Scottish Fold is a breed of Scottish Fold cats.

Scottish Fold cats Scottish Folds are distinguished by their even temperament, excellent health, and striking appearance. To ensure your pet develops properly and thrives, they need proper care from an early age.

Even before bringing a Scottish Fold into your home, you should take care of its safety.

First of all, this is open windows, which pose a mortal danger to your new family member. Cats are hunters by nature and are always ready to pounce on a passing bird, butterfly, or swaying leaf, or they can simply slip on a ledge. Even though owners are confident that their kitty is smart and knows heights, in a moment of excitement, the animal can rush after its prey, oblivious to danger. This can result in serious injuries, fractures, and even death.

Therefore, before getting a pet, you should install bars on the glazed balcony, as well as on all the windows in the apartment.

Don't use thin plastic insect netting for this purpose - a Scottish Fold cat will easily tear it with its claws.

It is best to make a fence made of metal mesh, used for building rabbit hutches or fencing country houses. It can be purchased at any hardware store or market. The mesh allows air to pass through well and doesn't spoil the appearance of the apartment.

Since Scottish Fold cats love to climb on the mesh, it needs to be securely attached to the profiles.

May your pet live in complete safety and delight you with its presence.

Scottish Fold: nutrition and care, photos

First, assign him a bathroom, hallway, and kitchen area, and don't let him run around the entire apartment. It's best to initially confine him to a small room free of drafts and holes where he could hide. While your Scottish Fold kitten gets used to you and the apartment, its ideal habitat would be the kitchenThere you need to put bowls for food and water, a litter tray, and set up a sleeping place.

The cat's bed and toilet should not be located near the food dish.

Give your Scottish Fold kitten a chance to look around and sniff everything. If you have other animals in the house, make sure their introduction to the new resident goes smoothly.

A kitten has a very difficult time in unfamiliar surroundings at first, so it's important to give it as much attention as possible. Does the kitten want to play? Make it a toy out of a piece of string with a piece of paper or a ball attached to the end. Is the kitten uncooperative and hiding under the sofa? Don't disturb it; let it get used to its new surroundings. After a while, the kitten will want to eat on its own and will definitely come out of its hiding place.

As a rule, the first one the habituation phase lasts 2-3 days, and after just a week the baby will have settled in completely.

Never give the following items to play with:

• spools of thread;
• balls;
• laces;
• buttons;
• needles;
• plastic bags;
• twine.

It is also very dangerous for Scottish Fold cats. New Year's tinsel and tinselIt is necessary to put sanitary hygiene products, solvents, and paints out of the reach of the cat.

How and what to feed a Scottish Fold kitten?

Since cats are predators, their digestive system is significantly different from humans. Therefore, it is important to remember basic feeding rules pet:

• Fresh fish (ONLY cooked sea fish and no more than twice a month) should NOT be included in your pet's diet, as this can lead to the development of urolithiasis. The protein found in fresh fish is relatively easy for the animal's body to digest, which can put increased strain on the kidneys and lead to mineral imbalances. The same applies to fresh meat—it MUST be raw and frozen for at least two days.
• DO NOT mix dry food with natural food. Mixed feeding is only allowed after 6 hours. It's best to stick to one type of food.
• DO NOT suddenly switch from one type of food to another, even if they are the same brand.
• DO NOT feed your pet "human" food. Smoked, boiled, or fried foods, as well as excess salt, preservatives, and spices, can trigger kidney, liver, and stomach problems, and can even lead to digestive upset.
• DO NOT feed your lop-eared pet economy-class food, as it contains low-quality ingredients (animal bones, hooves, feathers) and flavorings that have a narcotic effect on cats. This can result in a host of health problems, including dermatitis and severe gastritis.
• ALWAYS (especially when feeding dry food) the animal should have free access to fresh water.
• DO NOT test any products (medications, cosmetics, etc.) on your cat that are not intended for it. This could have disastrous consequences.

Natural nutrition

When feeding natural food in the diet of Scottish Fold cats should include the following products:

• CEREALS: Oatmeal, buckwheat, and rice, cooked in broth or water. Vegetables can be added to the porridge, but meat is preferred in a 2:1 ratio. Milk-based cereals are not recommended. Corn, peas, and beans should be completely EXCLUDED from the diet, as they contain high amounts of carbohydrates, which can cause intestinal colic and flatulence.
• EGG (preferably quail) - 1-2 times a week.
• MEAT PRODUCTS: turkey, lamb, chicken, ground beef, veal/beef. DO NOT ADD SPICES OR SALT! Avoid pork, as it is very fatty and its protein is easily digested. This can lead to the development of reactive and chronic pancreatitis, kidney failure, and liver cirrhosis.
• DAIRY PRODUCTS (except full-fat sour cream). After 3 months, AVOID milk, as it can cause diarrhea and stomach upset.
• VEGETABLES – mashed, raw or cooked, served with meat. EXCEPT tomatoes (they're too sour) and eggplant (they're poisonous for cats).
• WATER should always be fresh.
• VITAMINS. Until six months of age, kittens must receive vitamins (A and D) year-round. ALWAYS follow the dosage and do not use human vitamins!

