Scottish Shorthair cat: characteristics and care.

The Scottish Fold cat is indeed native to Scotland and arose thanks to a natural mutation. These cats are characterized by their slightly folded ears, very round head, and thick tail.  They are cats with very strong characters and are skilled hunters...

Whether you are considering having a Scottish Shorthair as a pet or looking for specific information about their care, personality, and common diseases, we invite you to continue reading this post.

Origin of the Scottish Shorthair cat

The Scottish Shorthair cat is the standard of the Scottish Fold, They are originating from Scotland, United Kingdom.

In 1961, a couple found a stray kitten with folded forward ears, which they adopted.

Their particular ears were due to a genetic mutation, and this trait caught the attention of cat breeders. In 1966, they began to cross them with British Shorthairs and American Shorthairs.

As a result, kittens were born with ears just like their mother's and a soft, dense, plush, even coat along the body. Their texture can vary depending on color and seasonal changes in each region.

The Scottish Fold Shorthair was approved by the CFA in 1974, however, they are not officially recognized by FIFe and GCCF yet because "the shape of the ear resulting from osteochondroma dysplasia cannot be recognized as a breed standard".

Ironically, the Scottish Shorthair is also not officially recognized in their country of origin given concerns about an increased risk of infections, deafness, and other diseases linked to the bent ear characteristic.

Generally speaking, the breeding and keeping of the Scottish fold as a pet is still a matter of debate.

Characteristics of the Scottish Shorthair cat

Size: they can measure up to 25 - 30 cm.

Weight: the female weighs up to about 2.2 kg and the male up to 6 kg.

Eyes: large and round with a tender look, their eyes are golden yellow.

Ears: the ears are the most characteristic part of this breed, folded ears, but when they are puppies they are born with straight ears, from four weeks they begin to fall until the folding is completed in the third month.

Coat: The Scottish Fold's coat is short and dense, which insulates it from the cold. It can be white, blue, cream, silver, black, brown, or any combination of them.

Their coat can also have patterns such as solid, brindle, tortoiseshell, bicolor, and even with spots and shades.

Similarly, the black Scottish Fold is also one of the main varieties of color that can have the coat of this cat breed.

Body: they are medium-sized cats with a medium bone structure, a wide and rounded face with protruding cheekbones, a flat and short nose, a short neck, and round feet. Their toes, 5 on the front legs and 4 on the hind legs have a neat, rounded appearance.

And a thick tail of medium size too.

Life Span: they can live between 10 - 15 years.

The character of the Scottish Shorthair cat

They are friendly, sociable, quiet, docile, affectionate, and very calm cats that like life indoors. They live very comfortably inside apartments and cozy and quiet houses but also appreciate spending time outdoors.

They are not very active and are not as vocal as other cats, although they are excellent mouse hunters.

They are ideal for families with children, families with pets, and elderly people. In their family nucleus, they usually choose an owner and will follow their every move as if they were a lapdog. Many owners even claim that they can sense the mood of their owners, and respond to it, asking them to play with them or pet them.

Care of the Scottish Shorthair cat

They are not very demanding or high-maintenance cats, a 15 minutes grooming a week will be enough to keep them clean and healthy.

• You should take special care with their ears, because of their shape it is difficult to clean them, so it is necessary to take care of them and clean them regularly to avoid infections. Avoid using cotton swabs, as this can increase the risk of ear damage.
• Due to his double coat, it is necessary to brush him once a week.
• Cleaning should be done at least once a week to maintain good dental hygiene.
• It is recommended to trim their nails every two weeks, as well as provide them with a scratching post.
• Although they are not as active, they still need toys to climb, climb and file their nails.
• It is also advisable to wipe the corners of their eyes with a soft, damp cloth to remove any discharge.

Scottish Shorthair Feeding

They can eat wet food and dry food, or a combination of both. Their nutritional needs vary throughout their life, but you should choose a special food not enriched in calcium as it strengthens the cartilage and is not suitable to maintain the natural fold of their ears.

Scottish Shorthair Health

Some Scottish Folds can suffer from a degenerative joint disease, which makes their movements more difficult and very painful.

The folding of their ears is caused by a carrier gene for osteodystrophy, a pathology that causes the vertebrae of the tail to loosen and the joints of the limbs to become covered with cartilage, limiting the cat's mobility.

As they get older, affected cats suffer more and more pain, limiting them to the point of paralysis.

They are also prone to develop polycystic kidney disease, which is a congenital disorder that causes fluid pockets to form in the kidneys, cardiomyopathy, and deafness.

Many hereditary diseases develop between the ages of 5 and 6, so it is important to have your cat checked regularly. This way, if they have any symptoms, they can be detected early.

Final thoughts on the Scottish Shorthair

The Scottish Shorthair has a gentle and sweet character, not at all aggressive. It is a feline with a playful and extroverted nature. Although they have their admirers and detractors, there is no doubt that the Scottish Shorthair is a beautiful animal, with unique behaviors and excellent character as a pet.