A lop-eared cat evokes affection, probably, for everyone. The eyes are expressive, the muzzle is charming, the coat is plush, and most importantly, the ears are bent forward.
Descriptions of cats with unusual ears are found in the annals of the XVIII century. But the history of the Scottish fold cat begins in the fifties of the twentieth century. Once a farmer from Scotland saw a white cat with curved ears, who lived with his neighbors. The owners did not know why their pet had such ears. The farmer was interested in an unusual cat, and he asked to give him a kitten with a non-standard ear shape, if one appears. Only two years later his request came true. And it is from that kitten that the Scottish Fold breed traces its history.
A farmer's family, supported by English geneticists, started breeding a new breed of cats. Fold cats were crossed with British Shorthairs. This breed has a lot of both admirers and opponents. By the way, in England it is not officially recognized, although several nurseries operate in the country.
In 1970, the Scottish Fold cat was taken to America, got to a famous breeder of short-tailed cats, delighting her. This is how Scottish folds appeared. TodayAmerica is recognized as the breeding center for this breed.
There are two varieties within the breed: Scottish Fold - lop-eared and Scottish Straight - straight-eared. Straights do not participate in exhibitions, but are necessary for breeding. In order to avoid genetic diseases, folds are crossed with straight-eared or British Shorthair. Surprisingly, all kittens born from this cross have straight ears. Lop-earedness appears in about half of the litter and only by the age of one month.
The Lop-Eared is a medium-sized cat with a short body and a short neck. Her chest is wide, her legs are short, her tail is pointed at the end. Ears, the main difference between these cats, are small, bent forward, adjacent to the head. The head is large, the eyes are round, large. The coat is short, not close to the body. The color can be any, it is found mainly blue, black, white and marble.
The nature of cats of this breed is calm, one might even say phlegmatic. They are independent, unflappable and unobtrusive. The lop-eared cat is very attached to the owner, affectionate, friendly to children, calmly endures squeezing, puts up with the presence of other animals in the house. The voice of these cats is quiet, they rarely give it. They are clean, smart, do not create problems for the owners. They like to sleep on their backs.
British fold cats are distinguished by good he alth, long life. Lop-earedness is caused by a certain gene that can lead to skeletal abnormalities. They may experienceosteochondrodystrophy, usually in individuals with a short tail and inflexible paws.
When caring for a cat, close attention should be paid to the ears. Non-standard auricle contributes to the increased formation of sulfur. Ears should be cleaned weekly. Wool does not require increased attention, it is enough to comb once a week. Periodically, the eyes should be wiped with a clean, damp cloth.
A lop-eared cat, having appeared in the house, almost immediately becomes the favorite of all family members.
