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Scottish Fold cats are sweet, mellow kitties with ticked ears and loving personalities. They tend to be social, friendly, and calm. These laid-back pets are relatively healthy, with most living around 11 to 15 years. Female Scottish Folds usually weigh 6 to 9 pounds, with their male counterparts often tipping the scales at upwards of 13 pounds.
Scottish Fold cats form deep bonds with their human companions and do best when surrounded by people and other pets. Because of the breed’s social nature, Scottish Folds tend to get along well with children, cats and dogs if some basic guidelines are followed during introductions. To give your pets the best chance of getting along, introduce your four-footed family members to each other slowly and give them lots of time to adjust to each other. Read on for more information about Scottish Fold cats and how to introduce dogs and cats!
Do Scottish Fold Cats Do Better With a Buddy?
Scottish Folds tend to be very social. They’re incredibly mellow and enjoy spending time with people and other creatures. Not all of them do well when left alone for long periods, leading many owners to adopt these kitties in pairs to prevent loneliness.
How Do You Introduce Cats and Dogs?
Take things slowly when introducing your pets to each other for the first time. Keep your cat and dog separated until they are used to each other’s scent. Set up a dog-free room for your cat so they can escape if they feel unsafe or overwhelmed.
Feed both pets at the same time, but on opposite sides of a closed door, so they start to associate something fun (food) with the presence of the other animal. Periodically switch up their bedding. Let your cat sleep on a blanket your dog has been snuggling in and vice versa to allow the two to get used to each other’s scent.
Most pets can be safely introduced to each other after several days, or weeks, of closed-door acclimation. Leash your dog before introducing the two pets to ensure you can react quickly to any canine shenanigans. Start with short periods and build up over time. Keep an eye on your dog at all times and intervene before any chasing gets underway!
How Long Does It Take for Cats and Dogs to Get Used to Each Other?
No specific amount of time is required for cats and dogs to acclimate to each other. Some pets hit it off as soon as they’re introduced, and others need a bit of time to accept the presence of a new creature in the house. If it goes smoothly and there aren’t any major incidents, the process may only take a week or so.
Be prepared to keep your pets separated for at least 1 or 2 weeks just in case the introduction process doesn’t go as well as you’d like. Remember that your new pet will also need to adjust to their new home, not just the presence of another companion animal. It often takes dogs around 3 weeks to feel comfortable in a new home. Cats need a bit longer, requiring about 1 month to become comfortable after a move.
Which Breeds Get Along Well With Cats?
Golden Retrievers, Labrador Retrievers, Basset Hounds, Beagles, Bulldogs, Pugs, Collies, and King Charles Spaniels are known for being feline-friendly dogs. Other options include Irish Setters and Papillons. German Shepherds, provided they’re well trained, often do quite well with cats.
Look for breeds that tend to be relaxed, laid back, and very trainable. Some dogs, particularly herders such as Blue Heelers and Border Collies, attempt to corral kids and cats. Thorough training is necessary to prevent your dog from engaging in behavior your cat may find threatening. Intervene immediately if your dog begins chasing your cat to keep the behavior from becoming habitual.
Of course, breed is only one aspect of canine and feline behavior, so whether or not a cat or dog will get along comes down to the personality and experience of each individual.
Do Scottish Fold Cats Get Along with Other Pets?
You can never accurately predict how any individual animal will react to other people or pets, but as a general rule, the Scottish Fold are known for being amiable and social creatures. Their easygoing nature means that the Scottish Fold may be more accepting of different companions in their territory, and tend to have a lower prey drive than breeds that are more in touch with their wild side, like Bengals or Savannahs. Of course, they are still felines with carnivore instincts, so don’t let their chilled nature make you complacent about leaving them unsupervised around pets like birds, hamsters, guinea pigs, or mice.
Like any cat, the Scottish Fold needs plenty of enrichment, play, entertainment, and company, but it’s important to keep their genetics in mind. The mutation that gives these cute kitties their trademark folded ears also affects their bones and cartilage, predisposing them to joint disease, arthritis, and chronic pain. In fact, many animal welfare associations discourage their breeding, and there are countries that have banned the perpetuation of the breed.
It’s important when engaging these cats in play that we err on the side of moderation to avoid stress or injury to the joints. Fortunately, the Scottish Fold also loves plenty of lap time, so it’s no hard task to convince them to take it easy! Just make sure you stay in control of their calorie intake, as excess weight will exacerbate any joint issues.
Conclusion
Scottish Fold cats are typically gentle and mellow, meaning they often get along well with kids, other cats, and dogs. However, how well they get along with dogs will very much depend on the individual temperament and experience of the cat and dog involved. It’s also important to remember that, although they tend to be more couch potato than fierce hunter, they are still felines and are not ideal companions for prey species like birds, reptiles, or rodents.
It’s important to be aware of the health issues faced by the Scottish Fold, and how these impact their exercise and dietary needs, and consider these when looking to adopt one.
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Featured Image Credit: Sophkins, Pixabay
