This breed of cat was discovered in 1961 by Scottish shepherd William Ross. He found a kitten with folded-ears 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 be around people and sit on their laps. It has a sweet temperament and a quiet, soft voice. This cat also enjoys sitting up on its hind legs, in a way that looks like an otter, or flopping on its back when it takes a nap. However, this cat does not enjoy being home alone and would benefit from being paired with another cat or other pet. Additionally, this cat is relatively easy to adjust to new surroundings, such as hotel rooms and new people. This cat is also somewhat playful and will enjoy an occasional game of fetch. Finally, this cat welcomes the company of children and family dogs.
The shorthaired variety doesn’t require much grooming. You just need to run a steel comb through its coat once or twice a week. The longh variety needs more grooming, about three to four times a week. You need to remove dead hairs and stop mats from forming.
The typical lifespan of a Scottish Fold is about 15 years. This breed can have some health problems, like degenerative joint disease, especially in the tail. If you notice stiffness in the tail, be careful.
