Many people ask how to determine whether a newborn kitten is lop-eared. In a newborn it is not visible at all. Look at the photo above: do you even see anything in it? But from the 18th day it is already clear what kind of ears the kitten will have - straight or curved. Then you will see that some kittens’ ears have fallen a little forward and down.
When kittens develop lop ears, it is already clear that their ears droop with one, two or three folds or do not have them at all. There is an opinion among breeders that if there is only one fold, then, most likely, with age the ears will rise completely or rise. If there are two folds, then depending on your luck: they can rise only a little, or they can rise a lot and become so-called helicopters. However, other breeders will object: sometimes the quality of ear fit does not depend on the number of folds.
So, the signs of lop ears in a kitten are as follows: curved down and forward + folds + smaller size of the ear. There are no other signs, such as the color of the fur on the ears, etc. degrees
How to distinguish a straight-eared cat from a fold-eared one with erect ears?
As we have already said, sometimes over time a lop-eared kitten's ears will rise. Why can cats' ears go up? This is influenced by various factors, including the number of folds. As a result, if a fold's ears rise, it may be considered a straight. This is not particularly important if you do not intend to crossbreed your pet. But if there are such plans, you will have to conduct a genetic examination: folds cannot be crossed with folds, therefore, if your cat is a fold, and you, thinking that he is a straight, pair a fold, the offspring will be sick. At the same time, it is recommended to sterilize Folds with mature ears.
Experienced breeders advise those who want to distinguish a Straight from a Fold with erect ears to pay attention to their size. Straights have quite large ears, sometimes even too large. And with folds they are always noticeably smaller.
The article was checked and approved by a felinologist and the owner of the nursery Scottish cats Shen-Alin by Natalia Shevchenko. Natalya has accumulated a wealth of experience in cat breeding, because... her nursery has been operating since 2007. The cattery breeds all four varieties of the Scottish cat breed: Scottish Fold, Scottish Straight, Highland Fold and Highland Straight.
Why does the cat shake his head and scratch his ears? We will talk about this in our article. We will look at the main reasons for this behavior of the animal. But before that, let's talk about keeping a cat at home. This topic is very important for owners. After all, their condition depends on proper ear hygiene. Of course, the cleaning procedure is not particularly pleasant for cats. But such an event cannot be avoided. It is worth getting used to the procedure from early childhood.
Cleaning the ears
At home, so as not to harm the pet? Now let's look at this topic in detail. First, I would like to note that for this procedure you will need sticks with limiters, boiled water and gauze swabs. If the animal's ears are very dirty, you can use pharmaceutical saline NaCl solution 0.9% (sterile) or lotion sold in pet stores.
Do not use peroxide, soap solutions, alcohol-containing compounds, or other folk remedies. Such liquids can harm the animal. These products may lead to the formation of small ulcers, drying out of the skin, and increased production of sulfur. Form cat ear The owner is allowed to remove excess secretions only from the visible surfaces of the sink. Trying to penetrate deep, you can scratch delicate skin and damage the membrane, thereby causing increased sulfur production. Cleaning should be done regularly.
During this event, do not use force or try to “twist” the cat. You can achieve obedience with affection and persuasion. You can wipe the ear with a gauze swab if a little wax has accumulated in it. If there is a large amount of it, saline solution should be dripped into the ear canal. Afterwards, you should gently massage the ear so that the liquid penetrates deep. The cleaning procedure will go quickly if you let the drops work for at least ten minutes. Cotton swab will help to clean hard-to-reach places.
Carry out this hygiene procedure follows as needed. There is no need to achieve sterile cleanliness. For most cats, one brushing per month will be sufficient.
The main causes of the disease
Why does my cat often scratch his ears and shake his head? Now let's look at the main reasons. Note that if an animal scratches its head or ear once, this is quite normal.
