Charm and Allure of the White Scottish Cat
Scottish Folds can come in a variety of colors, but the “white edition’ cats are the ones that cat lovers are simply crazy about. The most widely spread White Scottish Cats are in the USA.
The name has come from the appearance of the curly folded ears, but the breed was built for years of patience while the breeders worked on mutations. These mutations were made by matting farm cats in Scotland.
A breed overview and the first White Scottish cat
It was long ago in 1961 when a cat Sussie lived in Scotland on a farm. What everybody would notice were the Sussie’s folded ears. It is important to know that Sussie was white. The neighbor of Sussie’s owners asked if he could get a kitten when she got a litter. He did get a kitten and named it Snooks. This male kitten was the beginning of a story about the cat breed called Scottish Fold Cat.
Sometime later it was announced that the third generation was found with osteodystrophy health issues and breeding Scottish Folds in the UK was prohibited.
This wasn’t the case in the USA and the breeders continued to carry on the breed trying to avoid the genetic issue that causes osteodystrophy. As we can see they succeeded and we still have folded ear pearls.
As I have mentioned before the Scottish Fold cats can appear in a variety of colors, but the white ones are very rare. It must be why they are very popular and hard to find.
Since the prohibition to carry on with this breed in Great Britain. These cats were bred only in the States and gained recognition by cat associations.
American Cat Association and the Cat Fancier’s Association recognized this breed as authentic, but only if the ears of the cat are totally folded. Any deviation may be a problem for formal recognition.
I would love to share one more curiosity about this breed here. You may or not know that Scottish Folds no matter the color is born with straight ears. Their ears start to fold around 4 weeks after they are born.
Physical Characteristics of a White Scottish Fold Cat
White Scottish Cats are about 8-10 inches high and they weigh from 6-13 pounds. The lifespan of White Scottish Fold cats is between 14-16 years of age.This breed is assumed as a medium-sized cat. Solid-body holds a round head of a White Scottish cat. Its eyes are sweet and rounded and look big, while its ears fold forward and look small in size. This cat breed is round in all segments. The body, the head, and even the eyes. The color of the eyes is a copper color in most cats, although it is not a rule. They may appear in any other color as well.
Personality and Treatment of a White Scottish Cat
White Scottish cats like the rest of the Scottish family cats are sweet and calm feline companions. Affectionate and loyal these cats are happy to be surrounded by people. They appreciate humans and like to socialize. Almost everybody is attracted by their appearance and loving nature.
Scottish White Cats are intelligent and thus like to play a lot. If owning a cat from this breed you should plan your schedule carefully because time for play is important. These cats are among the rarest that can show how happy and satisfied they are with their facial expression.
White Scottish cats do not have any special demands when it comes to feeding. You should obtain quality balanced cat food and consult your vet about the number of portions that your cat is going to have. It will differ when it is a kitten and later as it grows. Your vet knows about the nutrient needs of your cat and by listening to his advice you won’t make a mistake.
White Scottish cats have very dense short fur that should be provided by regular brushing and grooming. Many cat owners will tell you that it is easy to care for this breed.
You will have to brush your cat at least three times per week. It will remove the dead hair from the cat. Brushing your cat has one more benefit establishing a strong bond between the two of you.
The ears of a White Scottish cat are very specific because they are folded and you will have to check them often to clean any wax that may be layered. It can be the cause of an ear infection which is destructive and painful for your cat. If you notice redness inside the ear, you should better call the vet as soon as possible.
Nail clipping as a part of grooming is also important for the overall well-being of your cat. Try to start with that while it is a kitten. Your cat will easily get used to it.
Health Issues of a White Scottish Cat
The two most frequent health issues with the White Scottish cat are Polycystic Kidney Disease and Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy.
The first-mentioned disease has a genetic background and characteristic for this breed. The cysts formed in the cat’s kidneys can be a reason for losing some of the kidney functions permanently.
The second one is connected with the heart. It is a condition when the heart does not pump enough blood.
For both and for many other reasons you should visit your vet regularly and prevent or cure.
