Scottish Fold Health

The Scottish Fold ear fold mutation is closely linked to abnormal skeletal development leading to the inherited disease osteochondrodysplasia (OCD). It is characterized by skeletal deformities associated with the growth of cartilage tissue.

Scottish fold cats may begin to limp, develop a stiff, “stilted” gait, and their tail “hardens”. The older the animal, the more severe the disease will progress – deformation of the hock joint and fingers, tail vertebrae will begin, difficulty breathing and spasms will occur. The best type of diagnosis of this disease is x-ray and there are no effective methods of treatment yet. Opponents of the breed consider OCD to be exclusively a fold disease, but Alaskan Malamute and French Bulldog breeds also suffer from it.

The cause of OCD in folds occurs due to improper breeding. Folded ears are a manifestation of a cartilage defect that is inherited in an autosomal dominant manner. In other words, when mating fold to fold, the resulting homozygous offspring will be susceptible to OCD. Heterozygous offspring (when mating fold and straight) will be healthier and practically free from this genetic disease. The problem with OCD can be minimized with proper selection of pairs and isolation of lines in which cases of the disease have been identified, which is what responsible breeders say.

Another disease characteristic of the Scottish Fold breed is HCM – hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (a pathology of the heart, accompanied by a pronounced thickening of the heart muscle and leading to the development of heart failure, up to death).

However, it’s not only a “Scottish” disease. Many breeds that are accepted and approved by all systems of the world (Maine Coon, Burmese, Siberian, Sphynx, Ragdoll, etc.) fight this hereditary disease. Moreover, Scottish folds do not fall into the top three animals at risk. The most accurate method for diagnosing HCM is echocardiography, but in some cases, additional chest x-ray and electrocardiography are also important. Of course, the carrier of the disease is not allowed to breed, and the entire line is checked, especially close relatives.

-Another ailment that is attributed to Scottish folds is polycystic kidney disease (PKD), a progressive genetic disease inherited in a dominant manner. Obstruction in the structure of the kidneys and the appearance of cysts can be observed in cats from birth – with age, the situation worsens up to the complete replacement of the normal structure of the tissues of this organ. PKD, аs a rule, manifests itself in cats from three to ten years, more often at the age of seven. Ultrasound and DNA testing for PKD carriage is recommended for all folds used in breeding programs. But folds are not alone in this disease either – it affects exotic SH, British SH, Persian cats, etc. And again, the genetic mutation of the folds has nothing to do with this disease.

As you can see, none of the considered ailments is a personal scourge of the “Scots”. They penetrated the breed and grew due to the huge number of improper breeding that gave life to many sick kittens. This is a cruel payment for popularity – many people who do not know the basics of breeding, who call themselves breeders, do not want to delve into the intricacies of the breed, but want to earn as much money from animals as possible. It is worth remembering that it is difficult to restore the reputation of the breed, but still possible. Therefore, the more responsibly breeders approach breeding, the less often they will have to give arguments in defense of their beloved cats.

Leslie Lyons, professor of genetics at Davis University in California. As a scientist, I try to remain neutral in discussions about the breed, but facts remain facts. The gene for pinched ears has also been linked to the development of osteoarthritis in cats, which leads to joint stiffness. The mutation in folds is dominant – if one of the partners had flattened ears, this trait will be passed onto offspring. The necessary studies have been carried out, and I confirm that animals obtained from matings of two folds, in most cases, suffer from a severe form of osteoarthritis. That is why we advise knitting folds with straight-eared cats. Some also think that kittens produced from fold and straight matings may have asymptomatic osteoarthritis, but serious studies have not been conducted on this issue. In the US, folds are also knitted with Persians, but breeders should be aware of polycystic kidney disease in these animals and understand that the disease can be transmitted to the Scottish breed. In addition, some folds suffer from brachycephalic syndrome, which causes them to have malocclusion and difficult airways.

My advice to breeders is to continue outcrossing for the genetic diversity of the breed, but be careful and DNA test partners to prevent genetic diseases. Breeders must maintain a database of veterinary animal testing in order to monitor the breed.