Normally, a cat may itch several (two to three) times a day. But if this is repeated constantly, and the pet is nervous, tears its skin, and experiences discomfort all the time, this is a real cause for concern. Why does the cat shake his head and scratch his ears? The main reasons that cause such inconveniences include:
- scabies mite;
- untreated hematoma;
- water or a foreign object that gets into the ear;
- accumulation of sulfur;
- infections that cause inflammation;
- injuries from scratches or bites.
Insufficient hygiene
Cats that live indoors are not as susceptible as those that roam the streets. But you need to take care of your hearing hygiene in any case. Therefore, if your cat is shaking his head and scratching his ears, then take him to the vet. If it is observed bad smell and cluster brown discharge, then most likely the animal has otodecosis, which we will talk about later. This is enough serious illness, so you need to choose the right therapy. In addition to regularly cleaning your cat’s ears to remove plaque, systematic prevention should be carried out. Since such a serious disease can be transmitted to other animals. It is also necessary to periodically examine your pet's ears. Since poor hygiene and advanced disease can lead to more serious consequences.
Ear mite
What are the main signs of this disease? In addition to itching in the ears, in the shells themselves, you can replace plaque Brown, as well as sticky liquid. The consequences of such a disease are serious, including membrane rupture, meningitis, and others. If there is a problem with one ear, then both should still be treated.
Ear infection
Why does a cat shake his head from side to side and scratch his ears? It is possible that he has inflammation of the inner, outer or middle ear. This disease may appear due to untreated or severe scabies. Other causes of inflammation:
- sulfur plug;
- hypothermia;
- foreign object in the ear.
Sometimes this disease is provoked by infections. If there is pancreatic or liver dysfunction, the cat may also scratch its ears. Brown pellets are also observed in the shells.
Symptoms of the disease:
- Itching in the ears.
- Uncontrolled head movements.
- Decreased appetite.
- Liquid in ears Oh.
at the cat's
If your animal has a large sulfur plug, you should contact a veterinarian. You can also get rid of it at home. To do this you will need either peroxide or saline solution. The product should be dripped for a week, three times a day. Afterwards, the cat will be able to get rid of the plug on its own. If you have problems, you should contact the clinic.
Allergy
Why does a cat scratch his ear, but it is clean? It is possible that the animal is allergic to some product. In order to determine exactly what food the reaction is occurring to, various tests are performed. They also give antihistamines and local (drops and other) medications.
Now it’s clear, he’s scratching his ears and head. As you can see, there are many reasons for this animal behavior. Therefore, be sure to clean your pet’s ears on time; we have described how to do this. Proper hygiene animal ears - excellent disease prevention.
When a cat presses its ears to its head, it causes anxiety in its owner. The question immediately arises as to why the pet behaves this way. After all, this could be a signal dangerous disease, but this is not always the case. Often the reason for this behavior is completely harmless.
Method of communication
Cats, in addition to meowing, communicate with their owners using sign language. For this they use:
- tail;
- wool;
- eyes;
By behavior you can understand what the animal wants to say. If the ears are pressed tightly to the head and turned back, the hair on the body is raised - it means that the cat is tense or scared, as it feels threatened. You need to behave kindly with your pet and calm him down.
When a cat twitches its tail and presses its ears to its head, it wants to express its dissatisfaction or irritation. It’s worth figuring out what’s wrong, eliminating the cause, and then the animal will stop behaving this way.
The cat lies on the ground, then presses its ears, then pricks them up, this means that it is very keen and is hunting. At this moment, it is better not to touch the animal or disturb it.
The cat also flattens its ears when its head is stroked or when it rubs itself. A strong, loud noise will also cause a cat to flatten its ears. In all other cases, they stick out and pick up the slightest sounds.
Pathology
A cause for concern should be if your cat is constantly pressing one ear. At the same time, she shakes her head and often scratches her ear. Possible reasons this:
- foreign body;
- swelling;
- mite;
- otitis;
- dirt.
Any of these reasons will cause discomfort to the animal. Both the left and the right ear. If you notice that the ear is often pressed to the head, you need to examine the cat's ears. This will help identify what caused these symptoms.
