Conference misery::feline_v1

    The best resource for questions on breeding is usually the original
    breeder of your cat. 
    
    Good luck, whatever you decide,
    Karen, Tristan and Tenzing.

    Hi Nancy,
    
    The gene that causes the folded ears is considered to be a 'bad
    gene'.  A folded ear must never be bred to another folded ear, as
    two 'bad genes' cause a multitude of genetic birth defects.  There
    are purebred Scottish Folds that do not have folded ears.  If your
    intent is to produce Scottish Folds, then Dundee would have to be
    bred with another Scottish Fold with the opposite ear gene from
    his.  If he were to be bred with anything else, you'd get what is
    anyone's guess.  There are very few breeders around that mess with
    genes.
    
    As for breeding Dundee, the other breeders that I've talked to have
    told me that once he's "had a woman" he may continue to exhibit
    the behaviours we tend not to like in a house pet; i.e., spraying,
    breeding the Charmin (right, Jo!!), etc.
    
    I looked into getting a Fold a couple years ago; they've got the
    most beautiful round faces!  I don't think cross breeding is what
    you're looking for, so if you are thinking of breeding him, I'd
    give it some real serious consideration, cause you're not just dealing
    with colourpoints and perfect faces, you're dealing with a genetic
    'defect' that causes the folded ears.
    
    Mary

    re: .2
    
      I think the word you want is mutation, not defect.  It is also
    dominant.
      As far as breeding Dundee to another type of cat, ie. American
    Shorthair, I know that's done because Dundee's dad is an american
    SH.  Now it could be that its the mother that determines the breed,
    but I don't think so.  I got the info about breeding Folds to Am.
    SH & Brit SH's from a 1983 article from Cat Fancy about folds. 
    You are right, that Folded ear folds are bread to straight ear
    folds.  I guess the important thing is not to breed two cats who
    carry the fold mutation because you never know what other genetic
    mutations there may be and mutations are usually recessive.  It
    turns out that the mutation for folded ears is dominant.
      That much I know.  
       Thanks for the response, guess I'll give Tony (my breeder) a
    call.  
      oh, and as far as Dundee's behavior after breeding, I fully intend
    to get him altered immediately after breeding.  I hope the
    undesireable behaviors wouldn't continue even after neutering!
    (Maybe I ought to just save my pennies and buy another one...but
    they're soooooo expensive!)
      Nancy DC
    
    

    Yup, I meant mutation, not defect.  Sorry!!  The breeder that I
    talked with said that the only way you could get a purebred Fold
    was to breed one Fold to another.  I guess it's like the breeding
    of Persians and Himmies and Exotic Shorthairs.  It's all in perfecting
    the breed!
    
    Now you've got me thinking of those beautiful round faces....the
    inn is full...the inn is full!!
    
    I can't say about the neutering stopping the typical whole male
    behaviours.  Maybe your vet can advise you.  I've known some whole
    toms that when altered became wonderful house pets, and I've known
    some who continued to spray.  I dunno.....
    
    Is Dundee a folded ear??  I want a picture!!!!!!
    
    Mary

    Nancy,
    
    Usually it is the owner of the queen who "owns" the resulting litter.
    Your problem may also lie in the fact that most owners of queens
    either have their own male, or they already have access to one.
    Since your kitty was sold as a pet, you probably have not shown
    him, and most breeders will not be aware of his existence.  Generally,
    the queens owner will seek out a male when it is time to breed their
    queen.  Since they don't know about you, they won't contact you.
    
    I think CFA is still allowing outcrosses to American SH and Bristish
    SH.  Folds are not bred to Exotic SH since they are of different body types.
                                               
    I agree with Mary about the chances of your cat retaining some of
    his "male" behaviors after neutering.  Very undesirable (as the
    owner of a stud cat I feel I have a right to speak frankly) behaviors
    can result after they have "had a woman" (as Mary so aptly put it).
    There is a good chance that the behaviors can continue after surgery.
    Your cat wouldn't be a very pleasant pet if he went around breeding
    the Charmin, spraying your walls, furniture, and drapes, and trying
    to make love to the top of your head while you are asleep at night
    (yes Virginia, male cats will do those things 8^})
    
    Jo

re: "fold" genetics (simplified version)

The situation for folds is very much like the one for Manx.

1.  The gene is indeed dominant.

2.  Most breeders don't breed two cats with folded ears together.  If you 
    do, 25% will not have folded ears, 50% will, and the remaining 25% will 
    be dead, since getting a double dose of the "fold" gene is lethal.

3.  "Folds" with folded ears are usually bred to "folds" with straight 
    ears, or to one of the allowable outcrosses.  This will result in 
    litters with 50% with folded ears and 50% with straight ears.

Ray

    Thanks for all the info.  I especially love the descriptions like
    "had a woman" "breeding the charmin" etc.  
      To be perfectly honest, I had one specific cat in mind who happens
    to be an exotic shorthair. (I have not even discussed this with
    the queen's mother - it was still very much in the "fantasy" stage.)
     Since this is not an acceptible cross for breeding purposes and
    would also not be to the benefit of the queen's owner I can't see
    it happening.  It violates my beliefs about breeding cats.  I do
    know of at least one person who would be happy to buy one of the
    kittens, but unless I could guarantee homes for all it just isn't
    responsible of me to breed Dundee regardless of how I "feel" about
    it.  The only other breeder I know of is Dundee's breeder and I
    don't think he'd be interested.
      Besides, I'd hate to end up with lots of "charmin kittens" 
    when Dundee discovered that none of the ladies were interested in
    him!
      But it sure has been interesting.  I'm learning more all the time.
      Thanks all.  
       Nancy DC