This breed of cat was discovered in 1961 by Scottish shepherd William Ross. He found a folded-eared kitten on his neighbor’s farm and named her Susie. Susie’s mother had normal-shaped ears, but the father was unknown. Ross adopted a white kitten from Susie’s litter and began to breed her with local farm cats and British Shorthairs to establish this lop-eared feline breed. In 1977, British geneticist Oliphant Jackson reported that one-third of kittens from the breeding of folded-eared cats developed osteodystrophy, a skeletal lesion.
This cat loves to sit on people’s laps or next to them. They have a sweet temperament and a quiet voice. This cat also enjoys sitting up on their hind legs, in a way that looks like an otter, or flopping on their back when napping. However, this cat does not enjoy being home alone and benefits from being paired with another pet or another cat. This cat is also relatively easy to adjust to new surroundings, such as hotel rooms and new people. They are somewhat playful and will enjoy an occasional game of fetch. Lastly, this cat welcomes the company of children and family dogs.
The shorthaired variety of this animal needs little grooming – just once or twice a week, you should run a steel comb through its coat. The longhaired variety needs more grooming, about three to four times a week. This is to remove dead hairs and prevent mats from forming.
The typical lifespan of a Scottish Fold is about 15 years. Like many breeds, the Scottish Fold can be predisposed to some health problems. Degenerative joint disease can be an issue, especially in the tail which should be handled carefully if stiffness is noticed.
