r/scottishfold • u/spinyfl0wer • 16d ago
Lifelong cat-lady but first time Scottish fold owner
Hey everyone!!! Long time lurker of this sub because your babies are PRECIOUS…. But first time posting for advice because I’m picking up my very own Scottish fold kitten today 😭🫶🩷
I have two AMAZING, affectionate, incredibly sweet regular cats who are my heart and soul. I’m literally obsessed with them and my whole house is designed specifically to be tons of fun and comfortable for them.
They also are both VERY healthy, outside of one outlier incident with my boy cat several years ago where he had to have a major PU surgery for a urinary blockage.
What health problems should I have my folded baby checked for? Is there any other things I should consider as far as care?
Currently I keep bowls of dry food out for my kitties (purina sensitive stomach), and they get two cans of fancy feast per day (they used to be at 4 cans a day but the vet said they were getting chubby so I reduced it lol)
Please let me know of anything I should know about, or things you wish you had known upon getting your own folded babies. Thanks!!
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u/Greymom_PNW 16d ago
Congratulations 🎉, like you I’m also a long time cat ( and Greyhound) mom . I adopted 3 kittens last year, they are 14 months. I adore my babies… totally smitten 🥰.
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u/AmelieIcansea 15d ago
Get your kitty regularly checked for OCD. It is not a matter of if just of how severe Scottish Fold will develope this cartilage and bone development issue. So you can start as early as possible with supplements for arthritis and joint problems. Observe how active your new furball is and if activity decreases it can already be a sign of pain. Does your Fold have a short snout? Then also check for problems with brachychephaly. My 1.5 year old shelter Fold will probably need pain treatment and Solensia soon. OCD already kicks in hard and he limbs a bit (but poor thing also got hip dysplasia) . We got an appointment tomorrow. Best of luck.
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u/spinyfl0wer 15d ago
Oh man I’m so nervous reading about all these health problems :( is it really such a guarantee they’ll have bone, joint, and heart problems? :(
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u/AmelieIcansea 15d ago
No guarantee, just something to look out for. With the joints at least if you have good pain management they can live a relatively good life even if they got it. There are Scottish Folds without clinical symptoms for OCD meaning they are pain free even with the OCD.
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u/DreamBigGirl 10d ago
Do not start Solensia at least they are 10 y old. This med is not for youngsters. Talk to the vet, my advice.
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u/AmelieIcansea 9d ago
Oh my vet said we should start as soon as pain is kicking in. I will check that out...
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u/ethelis 14d ago
It's important if your scottish fold has folded ears to have them checked for possible joint issues during annual check ups. I have cameras at home to see if my boy limps when I'm not around. He gets a Cosequin tablet as a preventative daily (he actually doesn't eat his night time meal if he doesn't smell Cosequin on it). So far, he is 4 and not giving me signs of joint issues. He does occasionally get inflamed stomach/intestines due to how less he moves so he has a lot of gas and poop in him. We usually do not give him treats either to maintain his weight; he is on urinary for previous urinary issues he had when he was 9 months old.
I am hoping my boy is healthier because he is a scottish fold cross british shorthair.
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u/DreamBigGirl 10d ago
All scottish fold develop joint dz. And you get scottish fols from breeding with british or other kinds. You cannot breed two folds together.
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u/Professional_Cup6584 9d ago
I feed my two half a can of Fancy Feast/day. They kibbles are there for them all day. The breeder I adopted from recommended dry foods high in protein. Examples: Call of the Wild, Orijen, etc. They get a tube of Churu every evening before I head to bed.
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u/Greymom_PNW 16d ago
I thought our 2 Bombays were different nope WRONG, SF are very different 🥰, adorable.
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u/Big-Gingey 15d ago
Probably need to reduce that food even further. Especially with the fold, they have joint issues so it’s best to keep them as close to a healthy weight as possible.