Charming “intellectuals” are sensitive to personal space, value peace, and demonstrate all the delights of cat love only to a chosen person. We tell about Scottish Straight Cat’s history, character, and content in this article.
Brief information about the breed
- Breed name: Scottish Straight-eared cat.
- Country of origin: United Kingdom (Scotland).
- Time of origin of the breed: 20th century.
- Weight: females – 3-4 kg, males – 5-6 kg.
- Height at withers: up to 30 cm.
- Coat: Scottish StraightsMedium length, thick, and plush. Highland Straights have semi-long hair.
- Eye color: blue, green, copper, orange, amber.
- Average life expectancy: 12-15 years.
Key facts
- Scottish Straights are used to breed Scottish Folds, their lop-eared cousins;
- They have robust health and are not susceptible to Scottish Fold diseases (arthritis, arthrosis, osteochondrodysplasia). They are quite easy to care for and maintain.
- They are distinguished by a calm and non-conflict character, not prone to vocalization and aggression;
- They learn well and remember the rules of behavior in the house relatively easily;
- As a rule, one person in the family is singled out and given more attention.
Characteristics of the Scottish Straight breed
- Activity. KittensActive and inquisitive adult pets prefer a measured rest but sometimes do not mind playing active games.
- Friendliness. They get along well with other animals and rarely enter into conflict.
- Sociability. They are independent and restrained in their expression of emotions. They observe family life from the sidelines a little but still need communication.
- Attitude to loneliness. Short-term loneliness is tolerated calmly. Long-term absence of the owner can lead to depression.
- Intelligence. They quickly remember the rules of behavior in the house and are relatively easy to train to use a litter box and scratching post. They are not interested in training but can learn some simple commands.
History of the Origin of the Scottish Straight
Scottish Straights and Scottish Folds have a common origin story. It began in the 1960s when the ancestor of the breed – a simple street cat with unusual ears – fell into the hands of William Ross and interested him in her appearance. Ross began breeding the lop-eared breed, and later, professional breeders became interested in it.
During the breeding process, specialists noticed an unusual feature: in a litter of two lop-eared cats, babies with straight ears sometimes appeared, but they were not particularly popular, as they seemed less interesting than their brothers. Soon, the breeders discovered another unpleasant fact: the offspring of two Scottish Folds were born non-viable or with serious deviations. The lop-ear gene, which they tried to fix by crossing only Scottish Folds, negatively affected the condition of the bone apparatus and “rewarded” the “folds” with osteochondrodysplasia.
There was only one solution – not to use two lop-eared cats for mating and to find producers who would help preserve the breed’s distinctive features and bring robust, healthy offspring. For some time, breeders crossed “folds” with British cats but soon discovered that the best offspring were obtained from a lop-eared Scottish cat and a straight-eared one. Thus, Scottish Straights first attracted the attention of the public.
They became an independent breed only in 2004, which increased their popularity “rating.” Now, Scottish straight-eared cats participate in exhibitions, win awards, have their own breed standard, and are in no way inferior to their lop-eared relatives.
Photos of Scottish Straight cats
Appearance standards
The Scottish breed is distinguished by its medium size. The female cat weighs 3-4 kg, and the male cat – 5-6 kg. Sexual dimorphism is noticeable – males are usually larger than females.
The body is strong with good muscles, but not massive. The chest and shoulders are developed. The limbs are of medium length and slender. The paws are rounded and set straight. The tail is of medium length or long, proportional to the body, tapering to the tip. Short limbs, outward paw rotation, stiffness of movement, and kinks in the tail are considered faults.
The head is rounded and flows smoothly into a strong neck. The chin is strong, the jaws are developed, the cheekbones are noticeably prominent. The whisker pads are rounded and pronounced. The nose is short and wide; there is no stop. The cheeks are pronounced, especially in males. The faults of the breed are a pronounced stop and a weak chin.
The ears are small or medium-sized with rounded tips. They are set wide apart, emphasizing the round shape of the head. They are slightly directed forward, well-furred.
The eyes are large and wide open, round in shape. The outer corners are slightly higher than the inner ones. The color corresponds to the coat color:
- Golden – cats with black, blue, red, and cream fur, as well as with the colors red chinchilla, calico, shaded cameo, red, brown, and cream tabby;
- Blue or gold – “Scots” with white wool;
- Green and bluish-green – cats with the color silver chinchilla, silver shaded;
- Golden or copper – smoky, shaded, and blue tabby;
- Green – shaded golden “folds”;
- Green or hazel-silver tabby;
- Copper – cameo tabby;
- Gold or blue – bicolor;
- Blue or light blue – color points.
The coat is thick and plush, medium length, does not lie close to the body, and is soft to the touch.
