Their beauty and pleasant disposition have made the British Folds desirable pets. Cats with British roots are distinguished by their cute appearance, thick dense hair, and look like living plush toys. Adults have a good-natured, calm character.
A fluffy, robust man with a large round head and bright eyes cannot but evoke affection. If he is also lop-eared, he will certainly win any heart. But not all lovers know that this breed is correctly called differently.
Is there a breed called the British Fold?
The result of crossing purebred shorthaired British and American breeds was the Scottish Fold, or Scottish Fold. They are called exactly that and nothing else. The British breed has a more pronounced cobby type - stocky build, massive paws, thick hair, round shape. The admixture of the American cat is responsible for grace and elegance.
The Scottish Fold harmoniously combines the features of both breeds. Their distinctive feature is the specific shape of the ears, curved forward and down. This is a consequence of a natural gene mutation first discovered in Scotland in 1959 by Valery Ross, who began to popularize the breed.
Later studies showed that the gene responsible for the characteristic lop ear weakens the animal's musculoskeletal system. Therefore, it is impossible to cross two Scottish Folds - due to the accumulated mutations, their offspring will suffer from diseases.
Nowadays, for breeding Scottish Folds, a Scottish Fold cat is crossed with a British cat. As a result, kittens are born with erect ears, but during the first month of life they become lop-eared.
Due to the breeding characteristics, representatives of this breed cannot have a pedigree and are not recognized by most felinological federations. However, this did not affect their popularity in any way.
British breed wool
Peculiarities of climatic indicators influenced the development of the coat of the British, which, in addition to its thickness, also has an excellent undercoat.
The coat is shortish, closer to soft to the touch. It is quite thick and compacted, which is why cats are often called “plush”.
The colors of British cats can be of several shades:
- one tone;
- tortoiseshell;
- patterned called “tabby”;
- smoky;
- bi-color, expressed by a combination of two shades;
- chinchilla;
- Siamese "color point".
The British blue or lilac cat is the most common type of breed.
The breed has a single variety, represented by long-haired individuals. The first kittens with a longer coat were born only when a Briton was crossed with a Persian feline.
However, purebred British dogs can also have long-haired offspring if they have a “weak gene” that is responsible for long hair.
Differences between British and Scottish cats
Before purchasing a pet, you need to accurately determine the breed of the kitten - British or Scottish Fold. If the animal is less than a month old, this is extremely difficult to do. There are a number of signs that will help determine belonging to a particular breed.
The British have a heavier, stockier build. Kittens are distinguished by their strength. They look like clumsy bear cubs with plump short legs and a short tail. They have powerful withers, which stand out when the head is set low, and the transition from nose to forehead is smooth.
Main characteristics of the Scottish Fold breed.
The Scottish breed is distinguished by its graceful body structure. These cats have more elongated proportions, long legs, and a tail that tapers to the tip. The animal has practically no withers, and the transition from the forehead to the nose is clearly pronounced. Also, the British and Scots have different coat colors.
Adult Scottish Folds have a heavy body constitution. They have curled, slightly drooping ears. This form is the main attractive difference. Despite being muscular, they look more flexible and graceful compared to the British.
It has been noticed that such cats maintain balance well on their hind legs. Kittens are larger from birth. Adult animals can weigh up to 6 kg. Females weigh less than males, and sexual dimorphism is pronounced. Folds usually mature by 2-3 years.
Due to the original shape of the ears, the face looks unusual. The eyes are copper-colored, but there are individuals with blue, green, amber and emerald shades. The coat and undercoat are dense, elastic, and can be of any color.
Consequences of mating a Briton and a Fold
As a result of crossing, both the British and Scottish cats were losers:
- The British began to have an elongated body, a smaller muzzle, and lost the beauty of their coat. Such mating gave the British absolutely nothing.
- The Scots “earned” problems with the skeletal system. After all, the powerful bones acquired from the British did not combine well with the gene for lop ears. The ears were also damaged. The British-Scottish descendants did not have perfectly formed, small ears. When mated to Britons who do not have the lop ear gene, the kittens' ears are often loose and have a wider base. And over time, such ears can stand up.
