This breed of cats was discovered in Scotland in 1961. Scottish shepherd William Ross found a folded-eared kitten named Susie on his neighbor’s farm. 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 be around people and sit on their laps or next to them. They have a sweet temperament and a quiet, soft voice. This cat also enjoys sitting up on their hind legs, looking like an otter, or flopping on their back when taking a nap. However, this cat does not enjoy being home alone and would benefit from living with another cat or another pet. 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.
Shorthaired cats need little grooming. Just use a steel comb to go through its coat once or twice a week. Longhaired cats need more grooming, about three to four times a week. This will remove dead hair and stop mats from forming.
The typical lifespan of a Scottish Fold is about 15 years. This breed can be prone to some health problems, such as joint disease. If you notice stiffness in the tail, be careful how you handle it.
