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It seems canines get all the attention when it comes to the various breeds. No one really talks that much about the different cat breeds. Sure, you might know what a Sphynx is, or have a pretty good idea about a Maine Coon due to its size and voluminous fur. But do you know what a Scottish Straight Longhair is?
If you are familiar at all with the Scottish Fold, you’re not too far off from that. In fact, Scottish Folds and Scottish Longhairs can be born in the same litter! In this article, we aim to explain exactly what a Scottish Straight Longhair is all about.
Breed OverviewColors:White, blue, silver, red, silver, chocolate, lilac, fawnSuitable for:Virtually any cat-loving homeTemperament:Playful, affectionate, interactive
The Scottish Straight Longhair is exactly what it sounds like. It is a cat that is originally from Scotland that has straight ears and long hair. The Scottish Fold, on the other hand, could very well be a sibling of this cat, but instead their ears are folded over. When it comes to personality, these cats are very similar, but it’s their looks that are different.
Scottish Straight Longhair CharacteristicsEnergy+ A high-energy cat needs a lot of physical and mental stimulation to keep healthy and happy, while a low-energy cat needs minimal physical activity, but still needs mental stimulation. When choosing a cat, It’s important to ensure their energy levels match your lifestyle. Trainability+ Cats that are easy-to-train are more willing and skilled at quickly learning prompts and actions with minimal training. Harder-to-train cats are usually more stubborn or aloof and require a bit more patience and practice. Health+ Certain cat breeds are more prone to various genetic health problems, and some more than others. This doesn’t mean that every cat in those breeds will have these issues, but they do have an increased risk, so it’s important to understand and prepare for any additional needs they may require. Lifespan+ Due to their size or potential genetic health issues of a specific breed, some cats have shorter lifespans than others. Proper nutrition, exercise, mental stimulation, and hygiene also play an important role in your cat’s lifespan and quality of life. Sociability+ Some cat breeds are more social than others, both towards humans and other cats and animals. Cats that are more social have a tendency to rub up on strangers for scratches or jump on laps for cuddles, while cats that are less social shy away, hide, are more cautious, and even potentially aggressive. No matter the breed or gender, it’s important to socialize your cat and expose them to many different situations.
Scottish Straight Longhair Kittens
Image Credit: Oleksandr Volchanskyi, Shutterstock
When you have one of these adorable kittens, they will be full of energy and ready to play! But don’t think it’s going to be overwhelming. These cats tend to have a very good balance between play and downtime.
If you have a Scottish Straight Longhair, you’re going to have a very playful interactive kitten on your hands. These cats are very inquisitive, so even at a young age, they will be hyper aware of their surroundings.
These cats will adore being on your lap, up in your business, and on the windowsill, checking out anything and everything around them. This curiosity doesn’t dwindle much as they age.
These cats grow up with a very carefree, kitten-like essence, even as adults. They are no doubt purebred cats, so their price definitely reflects that. It’s very important to search for a reputable breeder that can provide health guarantees and answer all your questions, since these cats are related to Scottish Folds that are prone to health problems.
You might get lucky and find a Scottish Straight Longhair cat at a rescue or shelter. If that’s the case, you might pay a much lower price and give a cat a second chance at a forever home.
Scottish Short Longhair Origin & History
The Scottish Straight Longhair is just one of the extensions of the Scottish fold. These cats can be traced back to one singular cat—a white, long-haired barn cat named Susie who had folded-over ears. Susie was discovered in Scotland in 1961. Breeders worked hard to develop the Scottish Fold breed to create more cats with folded ears.
However, the only way to guarantee folded ears is to breed two cats that both have folded ears. This comes with health concerns and severe genetic disorders in the kittens, and is considered unethical. So, the only way to get Scottish Folds is through breeding a cat with folded ears with a cat with normal ears. This results in some cats in the litter having folded ears (Scottish Folds), and some having regular ears (Scottish Straights). Scottish Straight Longhairs are just Scottish Straights with long hair.