Colours of “Scots”
The breed allows for a variety of colors, many of which overlap with the colors of the “Britons.” They are conventionally divided into categories: single-color (solid), tabby, silver and gold, parti-color, and colorpoint.
Solid colors
These colors are characterized by the uniform coloring of the hair along the entire length, and they can be lightened or unlit (basic). For basic shades, saturated and bright tones are preferable; for lightened ones, pastel is preferred. The nose and paw pads should match the color of the coat.
What solid colors are found in Scottish Straights:
- Variations of black: black, blue, chocolate, purple, cinnamon, deer;
- Variations of red: ginger (red), cream.
- White – in childhood, kittens may have colored hairs on the crown of their heads; after a year, they disappear;
- Tortoiseshell colors: black and red, blue and cream, chocolate tortoiseshell, lilac and cream. Tortoiseshell colors also belong to the solid group, since with this coloring, the hairs are completely colored from root to tip.
Tabby colors
Tabby is a color in which the hair is alternately colored in dark and light tones. This phenomenon is called ticking – it is caused by the agouti gene.
All variations of tabby color have a number of common features:
- The letter “M” on the head, “glasses” around the eyes, light chin;
- A “necklace” of 2-3 rings on the neck, “button” spots on the stomach;
- There are rings on the limbs and tail; the tip of the tail is dark.
Scottish Straights come in tabby colors: marble, tiger, spotted, and ticked (Abyssinian).
Silver and gold colors
The silver color is characterized by a light base of the guard hair and a white undercoat, while the golden color is characterized by a yellowish base of the hair and a yellow-orange undercoat.
Silver and gold color options:
- Chinchilla – ⅛ of the guard hair is colored. Patterns on the body are not allowed;
- Shaded color – one-third of the guard hair is colored; patterns are also not allowed;
- Smoky – the guard hair is colored over ½ or ⅔ of its length, and the white undercoat contrasts with the guard hair.
Silver “Scots” should not have yellowish tints; this is considered a disadvantage.
Particular
Particular – a color with white – is divided into five types depending on the percentage of white areas on the cat’s body:
- Van – ⅞ of the body is covered with white wool;
- Harlequin – ⅚ white coat, ⅙ colored areas;
- Bicolor/tricolor – white fur covers half or a third of the body;
- Color with a small amount of white is a non-specific color. “Medallions,” “gloves” and other white spots on the body are allowed;
- Calico (tortoiseshell and white) – red and black spots on a white body.
Colorpoint colors
Colorpoint is a color characterized by the presence of dark areas on a light body. The WCF Association does not allow point color with white (Siamese); in CFA and TICA, all variations are allowed.
- Burmese (sepia) – non-intense markings on the face, ears, legs and tail, body color is rich. Not recognized by many organizations;
- Tonkinese (mink) – low-contrast color with a lighter body compared to sepia;
- Siamese is a temperature-dependent color, in which dark areas are located on cold areas – the muzzle, ears, paws and tail.
Character and behavior
In their youth, Scottish Straights, like all kittens, are playful and inquisitive, but in adulthood, they prefer quiet leisure. They like to watch family life from the sidelines, but sometimes, they are not averse to playing with their owner or taking part in household chores. They are not fond of high jumps, so you don’t have to worry about the curtains. If the “Scotchman” decides to do some exercise, he will choose balls or other toys that can be slowly chased around the house.
They rarely meow and are not inclined to attract attention to themselves with excessive affection. They prefer to be close to their owner but do not welcome familiarity and attempt to hold them in their arms. They are wary of strangers but do not run away when they hear other people’s voices. They are unlikely to allow themselves to be petted, but they will not respond with aggression either.
Among all family members, one person is usually singled out and allowed more than the others, for example, to carry out hygiene procedures and stroke, even when they do not want to. Children are treated with restraint, and many pranks are forgiven. If communication with a child is boring, the “Scotsman” will prefer to peacefully retire to another room and will not allow himself to release his claws.
They tolerate loneliness calmly and are independent. They do not depend on human society but still get sad when the owner is away from home for a long time. They quickly find a common language with other animals due to their non-conflict nature.
Breeding
Scottish Straights are smart cats that quickly learn the rules of behavior in the house. That is why even inexperienced owners can train a kitten to dry food and introduce it to a litter box and scratching post. Despite their good learning ability, it is better to raise “Scots” from childhood so that bad habits do not darken your life together in the future.
When training, never use force – the cat is unlikely to understand what it did wrong but will definitely remember aggression from the owner. It is better to reinforce correct behavior with praise and treats and express dissatisfaction with the intonation of the voice.
“If desired, the “Scottish” can be trained. The “Scot” will be able to remember simple commands, for example, “sit” or “lie down”, but more complex tricks will require some work.”