- Straight cats turned out to be completely different in type. Some were massive, squat, almost matching the British standard. The second ones are elongated, with long legs and a tail.
Color options
Wool can be dyed monophonically or with a mixture of several colors. Color the hairs by 1/3 and 1/8. There are ticked colors of Scottish Fold cats. You can find a variety of coat colors in Scottish Folds:
- striped;
- white;
- black
- blue;
- lilac;
- smoky;
- tabby color;
- chocolate;
- marble;
- brown;
- peach
The color of a kitten depends on genetics, a combination of the main shades - white, black and red. Certain inherited genes are responsible for the dominance of one color or another. The photo gallery presents a wide variety of Scottish Fold color options.
BLACK BRITISH KITTENS: PHOTOS OF SMALL KITTENS
We are pleased to present a gallery containing photos of black British kittens of beautiful correct color.
| In our cattery you can “buy a real British kitten.” We have many different colors, we will help you choose and answer all your questions! |
Description of character
This breed is distinguished by its friendliness and calmness. They become strongly attached to their owner. They love active games, but do not force games on their owners. This breed also lends itself well to initial training.
Females have a balanced character. To keep your pet obedient, you must not be rude or aggressive towards the animal. They get along well with all family members and other pets. You can learn more interesting facts about Scottish Fold cats and their character from the video.
Attachment of fold-eared cats to their owners
Fold loves to eat, so she quickly gets used to the person who gives her food. It is advisable that the owner of the animal take on this function. For care and affection, the owner will receive an obedient, devoted animal.
A pet shows independence and self-sufficiency. Scots are ideal for people who devote a lot of time to work. A cat can spend a long time alone without experiencing discomfort or psychological problems.
If the owner is at home, the pet loves to spend time next to him, but at the same time does not tolerate hugs. This breed of cat does not like to sit on a person's hands or lap. All she needs to do is sit and purr next to her.
Temperament
Each individual has its own character, habits, disposition. However, there are common features that are characteristic of one or another breed. Distinctive features of the breed include:
- attachment to the owner;
- dislike of human hands;
- restraint in behavior;
- independence, sometimes even pride.
Scottish Fold cats are clean animals. They monitor the cleanliness and condition of their fur. If your pet shows signs of sloppiness, you should contact your veterinarian. This may indicate deteriorating health.
Material on the topic: what is the character of a British cat.
Story
There is every reason to believe that the ancestors of our today's hero were Roman cats. Together with the legionnaires, they arrived on ships in Great Britain and conquered this country. Fold-eared Britons in the form in which we fell in love with these cute creatures appeared only in the nineteenth century. It was during this period that many experiments were carried out to create new breeds or change existing ones.
In order to get such amazing plush fur , the idea arose to cross a Scottish cat with a Persian cat. The result is known to you and me. Fans of the cat family, especially furry representatives, have probably already admired the lovely creature. But why did the black color appear? There are reasons for this too. The fact is that the British believe that it is black cats that attract good luck to the house.
Relationships with other household members
Representatives of this breed adapt well to new conditions. They do well in large families with children or other animals. They are extremely loyal to children and forgive them many pranks. Scottish Fold cats are not inclined to show aggression towards people.
If a pet has more Scottish admixture, its character will be more active and cunning. An inherent feature of such individuals is spontaneous activity. A cat can sit quietly and suddenly suddenly attack a moving object in the apartment. Also, lop-eared dogs will not suck up to the owner or purr at him. This is dictated by self-esteem.
Maintenance and care
Representatives of this cat breed are well suited for keeping in private homes.
They love space and can walk around the site, hunt birds or rodents. They tolerate low and high temperatures well. It is worth remembering that in the summer or if the apartment is hot, the animal must have unlimited access to water. The ability to quench their thirst is very important for cats. They easily wait for the next feeding, but have a hard time with the lack of water.
To maintain health, it is recommended to regularly visit the veterinarian, take the necessary preventive measures, and get vaccinated. If the owner is thinking about castrating his pet, this should be done at the age of about 9 months. This measure will relieve the animal from physiological suffering associated with periodic fluctuations in hormonal levels, and the owner from the characteristic smell in the apartment. Only those individuals that are intended to be used for breeding are not castrated.