If you cannot provide your pet with complete natural food, use high-quality dry foodIn this case, there is no need to include vitamins in the animal's diet, but fresh (not tap) water must be present.

Although British fold-eared cats are considered omnivores, it is still better to stick to the animal’s usual diet and feeding schedule in the first few days after you pick up the kitten from the breeder.

During the first six months, you need to feed a Scottish kitten 3-4 times a day, then you can switch to two meals a day.

Raising a Scottish Fold

Thanks to their high intelligence and excellent memory, Scottish Folds quickly learn and adapt to established house rules. Provide your little one with a cozy place where they'll feel comfortable and safe. This could be a special cat house, a bed or basket with a soft mattressProvide your kitten with toys and a scratching post.

Scottish Fold cats are very active and playful throughout their lives. Even after a long walk, your pet will continue to have fun and run around the room, and will even find time to play with you afterwards. So to keep your little one from getting bored in your absence, try to organize their leisure time. A small British cat can spend hours playing with a paper ball or a mouse hanging from a rubber band.

Scottish Folds are quite sociable and appreciate close contact with their owners. Pick up your little one often, talk to him, and play with him.

Scottish Fold cats get along well with other pets and children. They maintain a cheerful disposition into old age. show almost no aggressionBritish Shorthairs are slightly phlegmatic and very even-tempered. They don't bother you with meowing or scratching. However, for their own safety, they need regular manicures. Their nails should be trimmed with special clippers, removing only the very tips.

British Shorthair cats are very clean, so provide them with a convenient litter box right away and clean it regularly. If you're away from home for long periods of time, it's best to provide two litter boxes.

How to care for the coat of a Scottish Fold cat?

To care for the British Shorthair's coat you will need:

• hair dryer and towels;
• cat shampoo;
• a comb with wide teeth, the ends of which should be rounded;
• wool conditioner;
• dry shampoo;
• a metal comb with short, fine teeth or a mitten/glove for combing short-haired cats;
• sponge (for washing the face);
• Metal massager with antistatic coating.

At least once a week, Scottish Folds need to be brushed, and twice during shedding season.

First the wool is prepared using wide-toothed combs, then a fine-tooth comb is used to remove dead hair and massage the skin. Finally, a natural bristle brush is used to tidy up the animal's coat.

Remember! Comb in the direction of hair growth. Once finished, it's a good idea to gather up any remaining hair with damp hands.

Pay attention to the condition of your pet's tail. If the coat looks healthy, brushing and combing the tail is not recommended. The hairs on the tail take a long time to grow back, but they are quite easy to pluck out.

Scottish Fold cat colors

Distinguish the following colors of cats of this breed:

• tortoiseshell colors - a chaotic combination of spots of cream or red shade;
• solid colors are a uniform, single color of a cat without a hint of a pattern;
• "Chinchilla." This color is characterized by the fact that most of the hair is white and only 1/8 of it is colored;
• smoky colors - the undercoat is silvery-white, the guard hair has a uniform color;
• tabby. This color is characterized by patterned patterns (marbled, spotted, striped, tiger);
• Colorpoint. This coloring implies a light-colored coat and a contrasting color on prominent parts of the body: the muzzle, neck, ears, tail, and paws.

How to care for the eyes, ears and teeth of a Scottish Fold?

Lack of proper care for the gums and teeth of the animal will inevitably lead to the occurrence of various diseases of the oral cavity, of which plaque is the least significant. Scottish Fold cats should be accustomed to having their teeth brushed from a very early age. Initially, it is recommended to brush their teeth with gauze folded in 2-3 layers, soaked in a weak solution of salt and baking soda. Wrap the gauze around your finger and massage the gums in a circular motion. Brush from the gumline outward.

Once your British cat has mastered this procedure, you can switch to pet toothpaste (available at veterinary pharmacies and pet stores) and a toothbrush. Plaque can be removed with a piece of raw meat, a special cat treat, or dry food.

A thorough oral examination and teeth cleaning should be performed weekly. If malocclusion, tartar, the beginnings of any disease, or other problems are detected, seek help from specialists.

Scottish Fold cats' ears should be inspected regularly to detect ear mites. Excess wax should be removed from their ears approximately every 21 to 28 days. This procedure is performed using cotton balls or cotton swabs soaked in a special solution (available at pet stores). If this solution is unavailable, regular sunflower oil can be used.

Be careful when cleaning your pet's ears; do not insert the cotton swab too deep, so as not to avoid damage to the ear canalClean from the base of the ear outward. Finally, it's recommended to lubricate the inner ear with baby cream.

Once a day, wipe your British Shorthair's eyes with a damp, lint-free cloth. Don't use cotton wool! You can soak the cloth in tea leaves or plain water.

So, as you've already noticed, Scottish Fold cats are very easy-to-care-for and don't require much grooming. And your attention and care will certainly be reciprocated with affection and love.