Scottish Fold [CRACKED]

The Scottish Fold is a distinctive breed of domestic cat characterised by a natural dominant gene mutation associated with osteochondrodysplasia. This genetic anomaly impacts cartilage throughout the body, causing the ears to "fold", bending forward and down towards the front of the head. While this trait contributes to the breed's unique appearance, often described as an "owl-like",[1] it is essential to note that osteochondroplasia can have negative effects on the cats' welfare.

All Fold cats are affected by osteochondrodysplasia, a developmental abnormality that affects cartilage and bone development throughout the body. This condition causes the ear fold in the breed and studies point to all Fold cats being affected by it. Fold cats therefore have malformed bone structures and can develop severe painful degenerative joint diseases at an early age.[2] Due to these health conditions, breeding Fold cats is prohibited in several countries and some major cat registries do not recognise the cat breed.

Scottish Fold

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The rare distinctive physical traits of the breed, combined with their reputation as unusually loving companions, make Folds highly sought-after pets, with Fold kittens typically costing considerably more than kittens of more common breeds.[6] Scottish folds are also popular among celebrities, one of them being American singer Taylor Swift, who owns two Scottish fold cats named Meredith Grey (the titular character of the medical drama series Grey's Anatomy), and Olivia Benson (the protagonist of the police drama series Law & Order: Special Victims Unit).[7]

In order to protect animal welfare, several countries and states have prohibited breeding with Scottish folds, including the Netherlands in 2014,[8] Austria in 2020,[9][10] Flanders (Belgium) in 2021,[11] Victoria (Australia),[12] Norway in 2023,[13] and even the birthplace of the breed, Scotland.[14][15] Some countries have also banned selling[11] of Scottish fold cats, or the breeding with any cat that bears the gene mutation resulting in osteochondrodysplasia, so even breeding with some of the Scottish straights.[8] Potential parent cats can be tested for this osteochondrodysplasia mutation before breeding.[16]

Scottish Fold kittens that do not develop folded ears are known as Scottish Straights.[1] The original cats had only one fold in their ears, but due to selective breeding, breeders have increased the fold to a double or triple crease that causes the ear to lie totally flat against the head.[citation needed]

Scottish Folds, whether with folded ears or with normal ears, are typically good-natured and placid and adjust to other animals within a household extremely well. They tend to become very attached to their human caregivers and are by nature quite affectionate. Folds also receive high marks for playfulness, grooming and intelligence. Scottish Folds like to be outdoors and enjoy outdoor games and activities. Loneliness is something they heavily dislike.

An early study suggested that the fold is inherited as an autosomal dominant trait.[21] A later study suggested an incomplete dominance.[22] A cat with folded ears may have either one (heterozygous) or two copies (homozygous) of the dominant fold gene (Fd). A cat with normal ears should have two copies of the normal gene (fd).

Mating a homozygous fold with any cat will produce all folds, but because homozygous folds are prone to severe health issues, breeding for them is generally considered unethical. A homozygous to normal mating will produce only heterozygous folds but presumably in ethical breeding programs, there will be no homozygous cats available to breed from.

There is suspicion that some non-fold litters are genetically heterozygous folds but because of very low expression of the gene, appear to be straight-eared. Such kittens may develop folded ears initially which then straighten back out. Because of this there are suggestions by some breeders to avoid mating Folds with straight-eared Scottish Folds but only use British Shorthairs (BSH) as outcross.[23][24] If Scottish Shorthairs are to be used, they should be test mated to a BSH to make sure that they are not genetically folds.[23] If such apparent straight-eared cats are mated with a fold, there is a 75% chance of folds (25% homozygous folds, 50% heterozygous folds) and 25% chance of straight ears.

In 2016 the genetic mutation responsible for the folded ears and the osteochondrodysplasia was identified. It was found in a gene encoding a calcium permeable ion channel, transient receptor potential cation channel, subfamily V, member 4 (TRPV4).[25] The mutation is a V342F substitution (c.1024G>T) in the fifth ankyrin repeat within the N-terminal cytoplasmic domain. It was also found in a human patient with metatropic dysplasia.[26]

Scottish folds are susceptible to polycystic kidney disease (PKD)[27] and cardiomyopathy.[28]Scottish folds are also prone to degenerative joint disease (a type of arthritis), most commonly affecting the tail, ankles, and knees which can result in reduced range of motion.[19]

Osteochondrodysplasia (OCD) is a developmental abnormality that affects cartilage and bone development throughout the body. This condition causes the ear fold in the breed and, in studies conducted so far, all Fold cats are affected by it.[2] Homozygous Folds are affected by malformed bone structures and develop severe painful degenerative joint diseases at an early age. Some breeders claim that this condition also affects heterozygous Folds, but usually to a much lesser extent and at a later age.

