History of the Scottish Fold Cat

The ancestor of the Scottish Fold cat was a white barn cat called Susie who was living at a farm in Scotland. Susie had unusual ears that folded forwards and downwards on her head giving her a unique appearance. The breeding programme that followed her discovery developed the breed which was granted Championship status by the Cat Fanciers Association in 1978. 

Description

The Scottish Fold has a medium sized rounded body with a medium to long tail. The head is well rounded with prominent cheeks and a short nose. Scottish Folds may have a folded ear or a normal (straight) ear. The folded ear is caused by an incomplete dominant gene and was originally caused by a spontaneous mutation.

All Scottish Fold kittens are born with straight ears. If they are going to fold this does not begin until 3-4 weeks of age and the quality of the fold is not fully determined until they are about 12 weeks old. The smaller tightly folded ears are preferred over a loose fold. Despite being folded, the ears are still expressive and can lay flat in anger or prick up and swivel to listen. The fold becomes less prominent when the cat is upset or ill.

The eyes are large and well rounded with colour varying with the coat colour. The breed can come in a huge array of colours. The colours that are not allowed are those that show evidence of hybridization - these are chocolate, lavender, Himalayan pattern or a combination of these and white.

Size

Medium

Coat

The coat may be longhair or short hair. The shorthair is dense, plush and medium soft. The density of the coat causes it to stand out from the body. The longhair is medium to long with britches, a tail plume, toe tufts and ear ‘furnishings'. A ruff is also desirable. 

Temperament

The Scottish Fold is an intelligent cat that bonds closely to people. They are a devoted cat and tend to bond more closely with one person. However they are not clingy and demanding - tending to prefer to be in the room with you rather than on top of you! They are an adaptable breed and tend to adjust well to new situations and other animals. They are quiet or soft-spoken cats that rarely vocalise.  

Health

The folded ears do not tend to make the breed any more susceptible to ear infections although some owners have reported some waxy buildup. Regular che

cks inside your cats ears while grooming will keep your cat in top condition. Generally the Scottish Fold is a hardy cat t

hat does not require a lot of care.

Possible Genetic Disorders of the Scottish Fold Cat

Breeding Fold to Fold cats greatly increases the chances of skeletal deformities. Congenital osteodystrophy is a genetic problem that causes distortion and enlargement of the bones. This becomes a crippling condition for the affected cat. Avoiding Fold to Fold breeding reduces the incidence of this problem but it does occur still in the breed. You can check for this condition in Scottish Folds by looking for thickness or lack of mobility of the legs and tail. Running your hand down the cat's tail in a very gently slightly upward arching movement will help determine how flexible the tail is. Keep in mind that this is a condition that responsible breeders are trying to eliminate.

Scottish Fold Cat

Best Suited

  • For people wanting a companion cat.  

Not Suited

  • For those away for long periods.