| Introduction |
Welcome in the world of the wonderful Scottish cats!
We all know the Scottish Folds with their unique folded ears,
but there are also Scottish cats with 'normal' ears which are called
Scottish Straights (*).
Scottish Folds and Scottish Straights are shorthaired cats. The semi-longhair
varieties of these breeds are called Highland Fold and Highland Straight.
(*)
In Australia and New Zealand this breed is called Scottish Shorthair.
In America cat breeders speak about 'Scottish Folds straight-eared' (SF SE),
and 'Scottish Folds folded-ear' (SF FE).
| Breeding |
The folded ear is caused by the Fd-gene. The 'Fd'-value of this gene causes a reduction
of the cartilage in the ear basis (that's why they fall down), but it can also generate an
increase of cartilage in other parts of the skeleton, especially in the tail bones and
- more dramatically - in the back legs. Most of these problems however have been eliminated
by selective breeding.
The Fd-gene has 2 possible values: 'Fd' (folded ear) en 'fd' (normal ear).
As the 'Fd'-value is dominant, it needs only be inherited from 1 parent to produce a Fold.
All our Folds are basically heterozygote [= (Fd,fd) genotype].
The homozygote appearance [= (Fd,Fd) genotype] of the folded ear causes lethal osteodystrophy
problems. That's why Fold*Fold breeding is ethically forbidden.
The natural partner of the Scottish Fold is the Scottish Straight. As the Scottish Straight
is still struggling for recognition in America and Europe, it's not always easy to find
a good specimen as a mating partner. To enlarge the genetic pool, feline organisations
still allow outbreeding with some other breeds.
Allowed crossings for the Scottish Fold (rules of the CESFHF):
Scottish Fold * Scottish Straight
Scottish Fold * Highland Straight
Scottish Fold * British Shorthair
Scottish Fold * British Longhair
Scottish Fold * American Shorthair
Allowed crossings for the Highland Fold (rules of the CESFHF):
Highland Fold * Highland Straight
Highland Fold * Scottish Straight
Highland Fold * British Longhair
Highland Fold * British Shorthair
Highland Fold * American Shorthair
( Reference:
Conditions of Membership of the CESFHF
)
As homozygote Fold breeding is not allowed, we will allways find a mixture of kittens with folded ears
and straight ears in Scottish/Highland litters. Three weeks after birth, the breeder can
already see if the ears will stand or fall.
| Breed standards |
CAT ASSOCIATION / BREED
Scottish
Fold
Highland
Fold
Scottish
Straight
Highland
Straight
Cat Fanciers Association (USA)
CFA
CFA
TICA (USA)
TICA
TICA
Australian Cat Federation (Australia)
ACF
ACF
ACF
Livre Officiel des Origines Félines (France)
LOOF
LOOF
American Cat Fanciers Association (USA)
ACFA
ACFA
Cyber Cat Association
CCA
CCA
CCA
CCA
American Association of Cat Enthusiasts (USA)
AACE
AACE
| Breed associations |
BREED ASSOCIATION
WEBSITE
Club Européen du Scottish Fold et de l'Highland Fold (Belgium)
CESFHF
Le Club du British Shorthair, Scottish Fold, ... (France)
Le Cabri
Les amis du Scottish, du Highland et du British (France)
Les amis
International Scottish Fold Association (USA)
ISFA
PAGE UNDER CONSTRUCTION
(topics to be added:)
Temperament of the Fold
Temperament of the Straight
Appearance of the Scottish Fold
Appearance of the Scottish Straight
Appearance of the Highland Fold
Appearance of the Highland Straight
Single folded and double folded
Origin of the Scottish Fold (short version)
History of the Scottish Fold (long version)