Scottish folds

[overthemill]

Having always had moggies/rescue cats we A&E considering adding a Scottish Fold kitten to our menagerie. At present we have a nearly one year old rescue cat who I'd fab ( but a bit of a killer) and a very very friendly dog who adores the cat and vice versa. My very sick bed boun did has seen pics of these cats on Instagram and loves the look of them and found out that they are very friendly and likely though not guaranteed to be stay at home sit in the end of the bed types.

So, even though a pedigree is expensive, anyone own one? Give me any reasons for and against?

I know it's a mutation and I am not 100% sure I approve but I just want info please not a flaming!

Bump

It's not that it's a mutation that's a problem in itself it's that the mutation that causes the fold also causes arthritis and painful joint problems... There are studies claiming that not a single one of them is healthy and the reason that they're not massively active is because they're in pain.

I own a pedigree cat (Siamese) so it's not an anti pedigree thing, but without finding out if the studies are any different since the last time I looked, I wouldn't be buying a Scottish fold.

I wonder if there's a scottish fold forum? there's a bengal one full of mad people who have more bengals than sense

Dh used to drive past one in the mornings when we lived in the country. He said it was always running full pelt down the road like it was on a mission of utmost urgency.

It's true. The mutation which gives them the cute ears also gives them crippling arthritis.

Taylor Swift has a lot to answer for -interest in these poor cats is rocketing.

My research indicates that if a breeder breeds a Scottish fold with mutation (folded ears) with breed that hasn't eg British shorthair ( which is the pairing that the breeder we have found reasonably locally does) then the risk of the osteodystrophy is negligible. But obviously there may be a small risk. So I wasn't worried about that so much.

Didn't know Taylor swift had one, neither did dd. she's just seen them on Instagram and she and I have researched them.

So I was just asking really about what they were like as pets.

But the outcrossing only prevents Osteochondrodysplasia if they don't inherit the fold, it's not just an early onset thing, cats with only one copy of the mutation with folded ears can and do develop it later, it's a bit unclear how prevalent it is because breeders were reluctant to have their cats x-rayed for studies after the ones stating it was in fact all of them that are affected.

If it's the looks and personality that's attracting your DD, have another look at BSHs...they're nice cats too.

I like the look of them, but as a vet the health risks were far to great for me to consider so I stuck with the BSH.

We have looked into it and will look again. Don't want to encourage nasty mutations that are painful to animals. I don't 'approve' of pugs for example as have friend with one that needed surgery for nasty eye problem. Will look at BSH too

Here is some guidance on Scottish Folds from a fairly authoritative source, the ICC. You'll see the strong warning they include in it - something which is not in every description.

If I were you, I'd be thinking more along the lines of a well bred Siamese. I'll confess that I've had Siamese as my personal boys since I was a child so I'm partial in this regard - but they would probably fit very well with your DD if they bonded to her because they adore being with their 'person' - and will usually sleep in bed through the night in fact.

Good luck whatever you decide.

I agree with cozie, Siamese or Burmese cats are very affectionate and intelligent cats who bond like dogs with their owners. Burmese are fairly social with other cats in my experience.