Recently, cats of the breed Scottish fold marble have been incredibly popular, photos of which are posted in the article. Rare distinctive physical features of the breed, such as lop-eared, combined with their affection for loving owners make these cats very popular pets. Lop-eared kittens usually cost significantly more than kittens of more common breeds. These beautiful cats will be discussed in the article.
Origin of breed
The first mention of Scottish fold cats was at the beginning of the 19th century in China. On the European continent they were found out thanks to a farmer and his wife, who lived in Scotland. The beginning of the breed was the usual cat Susie, born from ordinary street cats. She was the owner of a short white coat and small ears bent forward. The husband of the farmer was engaged in breeding cats and drew attention to her. In 1961, Susie matured gave birth to a kitten with the same bent ears. He was named Snux. He became the ancestor of the breed of cats of Scottish fold both marble and other colors.
The Russians wanted official permission to breed these cats, but, having turned to geneticists for a breeding program, they did not receive it. Genetics pointed to the reason for the refusal - the birth of a large number of deaf kittens and the difficulties of treatment when infected with ticks.
Mating rules
Not everything was simple with the genes of this cat. There is a so-called fold gene. The kitten during intrauterine development experienced serious deviations associated with the skeletal system: with fusion of the vertebrae, as well as curvature of the limbs. Such changes occurred when mating a cat and a cat with hanging ears.
In this regard, geneticists have developed mating rules that define the cross between fold cats and cats with straight ears, and vice versa. Nature made sure that kittens with hereditary traits of one and the other parent concerning the auricles were born in the litter. The coat color of the kitten may differ from the coat color of the parents. For example, a marble Scottish fold kitten (pictured below) could have been born to parents of the same color.
Scottish fold and scottish straight
The official name of the breed of kittens with hanging ears is Scottish fold, and with straight - Scottish Straight (in English straght means “straight”). Scottish Fold was originally called the Lops, as a "fold rabbit" whose ears hang down on the sides of the head. The breed began to be called Scottish fold after registration with the feline organization GCCF (Great Britain).
What kind of newborn kitten may belong cannot be determined. Ears begin to fall three weeks after birth. Initially, cats had only one fold in the ears, but due to selective breeding, the breeders increased it to double or triple, which causes the ear to fit completely to the head.
Both those and other kittens are purebred. But only lop-eared - Scottish fold are considered exhibition. However, without crossing Scottish Straight cats there will be no continuation of the breed. They are carriers of the lop-eared gene and indispensable continuers of the genus of Scottish lop-eared with a marble color. In the photo above, the litter of kittens with straight and drooping ears of a female Scottish Straight and a male Scottish Fold.
Characteristic features of the breed
Continuing work on the Scottish fold cat breed, geneticists were able to determine the best body parameters, excluding thickening of the caudal vertebrae. Those individuals were selected for breeding that had thin and long tails, and this contributed to the lengthening of the body.
Scottish fold cats have an average body size. Males gain weight 4-6 kg, females are lighter, their weight ranges from 2.7 to 4 kg. The body of the cat is rounded with a strong skeleton, soft hair. Paws of medium height. The cat, a Scottish fold with a marble color, has a cute round muzzle on a short neck. The eyes are large, round and widely spaced, which is very reminiscent of the eyes of an owlet. They come in different colors, there are blue, but the most common copper shades. The nose is short with a gentle bend.
The cats of this breed are sociable in nature, therefore it is not at all surprising that the Scottish fold breed is the 17th most popular in the register of the Association of Cat Lovers.
Color
Scottish fold cats can have any coat color. Variations, there are more than 350. Among them, the main ones are considered: chocolate, black, purple and blue. Next is the drawing: tiger, stain and marble. And these are only 24 basic options. The minor colors include: white, silver, color point, smoky, golden, each with its own variations, like ticked or striped, shaded, and others officially registered.
Given the above, the Scottish fold marble cat can be black marble, blue marble, chocolate marble, purple marble, as well as all kinds of variations of marble with drawings.
There is a long-haired breed of Scottish fold. Depending on the registry, it is called Highland Fold, Scottish Fold Longhair, or Cupari. Long hair and thick fur is formed exclusively around the upper thighs, toes, tail and ears.
Care Features
Scottish fold cats can be both short-haired and long-haired. Therefore, the most important thing in grooming is to monitor the pet's hair. It is necessary, using the furminator, to remove the fallen hairs from the thick plush undercoat, and also to use it to remove the resulting tangles. Longhair cat breed is recommended to comb out every week. Cutting Scottish fold is not accepted.
Scottish fold marble cats are not afraid of water. They can soak their feet in a container, but this does not mean that they need to be bathed often. Cats are pretty neat and watch their hair themselves, licking it. If there is a need to buy a pet, you need to use a special shampoo so as not to cause allergies. Many cats love to swim if they have been living where there is a swimming pool or natural reservoir from childhood.
Since the ears of the cats are literally pressed to the head, they need to be given special attention. The sulfur formed in it should be removed from the abalone. For this procedure, cotton swabs and a special liquid are used, which are sold in veterinary stores.
Pet habitat
The pet should have a bed or a house. Choosing a cozy "cat's house" for your cat, you need to control that it is not small, but corresponds to its size. Cats do not always sleep, curled up in a glomerulus, sometimes, they stretch out to their full height, completely relaxing. Only the breed of lop-eared cats likes to sit with outstretched hind legs, laying the front on their stomach in a "Buddha position."
Since the Scottish fold marble cat (her photo is placed in the article) was bred for home maintenance, she needs "gymnastic apparatus" where she can keep herself fit. It can be all kinds of designs from wooden poles and shelves.
In order for the pet not to harm the furniture and upholstery, she should have a claw point, the height of which would allow her to stretch during the full-length procedure. In addition, the claws on the front legs need to be cut a couple of times a month at least 2-3 mm. On the back it is enough to shorten once a month. Cats do not like this procedure, so you need to train to cut nails from childhood. The nails are sheared only with a special nail clipper, not with scissors. They can disrupt the structure of tissues and injure the claw.
Food
In order to have a healthy pet - Scottish fold marble, you need to take care of its nutrition. From the moment a cat appears in the house, it is necessary to determine what its diet will be. Some owners prefer to feed their pets natural feeds, others high-quality dry. What veterinarians do not recommend is mixing feeds. Having chosen a specific method of feeding, you need to adhere to it.
If these are natural feeds, then they should include boiled chicken, beef or offal. Fish and liver should be given to the cat only boiled. If your pet likes cereals, you can give rice, millet and oats cooked in broth or milk. Dairy products are useful for the stomach: low-fat cottage cheese and kefir.
If the choice fell on dry feed, you need to choose only premium food. They have vitamins and minerals. Moreover, the feed is separated by age. Young cats need only trace elements, while older ones need supplements for bone tissue and gentle digestion.
Health
It is only necessary to purchase a kitten from breeders to be sure that the kitten was born from the correct mating. When choosing a kitten, you need to pay attention to its mobility. He should not be inhibited in his movements.
The place where the kitten usually sleeps should not be in a draft. He can catch a cold and get bronchitis. The weaknesses, in addition to the ears, include the eyes, you need to ensure that they do not water. Wipe them with a special liquid. Veterinarians recommend vaccinating a pet in accordance with established standards, before which deworming is mandatory.