Temperament & Intelligence of the Scottish Straight Longhair
This particular breed is known for their award-winning personalities. These cats tend to be agreeable with just about anyone or anything. Their temperament serves them well, as it makes them amazing house cats that can acclimate to just about any lifestyle.
If you have a cat-loving household, you will be impressed with the breed’s agreeable nature, willingness to learn, and affectionate qualities. Even though they tend to have a pretty relaxed nature, don’t let them fool you!
These cats are incredibly intelligent and capable of learning a variety of training concepts.
Image Credit: otsphoto, Shutterstock
Are These Cats Good for Families?👪
This particular breed makes an amazing addition to many families. They tend to get along very well with children and seniors. These cats make great additions to smaller living spaces like high rises or apartments, and equally make great additions to larger family homes.
If you want a loving house cat that will pal around with the entire family, this is definitely the right breed for you! These cats will form a bond with every member of the household and even warm up to strangers and other pets!
These cats will make lovely playmates, emotional support buddies, and free forms of entertainment. They will amuse you daily with their antics and fill your lap full of fluff.
Because of the nature of the cat, they are best left indoors. So if you plan on having an indoor-outdoor cat, this might not be the right breed to have. We highly recommend getting them spayed or neutered and letting them sleep on all of your favorite fabrics.
Does This Breed Get Along with Other Pets?
This particular breed will get along exceptionally well with other pets. They make wonderful additions to an existing feline pride, or they will make exceptional brothers and sisters to a newcomer on the opposite end.
You’ll have far more luck with these kitties than some other, more independent breeds. They can integrate well into any situation, but the earlier you get them acclimated, the better!
Things to Know When Owning a Scottish Straight Longhair:
Food & Diet Requirements🐡
Your kitty will require a high-quality, protein-dense recipe to help them sustain. As kittens, you should purchase a very high-quality kitten formula to nourish their growing bodies. They will need the proper building blocks to ensure success in their adult years.
Once they reach roughly a year of age, you can switch them to a high-quality dry kibble that will nourish their adult bodies, helping them maintain their health. You might have to switch the recipe a few times in their lifetime to accommodate for any sensitivities or preferences, or as your cat ages.
The type of cat food you select will depend on your preferences and budget. Some families choose dry kibble, others turn to wet canned food, some people opt for fresh food subscriptions, and others make their own recipes from the comfort of their kitchen.
Always speak with your veterinarian before you make any final decisions on diet.
Exercise🐈
The wonderful thing about kitties, for both themselves and for their owners, is that they are extremely low maintenance when it comes to exercise. On average, a house cat will need roughly two 15-minute intervals of exercise to stay perfectly healthy. These cats don’t have an exceptionally high prey drive or desire for physical activity.
For this reason, they tend to be pretty easy to exercise. You can get a series of toys to see which ones your cat likes the best. It won’t be any secret. You will soon find out exactly what they love to play with you.
Image Credit: Oleksandr Volchanskyi, Shutterstock
Training🧶
When it comes to simple concepts, such as training your cat to go to the litter box, these kitties will impress you with their natural capabilities. You should really only have to show them the litter box once before they have it down pat.
However, when it comes to advanced training, the sky’s the limit. These cats are capable of learning a variety of concepts, but they need a patient enough person who is willing to teach them.
You can easily train your young cat to walk with a leash and harness so you can take them on daily walks or go on traveling adventures!
Grooming✂️
Because of the Scottish Straight Longhair’s coat length, grooming is going to be essential. Don’t get us wrong. This cat can most certainly take care of itself, as they are master groomers, like most other breeds.
However, they will definitely get mats and tangles if their hair isn’t appropriately brushed. This is especially true along their underside, as this is where they lay, flop around, and get tangled up.