Ear dirt can be easily removed by yourself. It is only recommended to do this very carefully, since sloppy and rough movements lead to injuries to the auditory canal. When found foreign body you can remove it yourself. If the attempt is unsuccessful, it is better to contact a veterinarian for qualified assistance.
Otitis media usually causes swelling and tenderness of the ear canal, and discharge is present. Here you cannot do without the use of antibacterial drops, ointments, antihistamines. In this case, consultation with a doctor is mandatory; only he will be able to establish the correct diagnosis and prescribe competent treatment. The sooner treatment is started, the faster the recovery without complications.
Severe itching of the ear causes mite infestation. The mite can be ear or subcutaneous. The first species lives directly in the ear canal. Its presence, in addition to itching, is accompanied by discharge from the ear and the appearance of plaque. Subcutaneous mite, most often, settles above the eyes and near the ears in the superficial layers of the skin. Over time, it spreads, almost the entire body and ears become infected.
Constant observation and care of your beloved pet will help him always remain healthy and cheerful, and the owner calm!
here to all the amateurs, those who are more experienced, well, don’t write, you just never fold will become a straight without explanation. and then they immediately start arguing that my ears are standing up. You mean that the cat was a carrier of the gene and remained so, because the ears stood up, the breed has not changed, and you can still cross only with straight cats (and don’t throw slippers at me, it’s just that the pet class is very often bred, and also they sell it, so let them at least understand that you can’t cross 2 folds, otherwise there will be mutants, I feel sorry for the kittens).
A fold will never become a straight! A fold with ears up is a pet-class fold, but this will not turn him into a straight!
There is no formation of ears on folds! Curls and folds two ABSOLUTELY different breeds, comparing them and equating them to each other is very stupid!
All Scottish kittens have the same ears up to 3 weeks; after 3 weeks, the ears of Folds droop, while those of Straights remain the same. At 1.5 months it is already clearly visible who is straight and who is fold in the litter. With age, ears can only go up and never go down!
Folds have:
Single fold
Double fold
Triple fold
Most often, animals with a single fold are found; such kittens are born with slightly pressed ears, which by 5-6 months already rise strongly, and by one year they become helicopters. A double fold is less common; the ears may rise with age if genetics are poor. Basically, in cats with a double ear fold, the ears rise after birth. A larger number of animals in breeding have a double ear fold. And the triple one is the most precious and is very rare.
Whether a kitten's ears go up or not depends on its genetics (lines). NOT from foods high in calcium, but genetics! The fact that folds cannot be fed dairy products and especially with cottage cheese, they say your ears will rise - BULLSHIT! A kitten definitely needs dairy products and calcium, but its lack can lead to very serious problems with health!
If the parents’ ears did not fit well to their heads, then it is 100% that the kitten’s ears will also rise. Aspen trees will not produce oranges; you need to look at the parents and breeding lines to see how the genes are formed.
If your kitten's ears are raised significantly at 4 months, then by the age of one year they will rise even more.
Not a single breeder will guarantee that a kitten from a breed class will not develop into a pet. Moreover, Scottish is a difficult and problematic breed. It’s a shame that everyone who is not too lazy is trying to breed this particular breed, one of the most difficult. The breed has simply been ruined over the past 5-7 years! E is being destroyed right before our eyes by amateurs and breeders, and all this for the sake of easy money! Now we still have to look for a really worthy fold, and if we do find it, the price for it will be high.
You know, many people confuse the British with the Scots, so taking advantage of inexperience, sellers can slip the wrong kitten. Moreover, in order to make money, British kittens are crossed with Scots, and most likely for these two reasons, you ended up with the wrong kitten. What is laid down at the genetic level will come out and no other way.
I don’t think it’s possible for a real fold-eared cat to suddenly have his ears rise out of nowhere. This means the kitten is of mixed blood, and you took the word of the owners that the cat is a purebred Scotsman. It’s a pity, of course, but the British cat is also touching, has very rich fur, is smart and extraordinary in her own way.