This will be useful for owners of show-class pets and will make visits to the veterinary clinic easier. Despite the fact that the breed is highly intelligent, obeying a person is not one of its rules. Therefore, it will be enough to teach the Scottish cat the basic rules of “etiquette” and not exhaust it with long training sessions.
Potential Health Problems of the Scottish Straight
Scottish Straights are healthy cats, and they are not affected by some diseases that can affect the Scottish Folds, including arthritis, arthrosis, and osteochondrodysplasia. If everything is done right, they can live up to twenty years – for this, you have to follow the vaccination schedule, preventively visit the vet, and ensure that the dog eats tasty and healthy.
As a result of their lack of physical activity, some of the Scottish Straights may become overweight. To prevent excess weight gain, monitor the daily food intake and do not overfeed your pet, even if it persistently asks for more. Also, pay attention to physical activity – playing with a teaser rod together will help expend energy and keep your muscles toned.
If your “Scot” has been isolated for sterilization/ castration, take him/her off normal food and put him/her on a special diet. This has fewer calories but more protein – this way, you keep the correct weight and don’t starve. Also, there should always be fresh drinking water in the bowl – a sufficient amount of fluids prevents the formation of kidney stones. Unfortunately, the daily amount of water for cats is individual and depends on many factors, such as age, weight, and food type. The owner, on the other hand, is supposed to guarantee that water is always freely accessible.
Nutritional Features
It is possible to note that the health of a cat of any breed really depends on the quality of the diet, so the choice should be made only with consideration. Scottish Straight can be fed natural food as well as industrial food – the type of food is chosen by the owner based on its capabilities.
The Natural Diet is actually not so simple to provide for the pets, as this type of feeding takes a lot of time, energy, and, more importantly, the experience and understanding of Basic Veterinary Nutrition. In order to create the right menu, it is not enough to count the calories and balance the proteins, fats, and carbohydrates, and vitamins and minerals should also be put into the right proportions.
If the imbalance of nutrients comes out, health issues will soon appear, so if you have decided to feed your cat only “natural” food, it’s high time to address a veterinary nutritionist. The specialist will also teach you how to prepare dietary plans and suggest vitamins that you need to add to the animal’s diet.
Industrial foods have manufactured every nutrient blend and proportion, and all the owner needs to do is weigh portions and make his pet happy with lunch. The main issue here is to simply select proper, premium quality food that matches the cat’s age, activity level, and general condition.
Restriction applies if you have already chosen a certain type of feeding to adhere to it constantly. Do not mix industrial food and treats from the table, as this will negatively affect the digestive system. If, for some reason, you have to change the diet, do it gradually – cats are very sensitive to changes in food. Over the course of a week, gradually increase the proportion of new food/natural food in the diet until you completely switch to the new type of food.
Maintenance and care
Scottish Straights are quite unpretentious in maintenance and care – standard procedures will be enough for them:
- Wool. Brush your pet once a week and every day during periods of intense shedding. This will reduce the risk of hairballs in the stomach and keep the house clean. Bathe as needed, but not too often, so as not to damage the natural protective barrier and provoke the development of skin diseases.
- Eyes. Regularly. Inspect the eyes and remove debris if necessary. Use clean cotton pads for each eye and a special eye lotion, which can be purchased at a veterinary pharmacy.
- Ears. Inspect the auricles 1-2 times a week. If dirt is visible on the surface, perform a hygienic procedure using special ear-cleaning products.
- Teeth. To prevent dental problems, give preference to dry food – chewing granules allows you to remove bacterial plaque partially. Also, do not forget about brushing your teeth. The procedure should be carried out at least once a week, and special toothbrushes and pastes should be used for cats.
- Claws. Trim the claws as they grow and get a scratching post. If your pet does not allow you to touch the claws, contact a salon or veterinary clinic – a specialist will perform the procedure quickly and safely.
How to Choose a Scottish Straight Kitten
On the Internet, you can find many ads with attractive prices, but it is still better to take a kitten from a proven nursery with a good reputation. Of course, the price for such a pet will be much higher, but you will be sure of its pedigree and will not encounter health problems.
Before taking a kitten home, look at its behavior and appearance, as well as the conditions in which the cat lives. A healthy baby is active and playful, is not afraid of people, and looks well-groomed. The room should have litter boxes, a scratching post and toys. The mother cat instills the skill of using these accessories at an early age and significantly simplifies the task of raising the cat for the future owner.
Ask the breeder what character traits the baby already exhibits and try to make contact. Observe the parents’ behavior and evaluate their exterior – this will largely tell you how the kitten will look and behave in the future.
For a long time, straight-eared cats were unfairly ignored, and it was believed that their main purpose was to participate in the breeding of lop-eared brothers. Now, fluffy intellectuals are considered one of the most charming breeds, and they conquer their owners with their manners and kind, loving hearts.