Proper maintenance and care involves a number of activities that the pet owner must periodically carry out. Twice a year the cat needs to be washed with special shampoos. Conventional products can cause irritation to the animal's skin.
It is necessary to wipe the corners of the eyes from discharge and dirt. The ears also need to be kept clean. Sulfur, secretion, and dirt collect in them. Clean your ears once every two months. To do this, you can use cotton sponges, cotton swabs, and peroxide. Do not penetrate deeply into the ear canal, as this can damage the eardrum.
To clean your teeth, use special brushes and special pastes. If the cat receives solid food periodically, teeth brushing occurs during meals. Once every six months, it is worth having a veterinarian check for oral diseases.
There must be a scratching post in your house or apartment. If this measure is not enough, you need to periodically trim the claws. There is a special nail clipper for this; ordinary scissors will damage the skin of the paws.
The cat needs to be brushed. For individuals with short hair, this can be done once a week. It is better to comb it than to clean the apartment every day. For animals with thick, long hair, this procedure should be done every day.
It is important to choose a convenient tray. It is better to discuss toilet issues with the breeder. What is important here is the animal’s habits, which were established in childhood.
Breeding
For experienced breeders, it is difficult to be sure that the offspring from each mating will produce a quality litter of black kittens. It is impossible to predict the result for objective and subjective reasons. It all depends on how the pairs are chosen correctly, which must meet the following conditions:
- Both parents are purebred black British, without flaws in the coat.
- When one of the applicants is prepotent, he will pass on the necessary genes to his offspring.
- When testing blood groups, A and B should not be combined in a pair, otherwise offspring may be born but will not survive.
- This is not the first time a cat and a cat have participated in mating. Early matings are contraindicated; the body of young kittens is not ready to reproduce healthy offspring.
- Genetic signs of heredity are traced through the pedigrees of the couple. If earlier in the litters there were babies that violated the standard, were colorful, with splashes, then the result of obtaining pure black kittens is not guaranteed.
- The couple undergoes a health examination from a veterinarian and preventive treatment against helminth infection.
- Be vaccinated at least a month before mating.
Black kittens
Breeders are not always able to obtain anthracite babies, even if the conditions for mating black solids are met. Kittens do not immediately become charcoal. A newborn's coat is gray or brown, but only after 8 months does it take on an adult color. To the chagrin of breeders, kittens do not always acquire a perfectly even anthracite tone. Another test awaits the black color. With complete loss of baby teeth in kittens, during puberty, coal solids can radically change the color of the coat.
Feeding
By nature, any cat is a predator, so there should be variety in the diet. According to her instincts, she eats the entire portion of food given to her. You should not overfeed your pet to avoid causing problems with digestion and obesity. Lack of activity also affects weight gain.
Food should be either completely natural or ready-made. Mixing them is not recommended by veterinarians and cat breeding specialists. Cats prefer meat and meat products as natural food.
You should not choose fatty meats. You can include milk, kefir, cheese, vegetables, and various cereals in your diet. Special vitamin complexes can be used as supplements. If your cat receives ready-made food, it is better to choose a reliable manufacturer. Economy class food can be harmful to health.
Interesting read: how to feed British breed cats.
How to choose the right kitten
Ash, black, black and white British cats or any other color stand out for their attractive appearance. To purchase a healthy kitten, you must first make sure of the good qualities of the parents. This is verified using a passport and pedigree. Experts recommend taking babies only from trusted nurseries.
First of all, in addition to the passport and pedigree, the kitten must have all the characteristics of the breed. Next, you need to pay attention to the baby’s activity and playfulness. If lethargy appears, then there is a possibility of infection or disease. The condition of the ears and eyes should also be normal.
Health problems
When buying a kitten, sometimes you may encounter hereditary diseases that will appear several years later. The most common disease of this breed is problems with the formation of the skeleton. Usually these are deformations of the spine, paws, and fingers.
Growths may appear on the paws. Because of them, the animal can have difficulty walking and limp. In this case, surgical intervention is required. Sometimes heart problems may appear. This usually happens after a year. In this case, it is necessary to monitor the situation by periodically performing ultrasound of the heart muscle.