A lot also depends on nutrition. If a small Fold is given natural food with a lot of calcium (bone broths, sour milk, eggs, etc.), then the ears may rise a little, but not to the same extent as Straights. It all depends on genetics. It can be damaged if the ears stand up. The food you need is meat and dry food, which is low in calcium (lowest content). Royal Canin and Hills are not allowed, as one contains milk and the other contains a lot of calcium.
Whether your cat's ears will rise depends on the gene. If the kitten’s parents’ ears did not fit well, then the kitten’s ears will definitely rise. You need to look when crossing the kitten's parents. The kitten's ears rose at about four months, most likely by about twelve months they will rise even more.
This happens in breeds with mutated ears. I have American queen cats, their ears are curved back, like a crown. So in this breed, the formation of ears (curl angle) occurs up to 4 months. The ears curl up and then straighten out, this is a normal phenomenon for ears. in your case it’s the same, the process of ear formation is underway, and it may turn out that your lop ear will become a straight. There's nothing you can do about it, it's nature.
Anyone who dreams of owning a purebred Scottish or... british cat, it will be useful to know how to determine fold kitten or not. After all, while they are small, this can be difficult to do. This is often taken advantage of by unscrupulous sellers who offer ignorant animal lovers to buy the most ordinary kittens for a lot of money.
Fold cat breeds
A breed of cats with an abnormal ear structure was first recorded in 1961, although they existed before. But it was from this time that scientists began to study such animals. They came to the conclusion that lop-eared kittens are born due to gene mutation. Very soon, scientists realized that if you cross two lop-eared individuals, the offspring will be very weak.
This is why cat breeders cross Folds with ordinary cats with straight ears. Kittens from such a union are born healthy and strong. However, in such a litter there are cubs with both straight and drooping ears. Moreover, until the age of two or three weeks it is impossible to distinguish them from each other - they look exactly the same.
When kittens reach three weeks of age, it becomes possible to determine fold ears or not. In kittens with straight ears, the cartilage that supports the ears in an erect state begins to harden at this time. In lop-eared individuals, or folds, this does not happen, and in place of the cartilages, characteristic folds appear, by which they are distinguished.
Signs of lop ears
The following rules will help you accurately determine whether a kitten is lop-eared and not fall for the bait of charlatans:
- Choose a kitten that is at least three weeks old. The older he is at the time of purchase, the easier it will be to determine that he is lop-eared. It is advisable to buy a kitten at the age of two to three months.
- Folds not only have unusual ears, but also a slightly different body structure. Their muzzle is wider, with small cheeks, and their eyes are wider apart. Rib cage usually larger, and the legs and tail are shorter and thicker.
- Feel the kitten's nose - there should be no hump on the bridge of the nose. You also need to feel the tail - there should be no humps or knots on it.
- Buy a fold-eared cat in the cold season. The thing is that folds have interesting feature— in extreme heat, kittens’ ears rise slightly.
In addition, there are some general rules selection of purebred kittens:
- The kitten must be completely healthy. His fur should be thick and silky, his eyes should be clear, and his tummy should be soft. His mood is also important - if the kitten is healthy, he will be playful.
- If in the future you want to breed purebred kittens or participate in exhibitions, then the kitten you buy must have veterinary passport and pedigree.
- Since healthy offspring are obtained only by crossing purebred cat with the usual one, you should ask who the kitten’s parents are.
- When buying a purebred kitten, be prepared to pay a high price for it. Such kittens are really expensive, and if the seller offers you to give them away cheaper, this is a reason to think about whether they are offering you defective animals.
By following these rules, you can easily choose a healthy purebred kitten. But do not forget that the criteria for choosing a four-legged friend are not limited to these. After all, each animal has its own character - some are docile, and some are wayward.
To make it easy for you to get along together, carefully monitor the reactions of the kittens you choose. You can determine the cat that suits you as follows::
- If your baby growls at you, tries to scratch you or run away, it’s better to choose someone else;
- If the cat purrs and sits happily on your lap, this is the beginning of a strong friendship!
