961, a kitten was born in Scotland, which surprised others with an unusual mutation. With age, his ears did not rise, like other cats, but remained pressed to his head. This feature is associated with deformation of the cartilage of the auditory apparatus. It was this kitten that became the ancestor of the whole breed, which was called Scottish fold. Since the type of heredity in a mutated gene is incomplete dominant, only a part of kittens are born fold.
Now the breed is very popular all over the world. On a rounded muzzle with pressed ears, the eyes look unusually large. In addition, lop-eared cats are famous for their simple disposition, and therefore rarely raise problems with their education.
However, the mutation of the genes responsible for the deformation of the ear cartilage can also affect the health of Scottish folds. Often in cats of this breed deafness was noted, as well as problems with the formation of bone and cartilage. For some time, breeding of such animals was considered inhumane. The wrong approach to selecting manufacturers can lead to joint disease of the Scottish fold cat. In England, the breed is not registered and cannot participate in exhibitions.
Causes of osteochondrodystrophy of the Scots
Osteochondrodystrophy is a disease of cartilage and bone tissue, which is a consequence of a genetic mutation. In a healthy Scottish fold cat, the gene responsible for the unusual shape of the ears is contained in a single copy. Due to the presence of a double set of genes in the animal, the skeleton is deformed. Mutation manifests itself in the form of limb disease. In a Scottish fold cat, vertebrae grow together, the paws become short and inactive, the muzzle is often deformed.
Osteochondrodystrophy is the result of crossing two individuals of this breed. According to the calculations of geneticists, 50% of lop-eared, 25% of erect and 25% of sick kittens should appear in the litter of such a pair. Although in practice, due to the individual characteristics of the parents, the percentage of sick babies may be greater.
Many inexperienced breeders in order to get a larger number of lop-eared kittens in the litter, cross two Scottish folds, as a result of which sick animals are born. Doing this is forbidden!
Symptoms and diagnosis of osteochondrodystrophy
The main symptoms of Scottish fold cat disease are:
- wrong gait;
- unwillingness of the animal to jump;
- shortened and deformed limbs;
- short, broad tail at the base, often stiff.
The disease can occur from the first days of life. The older the kitten, and the greater the load on the diseased joints, the worse the condition of the animal becomes. Diagnosis of the disease is possible from seven weeks of age. It is carried out using x-rays.
How to avoid genetic abnormalities
Treatment of osteochnystrophy is not possible. A sick cat needs to be given painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs that will ease the condition of the animal.
In order to prevent the disease, it is necessary to avoid mating two lop-eared cats, as well as closely related bonds.
To obtain offspring, which has all the qualities of the breed, Scottish fold cats can be crossed with other species. In this case, genetics improves, different kittens appear in the litter.
British shorthair cats are often used for lop-eared offspring. In this case, the difficulty may lie in finding a suitable partner whose external characteristics are closest to the Scottish breed. Also, American shorthair cats are often used for mating.
Skin diseases
One of the most common diseases of the skin and coat of Scottish fold cats is dermatomycosis. It is transmitted by direct contact with another infected animal. The main symptoms: the appearance of small round bald patches on the muzzle, legs and tail. Later, dry crusts form in their place. The disease is treated with ointments and tablets prescribed by the veterinarian. It is important to sanitize all things that a sick animal has come into contact with.
Often in lop-eared cats, and a little less often in females, there is a "horse tail". The most pronounced symptoms of Scottish fold cat disease include: hair loss around the tail, fat deposits on the fur coat in the same area, inflammation and swelling. Anti-inflammatory ointments are used for treatment. The cat needs to be washed often, and the hair on the tail should be thoroughly combed.
Quite often, in combed longhaired individuals, when combing, dandruff can be found on the skin. It appears due to improper, unbalanced nutrition or the presence of skin parasites. It is necessary to review the diet of the animal, as well as treat the cat from parasites.
Gastritis
Gastritis is an inflammation of the mucous membrane of an organ. This is a disease of the gastrointestinal tract, which is most often found in fold cats. Gastritis can occur due to improper and unbalanced feeding, eating too hot food or just dry food. Sometimes gastritis can be the result of other gastrointestinal diseases carried by the animal.
With such a disease, the following signs are observed in a Scottish fold cat: loss of appetite, weakness and apathy, nausea and vomiting, belching, bad breath. During painful attacks, the animal hardly moves and meows plaintively. To treat the disease, you need to revise the pet's diet. Use only high-quality feed. It is best to transfer the cat to wet canned food or you can soak dry food, there should always be drinking water in the public domain. Anti-inflammatory and analgesic drugs can be used to alleviate the condition of the animal.
Eye diseases
Due to the special shape of the skull in Scottish fold pets, tearing can sometimes be noted. In addition, cats with light hair have brown discharge under the eyes. Sometimes they are mistaken for clotted blood. Most often, such discharge is normal. The owner should clean the brown marks with a cotton pad moistened with clean water. In extreme cases, the doctor may prescribe eye drops. Sometimes brown discharge under the eyes may indicate an internal disease of the animal. If a cat suddenly has brown marks under its eyes, it is necessary to carefully monitor it and note other symptoms that may indicate an animal’s disease.
Sometimes lop-eared pets develop glaucoma. As a result of increased intraocular pressure, the sensory organs of the animal become inflamed and increase. Cataracts are manifested in clouding of the lens. Keratitis is the result of mechanical damage to the eye. With it, tearing, discharge of pus, and clouding of the lens can be noted. Without the timely assistance of a veterinarian, a cat may well go blind.
Diabetes
Scottish pets, especially sterilized ones, quite often suffer from obesity. It is cats that are overweight, the most vulnerable to diabetes. It can also occur as a result of constant stress, other diseases, injuries, malnutrition. In the behavior of an animal, one can easily recognize the main signs of this disease. The Scottish fold cat gets itchy, so she will constantly try to scratch her skin with her paws. Also noted: a decrease in activity, apathy, constant hunger and thirst, exhaustion. When diagnosed in cat urine, an increased sugar content is observed. Due to a lack of insulin in the blood, protein metabolism is disturbed.
When the first symptoms appear, the animal urgently needs to be shown to the doctor. A sick cat needs to be given insulin injections periodically. In addition, it is important to adhere to a special diet. The diet should consist of boiled chicken, fish, fruit juices, hercules, mineral water, low-fat broths. A sick animal needs to be closely monitored and, if the disease worsens, urgently seek help from a specialist. Proper care will significantly extend the life of a sick cat.
Pericarditis
Pericarditis is the most common Scottish fold cat disease affecting the cardiovascular system. Causes of appearance: infectious and colds, infection with parasites. With cat pericarditis, a heart bag becomes inflamed. The disease can have an acute and chronic form. The animal's activity decreases, shortness of breath appears, the body temperature rises, it feels pain, and symptoms of intoxication appear. An accurate diagnosis can only be made by a veterinarian after examining a pet’s health. During treatment, they first try to cope with the cause of pericarditis. In addition, therapy is aimed at eliminating the symptoms. The cat is given antibiotics, anti-inflammatory and diuretics.
Obviously, in such a unique breed as the Scottish fold cat, diseases are often associated with the peculiarities of their structure, as well as with the mutation of the gene responsible for the shape of the ears. The hereditary diseases that Scottish folds are prone to can be avoided if it is wise to approach their breeding. It is impossible to bring animals of the same breed, otherwise a certain percentage of sick kittens will appear in their litter. It is necessary to carefully monitor the hair and eyes of Scottish pets. If the first symptoms of the disease occur, the animal should be urgently shown to the doctor.