How old are Scottish cats and what does it depend on?

Scottish cats are known not only for the unusual shape of their ears. Scottish folds are a delightful breed whose advantage is the wonderful calm and hardy nature of the animal. Cats quickly adapt to new conditions and events, whether visiting a veterinarian or participating in exhibitions. They are quite obedient, they understand the mood of the owners well, so there are no special difficulties in education. Many people are interested in the average life expectancy of such cats at home.

Lop-eared cats do not bother the owners. They will not defiantly meow in order to achieve the desired. The fidelity of this breed should also be especially noted. The animal is able to get close not only with a certain member of the family, but also with the family as a whole. Responsive pets will always help you in a stressful situation. However, with a small amount of attention, cats can chase you and require a few minutes of affection.

At night, cats do not run around the house, they are not inherent in excessive emotionality. However, they are quite touchy, so the key to your happy existence is the timely feeding, cleaning of trays, as well as providing the animal with entertaining equipment.

Cats establish a warm relationship with children; they do not release claws when playing. With foreign children who come to visit, they behave a little indifferently, but they can allow themselves to stroke, touch. Cats do not conflict with other animals, can allow them to dominate, rarely act as initiators of quarrels. Congenital tact and indulgence exclude impulsive reactions, so anything that goes beyond the norms of behavior happens much less often than in representatives of other breeds.

This is a relatively new breed. Its ancestor was an unusual fold cat, born in 1961 in Scotland. Her offspring were crossed with representatives of the British breed. Although the resulting species has similarities with the British, it has its own distinctive features:

• the body and head has a rounded shape, medium size, but at the same time the animals have a strong physique;
• paws are quite impressive with large soft pads;
• ears are relatively small, rounded, omitted;
• eyes are large, round and very expressive, their shades can vary;
• wool can be of different colors, it is thick and soft.

To get a healthy baby, you need to carefully examine the kitten and observe its behavior. It should be borne in mind that at birth, kittens weigh about 100 g, their size is very small. Therefore, it is recommended to acquire animals after a period of formation and strengthening of the body at about 2-3 months of age. And also at this age, moving the pet from the breeder to the new owner will be more favorable, adaptation to the new conditions will be more successful.

This breed has high risks of diseases caused by problems with the skeletal system.Therefore, you should pay attention to the mobility of the joints of the limbs.

Cats of this breed have good health, due to a combination of carefully combined genes, which is the basis of their longevity.

The average life expectancy of a pet, provided with full care and attention of the owner, increases and can reach 15–20 years. In favorable conditions, excluding the presence of negative factors, animals can live more than the established average statistical term. There are cases when Scottish folds survived to 32–33 years.

As well as the life expectancy of furry pets affects sterilization. Thus, in castrated and sterilized individuals, the risks of developing diseases of the reproductive system, which are most common in old cats, are reduced. However, various stresses, inappropriate conditions, difficult situations have an adverse effect on the psychological and physiological state of animals.

Regular visits to the veterinarian, timely vaccinations, a balanced and varied diet, and hygienic procedures will help keep your pets healthy. To increase the life expectancy of your pets will allow compliance with a number of recommendations for caring for them.

It is also necessary to understand that the breed has certain features, so its vulnerabilities should be taken into account.

• Bones. Cats of this breed have a fairly strong skeleton, but congenital anomalies are often found. As they grow older, cartilage and bone growth problems appear, which can be corrected, but the life expectancy of pets decreases.
• Excess weight. This breed is prone to fullness, therefore, a balanced balanced diet plays a significant role. It is important to avoid lean food protein, a large amount of carbohydrates.It is necessary to moderate the excessive appetite of pets. Taking into account the ratio of weight and height of the cat, you can identify problems and adjust the diet in time.
• Wool. Bathing and combing the animal can significantly reduce the risks of diseases of the digestive system, as well as give a well-groomed appearance to lop-eared pets. The coat of this breed is dense, therefore, cats have difficulties with cleaning it independently, it begins to stray into mats. When wool enters the digestive system, lumps appear that are difficult to excrete and disrupt the work of organs for processing food and the absorption of beneficial micro- and macro-elements. Long-haired Scottish folds need to be looked after daily, to purchase pastes to remove wool from the body.
• The ears. The breed has a special structure of the auricles. Dust, insects, dirt quite easily get inside the ear canals, thereby causing inconvenience to cats, and in some cases diseases. Therefore, Scottish folds need careful ear care.
• It is necessary to carry out oral hygiene procedures. It is especially important to pay attention to the condition of the teeth of cats that are on natural nutrition. Signs of diseases include gum disease, bad smell, tartar.

About how many cats live and how to extend the life of your pet, see the next video.