While baths are generally unnecessary on a regular basis for cats, that doesn’t mean they shouldn’t have one. You could bathe your cat up to once every 6 weeks, if they needed it.
Scottish Folds are notorious for getting ear infections due to the shape of their ear canals. The Scottish Straight Longhair doesn’t have the same genetic complication. Still, it is important to make sure their ears are dry and free of any moisture, as it could still contribute to infection.
Health and Conditions🏥
The Scottish Fold has a very bad reputation. Because of poor breeding practices, many kittens and litters have been highly unhealthy and lacking in the lifespan department.
However, thanks to responsible breeders, these cats have really recovered over a course of time and Scottish Straights don’t have the same complications. Still, things like appropriate vetting are crucial to your cat’s overall health. It is imperative to take your cat to the vet quite frequently when they are kittens, and annually thereafter.
If any health issues develop in the meantime, always get your cat to the vet to ensure that they are taken care of. Your vet can get ahead of any developing health issues and develop the treatment plan as needed.
If you bought your Scottish Straight from a licensed breeder, the parents have already likely been genetically tested. However, that doesn’t mean some environmental factors wouldn’t flare up an unknown illness.
If you think that your cat has changed in temperament, always mention notable differences to your vet.
Serious Conditions
Osteochondrodysplasia
Polycystic kidney disease
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
Arthritis
Male vs Female
It seems that across the board, canines and felines are a little bit different in terms of sex. Most female cats, for example, are terrific hunters. That means that they will make an incredible mouser if you need to get rid of a couple rodents around the property.
They also tend to be a little bit more independent than their male counterparts. Males, on the other hand, tend to be more relaxed and lackadaisical, especially after they are neutered.
That is not to say that any Scottish Straight Longhair will fit into this box. You might have a female that’s overly lovable while you have a male that’s very aloof and prefers to go alone. It’s very hard to pinpoint actual personality traits based on sex alone.
However, when it comes to other factors relating to sex, there are things to consider. For example, every female will go into heat cycles, but they do not bleed like canines. When they go into heat, their behavior might change tremendously, causing them to become overly lovable, excessively vocal, and even erratic sometimes.
Males that reach sexual maturity, often start to become slightly more aloof and might even try to escape every time you open your door to seek a mate. Both males and females can spray, but they do so for different reasons.
A male might mark his territory to ward off other males who are potentially encroaching on his space. They also use their urine to let females know they are around. Females will spray to attract a mate to her, using all of the pheromones she possesses.
Either way, this behavior can quickly become problematic. Most vets recommend that you fix your cat as soon as possible, generally before sexual maturity at 4 months of age.
3 Little-Known Facts About the Scottish Straight Longhair
1. These cats are under the Scottish Fold umbrella.
Essentially, the Scottish Fold and the Scottish Straight Longhair are the same exact breed. The only difference is the coat length and shape of the ears. However, their overall care and personality qualities remain the same.
2. The Scottish Straight Longhair sits like a person.
If you’ve ever seen pictures of a Scottish Fold, you will take note of how they sit sometimes. The Scottish Straight is known to sit the same way. Often, the back legs are far apart and out while the two front paws are held up like hands. These cats are very notorious for sitting like humans. We love them!
3. Many rumors lie around the Scottish Straight Longhair’s health.
As we mentioned earlier in the article, these cats get a very bad rap in terms of health. If you have read at all about their potential health complications, it might deter you from choosing this particular breed.
However, if you buy from a reputable breeder, the parents will be genetically tested to avoid any of the potential concerns that come along with them.
Image Credit: Katrin Baidimirova, Shutterstock
Final Thoughts
Now you understand more about the Scottish Straight Longhair. These cats are Scottish Folds, but their ears remain straight instead of being folded over like the traditional look of the breed. These cats can be born into litters with Scottish Folds, and almost always are. However, they are still from the same lineage and are considered purebred cats.
Featured Image Credit: Oleksandr Volchanskyi, Shutterstock