In a study of Rorden [29] four radiologists, blinded to the ear phenotype, assessed radiographs of 22 Scottish Fold/Straight cats. All cats were genotyped showing the heterozygous mutation in all folded ear cats but not in straight cats. Each reviewer gave on average the folded ear cats a worse "severity score", however the images showed much milder signs than previously published. The authors state that the severity of OCD in heterozygous cats is very variable and subtle. This could be due to other modifier genes or nurture (climate, diet, exercise). So it was shown that the least affected folded ear cat was given identical or less score than the highest rated straight ear cat.

The Scottish Fold is seemingly made entirely of curves! This rounded, medium sized cat is compact and solid, with a round head, large round eyes and most notably their ears are small and neatly folded forward covering the ear opening. The Scottish Fold has a sweet expression and a luxurious short, dense coat.

The Scottish Fold breed has ears that fold downwards due to an inherited defect that affects the cartilage in their ears. However, this defect will also affect the cartilage in the cat's joints, a condition called osteochondrodysplasia. This condition can lead to severe and painful arthritis.

The breed is also classified as brachycephalic; problems associated with this condition include;

- Brachycephalic airway obstruction syndrome: is a condition in brachycephalic (breeds with a short noses and squashed faces) breeds where breathing is obstructed and can lead to severe respiratory distress.

- Skin inflammation/infection: brachycephalic breeds have a short nose and a normal amount of facial tissue. This means there is often excess skin around their face which leads to skin folds- which is where soreness and infections are prone to develop.

- Eye ulcers: ulcers are painful erosions on the surface of the eye, they are more common in brachycephalic breeds due to their conformation, as their eyes tend to be more bulbous.

Scottish Fold cats are prone to:

- Polycystic kidney disease which is an inherited condition where cysts form in the kidneys. This affects kidney function and can eventually lead to kidney failure. However, it is worth noting that the risk of developing this disease in this breed is lower than in other cat breeds that are prone to the problem.

Testing available:

- DNA testing for polycystic kidney disease which tests whether or not a cat has the potential to be affected by this condition.

Cats with drooping ears or folded ears are ancient. The first word of one goes as far back as 1796. In this year, an English sailor brought back one of these cats when he returned from China. The Chinese also contributed the second example of a folded ear cat to the cat fancy history when one was noted in 1938.

But the Scottish Fold as we know her today was first born in 1961 in Pertshire, Scotland. There, a kitten with folded ears was discovered in a litter of otherwise normal eared kittens. This kitten, named Susie, was then bred to domestic cats and British Shorthair cats to establish the folded ear. To this day, every Scottish fold can trace her ancestry to Susie.

The Scottish Fold is difficult to breed. The folded ear cat must not be bred to another folded ear cat. Allowable outcrosses, in addition to a straight-eared cat, are the American Shorthair and British Shorthair. If two folded eared cats are bred to each other, the resulting kittens can be impaired to the extent of having difficulty walking. Even with this outcross, Scottish Folds tend to have small litters and not all of these kittens have folded ears.

Scottish Folds are wonderful pets, known for their gentle and affectionate nature. However, their unique folded ears are associated with a genetic disease that can lead to pain in the bones, cartilage, and joints.

This has led to debates about whether Scottish Folds should be bred at all. To eliminate duplicate folded-ear genes and alleviate health issues, responsible breeders in the United States breed folded-ear cats only with straight-eared cats. Regular veterinary checkups, genetic testing, and an appropriate diet can help manage the condition and keep your cat at a healthy weight.

All Scottish Folds can trace their pedigrees back to a cat named Susie found in 1961 on the McRae farm near Coupar Angus, a town in Perth and Kinross, Scotland. This white female farm feline had unique, folded down ears, and British Shorthair breeders William and Mary Ross, upon seeing this unusual cat, recognized her potential as a new breed. 17dc91bb1f