First of all, the folded ear cat, also known as the Scottish folded ear cat, first appeared in the United Kingdom, as the name suggests, is a cat with different degrees of bent ears. To use a human metaphor, it is a partial deformity of the body, and a cat with folded ears is a deformity in a cat.
Then some people will ask, then why are there so many folded ear cats on the market? This is actually a deliberate breeding of cat dealers for those who do not understand the folded ear cat and think that the folded ear cat is cute. The cat with folded ears not only has a deformed ear, but from birth, it is destined to accompany the pain for a lifetime.
Crooked-bearded cats today use primary school-level biological knowledge to popularize science, and the appearance of folded-eared cats is first of all the result of genetic mutations. The professional explanation on the Internet is that the mutated gene causes the cat to develop congenital cartilage dysplasia (also known as OCD).
Cartilage dysplasia is a kind of developmental abnormality, the shape of the ear of the cat with folded ears is the intuitive embodiment of cartilage dysplasia, in fact, this effect has an impact on the bones of the whole body, especially the limbs that support the whole body are much more serious than the ears. (There are many pictures of the disease of the cat with folded ears on the Internet, the erosion of the limbs is too cruel, I can't see the hairy child, so I will not put the picture)
The pathogenic gene of the folded ear is the dominant gene, according to the genetic map of biology, we will call the folded ear gene F good, the normal ear gene is f, so by the way, it looks healthy folded ear cat, generally are heterozygotes, in addition to the folded ear, other symptoms are relatively mild, because there are still half of the genes are normal.
(Normal cats have a ff gene and behave normally.) The gene of cats with folded ears is FF, Ff, and the performance is all folded ears, which may be different in the degree of incidence)
Understand how the folded ear cat appears and inherited, then let's talk about whether it is recommended to raise a folded ear cat, first say the conclusion.
No suggestions!!!
Numerous studies have shown that the gene that causes ear folding and the gene for cartilage dysplasia are the same gene, and the references are as follows
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18339089
So in theory, as long as it contains the F gene, then it will definitely occur, but the degree is different.
The clinical manifestations after the severe onset of FF are as follows
1. Deformation of skeletal joints of hind limbs. The cat will sit paralyzed and lose its center of gravity and will not be able to walk normally.
2. The cat's tail is thick and short. It is stiff and cannot be swung or bent at will.
3. Abnormal growth of cat nails. Grows fast and has no toughness.
4. Swollen joints of cats. The hindlimbs are significantly shorter than the forelimbs, which are hyperplastic or lumpy.
5. The hind paws are unusually hypertrophied. When the cat sits upright, the flesh pad of the hind foot cannot touch the ground.
6, do not love sports, do not like to eat, like paralysis sitting. Lying down in a large font, becoming inactive, inactive, lazy and weak.
Mild onset of Ff
Joints, cervical spines appear hyperplasia, inflammation, bone spurs and other problems, torturing cats. I said in the episode of the sterilization that cats suffered much more pain than they showed because their ancestors hunted prey and avoided predators in harsh environments, so they did not bark even if they were in pain.
Folded-eared cats can also cause an increased incidence of many diseases
Unfortunately, cats with broken ears not only have to endure the pain caused by cartilage dysplasia, but also lead to an increased incidence of many diseases.
1. Respiratory system problems: In addition to affecting the bones of the hands and feet, the genes of bone lesions also affect the development of cartilage tissue in other parts of the body. More commonly, the respiratory tract is narrowed and the breathing is not smooth, and in severe cases, surgery is required to widen the breathing duct. In addition, there will be problems with nosebleeds, but the cause is not known and there is no way to cure it.
2. Weak physique: There have been cases, the size and weight of cats are only two-thirds of normal cats, and they have been infected with cat plague, skin diseases, allergies and other diseases.
3. Heart disease: myocardial hypertrophy is also common in cats with folded ears, but it is generally difficult to find, until the occurrence of the disease, there is a danger to life, the cat needs to control the diet and take medicine for life.
Unfortunately, there is no way to solve the genetic problem of folded-ear cats now. But I believe that in the near future people will be able to overcome this difficulty and bring the gospel to the hairy children with broken ears.
Knowing so much about the onset of the disease of folded-ear cats, crooked-bearded cats here are advised to friends who are preparing to raise cats, do not buy folded-ear cats.
Don't buy a cat with folded ears!
Friends who have raised folded ear cats, I also hope that you do not give up on them, once the disease occurs, please seek medical treatment immediately, and sterilize them, not breeding folded ear cats is the biggest care for the folded ear cat category.
And don't breed cats with folded ears!!
There is also everyone in front of the screen, all the videos that promote the folded ear cat good folded ear cat, articles, channels, etc. Please do not forward likes, thank you.
Don't advertise the advantages of the folded-eared cat!!!
Finally, I also hope that everyone will be kind to cats, whether it is your master at home or a stray cat outside, whether it is a normal and healthy cat or a cat with broken ears or a disability, please help them when they need help and care, so that people and the cat's world are more harmonious, thank you.
Thanks for seeing the shoveler here, you are all good, I hope that more people who do not know about the folded ear cat can see this article, thank you