Scottish Fold a 'hoot'
Her parents were British Shorthairs. Her siblings were British Shorthairs. Susie was different. Born in 1961, in Scotland, Susie became the very first Scottish Fold breed of cat.
Scottish Fold cats have ears where the auricular cartilage is folded forward and down with varying degrees of tightness (Fanciers Breeder Referral List). This genetic deformity becomes apparent at 3-4 weeks of age (Angell K, 2006). This unique folding of the ear is due to a spontaneous mutation where the cat has inherited a simple incomplete, autosomal dominant gene (Malik et al, 1999, pg 85). Their large round eyes and folded ears gives an ‘owl’ appearance.
A Scottish Fold has litters of approximately half folded-eared kittens, half normal-eared kittens. The normal-eared kittens don’t inherit the recessive folded-ear gene; they are hybrids (Burke D, 2002). A Scottish Fold with folded ears must only be bred with a Scottish Fold with normal ears. If two folded-eared cats are mated, then three quarters of the progeny will be born with skeletal abnormalities, including severe osteoarthritis, which fuses their vertebrae causing the cartilage to thicken, creating a stiff, short tail and legs (Burke D, 2002).
Deafness is not related with Scottish Fold cats. These cats have ears that are more animated than normal (Fanciers Breeder Referral List).
Scottish Folds rest in unusual positions – they will lie on their backs, or flatten their bodies out like bearskin rugs. They also sit in a ‘Buddha’ position. (Fanciers Breeder Referral List) This is another trait that makes the genetically different Scottish Fold unique and interesting.
Scottish Fold cats have ears where the auricular cartilage is folded forward and down with varying degrees of tightness (Fanciers Breeder Referral List). This genetic deformity becomes apparent at 3-4 weeks of age (Angell K, 2006). This unique folding of the ear is due to a spontaneous mutation where the cat has inherited a simple incomplete, autosomal dominant gene (Malik et al, 1999, pg 85). Their large round eyes and folded ears gives an ‘owl’ appearance.
A Scottish Fold has litters of approximately half folded-eared kittens, half normal-eared kittens. The normal-eared kittens don’t inherit the recessive folded-ear gene; they are hybrids (Burke D, 2002). A Scottish Fold with folded ears must only be bred with a Scottish Fold with normal ears. If two folded-eared cats are mated, then three quarters of the progeny will be born with skeletal abnormalities, including severe osteoarthritis, which fuses their vertebrae causing the cartilage to thicken, creating a stiff, short tail and legs (Burke D, 2002).
Deafness is not related with Scottish Fold cats. These cats have ears that are more animated than normal (Fanciers Breeder Referral List).
Scottish Folds rest in unusual positions – they will lie on their backs, or flatten their bodies out like bearskin rugs. They also sit in a ‘Buddha’ position. (Fanciers Breeder Referral List) This is another trait that makes the genetically different Scottish Fold unique and interesting.
Posted by: Kylie Jones
Student No: 41193316
Primary Source:
- Fanciers Breeder Referral List, ‘Scottish Fold’, [Internet], viewed 22 May 2007, available at: <http://www.breedlist.com/scottish-fold-breeders.html>.
Secondary Sources:
- Angell, K 2006, ‘Breed Profile: Scottish Fold’, [Internet], viewed 22 May 2007, available at: <http://www.cfainc.org/breeds/profiles/scottish.html>.
- Burke, D 2002, ‘Scottish Fold Cat’, [Internet], viewed 22 May 2007, available at: <http://www.burkesbackyard.com.au/2002/archives/2002/roadtests/cat_breeds/scottish_fold>.
- Malik, R., Allan, G. S., Howlett, C. R., Thompson, D. E., James, G., McWhirter, C & Kendall K 1999, ‘Osteochondrodysplasia in Scottish Fold Cats’, Australian Veterinary Journal, vol. 77, no. 2, pp. 85-92.
