Lop-eared cats of gray color

This cat breed is considered one of the most attractive in the whole world. After all, there is no person who can indifferently pass by such a cute animal with original hanging ears.

This is a relatively young breed. Breeding of lop-eared cats began in 1961. The foundation was laid in Scotland in the Rossi farming family. They saw an unusual kitten in the neighbors, whose ears did not stick up, but, on the contrary, drooped. Farmers were simply fascinated by this pretty creature. When after 2 years the kittens appeared in the cat, they took one of them.

And although members of the Rossi family were never true professional breeders, they were waiting for success. In the first year a kitten with hanging ears was born. A few years later he was crossed with a British smooth-haired thoroughbred cat. The result was the emergence of a new species of animal. In 1966, this breed was officially registered as an independent. To date, Scottish cats have gained recognition and become popular.

Such an interesting appearance is directly related with a genetic mutation. But the gene responsible for the position of the ears has negative properties: some kittens were first born deaf and with fused vertebrae. It took several years to fix this problem. Today, there are 2 varieties of Scottish fold cats:

• Scottish Straight has the usual erect ears;
• Scottish fold has small ears that are pressed to the head.

In one litter kittens of both varieties can be born. In addition, it is impossible to immediately determine what the ears will be in the future. This can only be seen after 60–90 days.

Among the representatives of the breed, lop-eared cats of a gray color occupy a special place. They are a bit like a short-haired British breed, so very often there is some confusion. The Scottish cat is an animal of medium size, which weighs up to 6-8 kg. And also there are other distinctive features.

• The physique of these cats is rather stocky, and the chest is large.
• The back of the animal is wide, the hips are massive, and a very short thick neck.
• The paws are also quite wide and thick, besides they are extremely well developed.
• A flexible tail can be either short or long.
• The head of such handsome men is a bit like a ball.
• The eyes of fold cats are wide apart and have a round shape, which gives the animals a slightly surprised look.
• Their nose is small and their chin is quite powerful.
• The coat of these animals is short and soft, a bit like plush. However, among them you can meet such cats, whose fur coat is long and fluffy. Since their ears are very small, they can hardly be seen behind long hair. Therefore, these rare Scots are more like a lump of fur.
• The small ears of Scottish gray cats are very eye-catching. After all, they are practically broken in half and cover the entire auricle.
• The uniqueness of such cute animals lies in the fact that their color can be very diverse. Plain and spotted specimens are found.

Scottish fold cats with a blue color are often popularly called gray. And this is not in vain: after all, the shade of their fur is more light gray than blue. In addition, it is completely plain and even. For such Scots, both the nose and the paw pads are painted in dark gray. The eyes are amber or green. In addition, you can meet cats with yellow eyes.

These gray beauties are very calm. They do not like to climb the curtains or jump high. Animals are completely non-aggressive, but they cannot be called cowardly. Cats just try to avoid conflict situations. therefore Scottish fold cats are taken to those families where there are small children or other pets. The Scots quickly get used to the new situation and the existing rules in the family.

And although to many such cats seem completely indifferent, this is not so. They are very attached to the owner and devoted to him. However, they do not have enough attention for all the inhabitants of the house, so pets most often choose one of the family members. When this person comes home from work, the cat immediately runs to meet him. This will not apply to other household members, however, the Scots will also not show aggression towards them.

Fold cats have one feature that distinguishes them from other breeds: they are very afraid of heights and jump badly, which is associated with the structure of their vestibular apparatus. Therefore, their favorite habitat will be the lower part of the room. However, not being able to jump high, they are able to stand on their hind legs. In this position, the cat can stand for quite a long time.

Scottish folds are practically not afraid of stressful situations. Even too annoying guests or a trip to the veterinarian will not get them crazy. They will accept all claims with dignity. This behavior is very convenient if the owners are going to take their wards to various exhibitions.

It’s not difficult to care for such animals. They do not require much attention. The only condition is that they must be combed periodically.. It will be enough 1 time per week. This will allow the cat to look not only beautiful, but also elegant.

However, if the pet has a long coat, then you need to comb it almost every day. Use a special comb with blunt teeth so that the cat does not hurt. From time to time you need to bathe your pets using special shampoos. If the cat lives in the house and does not walk on the street, it is enough to bathe him 2-3 times in 6 months or to do it as it becomes soiled.

Do not forget about the proper feeding of such cute pets. For this, you can use both industrial feed and natural food. If preference is given to the first, then you need to buy them in special stores and only the highest quality. In natural markets, they may be low-grade and therefore have few useful substances in their composition.

If you prefer natural food, you need to take care of a complete diet for your pet. It should include:

• boiled meat, preferably chicken or beef;
• boiled vegetables;
• some offal, well, if it is a boiled liver;
• sea ​​fish;
• various cereals, such as rice, buckwheat, or oatmeal;
• some greenery;
• vitamins that can be bought at a veterinary pharmacy.

In the next video, you can learn about the origin and main characteristics of Scottish fold Scottish fold cats.