Scottish Fold Longhair Cat health: common diseases in the breed
The diseases of the Scottish Fold Longhair: the most common diseases in this Scottish breed. Let’s see which specific ones and which common ones.
There are many people attracted to particular and often little known cat breeds.
However, however unpopular they may be, it is important to know the needs and any health problems of the cat you want to adopt.
In this article we will learn about the diseases of the Scottish Fold Longhair. The main pathologies that can affect this feline breed.
Everything you need to learn about the health of this breed before taking it home and caring for it.
Diseases of the Scottish Fold Longhair
Knowing the diseases of the Scottish Fold Longhair to prevent and treat them is the secret to letting it live for a long time.
The Scottish Fold Longhair is a medium-sized cat of Scottish origin. The breed began in 1961 on a Scottish farm where a white kitten named Susie was born.
This kitten was born with a spontaneous mutation that resulted in the characteristic of the pinnae of the ears being folded forward and close to its head, creating a similarity in the owl.
It was only after several studies that it was established that only one cat in the pair was needed to transmit the folded ear gene, to then combine it in breeding with a British or an American Shorthair.
Obviously, not all puppies in a litter have the characteristic folded ears. It will be necessary to wait between 15/20 days, to understand which of them have regained the gene.
However, from what has been said, we have been able to understand that it is not a disease but a hereditary gene.
In fact, today the Scottish Fold Longhair is a cat that, cared for and kept well, can live up to 15 years of age.
Of course this breed is not immune to diseases and like all other cats it is subject to pathologies typical of the breed and those common to all cats.
Familial hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM)
The hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in cats is a thickening of the heart muscle resulting in reduced volume within the ventricles (the main chambers of the heart) blood the heart can pump with each contraction.
The affected animal is at risk of developing congestive heart failure and occasionally sudden death.
Scottish Fold Osteochondrodysplasia (SFOCD)
Scottish Fold Osteochondrodysplasia causes weak cartilage growth which is why they are not strong enough to support the cat’s ears as they normally do.
It is therefore skeletal anomalies that cause lameness , stiffness and reluctance to jump in affected cats. The pathology affects not only the cartilages of the ear, but also other bones.
Polycystic kidney disease
The polycystic kidney disease in cats is caused by the development of cysts in the cortex and renal medulla in. These cysts increase in size and number as the animal ages and eventually cause kidney failure in the cat.
Generally the cysts grow very slowly and the cat does not show any symptoms of the disease until around 7-8 years.
Other common diseases in cats
Of course, given the shape of the ears in the Scottish Fold Longhair, it requires more attention and daily cleaning to avoid annoying ear parasites due to excessive accumulation of dirt.
Not to be underestimated are the diseases of the oral cavity that very often affect felines, for example:
Gingivitis: the Feline Gingivitis is the inflammation of the gums caused by plaque. Usually it is treated, not only by carrying out a correct dental washing but, above all, by administering antibiotics;
Periodontitis: Periodontitis is the infection of the dental tissues and affects the gums and bone. It is treated with antimicrobial drugs to attack the bacteria responsible for the disease. In addition, the veterinarian will carry out, if necessary, the cleaning and extraction of unusable teeth;
Stomatitis: the stomatitis in cats is an inflammation of the mucosa of the mouth due to a chronic bacterial infection. Milder cases of feline stomatitis are resolved through surgical removal of the affected tissues;
Carcinoma: is a type of cancer of the mucous membranes of the mouth represented by growths, ulcers and mounds of squamous tissue. Surgery is usually done but it is not always possible.
Let us remember that the cat’s mouth is an extremely exposed part as it is used not only for eating, but also for exploring the surrounding environment.
Furthermore, the animal is also subject to infectious and non-infectious diseases, such as:
Allergies : the cat can suffer from allergies that can have very different origins;
Abscess: infection due to deep wounds, we can see them on the paws, behind the tail or on the muzzle of the animal. Treatable with antibiotics;
Poisoning;
Feline conjunctivitis : inflammation of the mucous membranes of the eye;
FeLV: known as feline leukemia, it affects the bone marrow and is caused by a virus of the Retrovirus family, among which there is also the one responsible for FIV itself;
FIV: a is a feline immunodeficiency syndrome similar to human HIV, transmissible through saliva and blood. It is not curable and there is no vaccine but, if intercepted in time, it can sometimes allow a considerable survival;
Otitis: is the inflammation of the epithelium that covers the ear canal and the auricle. It often occurs when the cat has low defenses;
Cold : it is a light respiratory disease but which in any case must be treated to avoid complications and also be attacked by secondary diseases of the respiratory tract;
Mange: It is caused by a mite of which there are different species and subspecies that behave in different ways. It is transmissible to other animals and to humans, there are several types and has symptoms similar to eczema: itching, scabs, patchy hair loss. This disease is also called scabies;
Toxoplasmosis: an infectious disease caused by the parasite Toxoplasma gondii, which finds its final host in the feline where it can reproduce.
