The ears of the Scottish Fold are the influence of human selection pressure.
This cute mutant was first discovered in 1961, and bred by a geneticist.
A gift to my folks.
28 responses to “Ms. Kitty”
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Cool! I’ve never knew that breed existed. It has a striking appearance, doesn’t it? Very pretty specimen.
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Just because we can do something, does not mean we should. A bazillion years of natural selection did not make this a common trait, why should we? Why not spend genetic messing time on breeding *out* the chronic hip dysplasia german shepherds are plagued by? Another thing that happens is breeders don’t know when to stop. Susie (see article) the progentress of these cats has softly folded ears, a natural anomaly. The hyper breeders get involved and breed the ears down to deformed proportions and then glorified it. The poor persian cats have had their noses bred so flat they have breathing problems. People don’t know when to stop… I love cats, all cats… this cat, but I think we should respect what mother nature gave us.
Okay, someone give me a hand down off this soapbox. At least be gentle with the stage hook.
Is this your cat? Have I just lectured the air using your sweet pet at a fuse? Please don’t take offense. I’m not lecturing you or damning this cutie. They exist and need love and homes. I’m raging on the big picture messing around that was done to them back in time.
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You go girl! =)
Would you like chicken with that? And some EPO-enriched milk from cloned cows? Or some weeds that have been modified to detect land mines?
Tomatoes used to be poisonous green berries before the breeders got to them.
(As for this mutant, she is a gift cat I got for my folks at a cat show (a strange event in its own right (I have only been to one (being curious))))
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lol…Wow! I almost gave this same lecture back when you posted that 3-wing image! ‘-}
I knew you were a secure enough person to listen to my venting and not take it personally.
The weeds have the most potential as far as I’m concerned.
You gave your folks a very sweet mutant! I have a soft spot for mutants. My beloved mutants are Manx cats. Here is a shot of Tess, granted not at her best… http://www.flickr.com/photos/outerspace/1336882/in/set-18709/ She is our third Manx. I never intend to be without one.
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If this kitty is a "mutantear" kitty, maybe he/she knows Pirate, Alieness’ kitty?
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First, I just want to say that this is a very cute animal and I happen to have a soft spot for Scottish Folds. 🙂
Now, I know Vanita was just "venting" and all but I haven’t seen any scottish fold cat with deformed overly folded ears. And honestly, selective breeding in my opinion is not the same as hyper breeding a trait. I’m sure people breeding persians didn’t do it for the squished nose. Virtually every breed can be considered a mutant, since they all share a common ancestor and they have all come into being due to selective breeding, as a result of someone developing a certain specific trait they liked (have you ever seen an American Curl? Now that’s a mutant!). Just my thoughts on the subject. 🙂 No offense intended.I really like your kitty. 🙂
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I only wonder what were you doing to him that he has that expression… mmmm…. you devil.
edit: sorry I´ve just seen your comment above… the alien is a SHE cat not a HE cat…. we have a lot in common…
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…‘the wing-ed one’ bears a close resemblance to my sister (two thumbs – left hand, long since removed). (now that I think about it, of my 5 younger siblings, two of the 4 boys also required surgery to separate varying degrees of webbed fingers and toes – you think us 6 all bein spawn within 8 yrs had sumthin ta do with that?)(upon further rumination I recall a multi-generational run of black, 6 toed (on both back and front feet) kitty pets (..er..not out of the same mother as my siblings, obviously).
Vanita: I adore the Manx, too.
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Brilliant Discussion. On a Clear Day. Standing where my photo of the golf course is I can see the Isle of Man, The Mountains of the Lake Disrict & Snowdonia on my left.
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Vanita from five months ago, where do you think cats, dogs, tomatos, corn, peas, peanuts, chickens, goldfishes, citri, finches, roses, pecans, and wheat came from? Just because mother nature can, doesn’t mean it should. If we were only to canoodle, train, and eat everything wild, we would have far fewer friends, animate and not.
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Thanks for being part of my journey! Click on the arrows below to see more of my journey!
Journey: Favorite Cat Pictures
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What’s the matter, cat got your ears?
Thanks for posting to the Somebody else’s cat flaps group, jurvetson.
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Hmmm…. My list of genetically defective cat breeds:
Persian (squished nose, excessive fur)
Manx (spinal problems)
Siamese (excessively long and thin built, palate problems)
Folds (the super folded flat ears are not good)
Sphinx (no fur= poor body heat regulation, thus leading to hypothermia)
(white furred carts in general)and that’s about it. Most of the other sucky mutations aren’t part of a breed.
Maybe back cross kitty to a wild-type?
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Well, folds are at the bottom of the list. :p they have less problems than the others.
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But we will never forget you dear… no matter how many new she cats get into the family…
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ohhh, you have a Scottish Folds too?! I named mine Walker. He is so cute and great company. He follows me everywhere I go, never had that before in a cat.
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