This breed of cat was discovered in Scotland in 1961. A shepherd named William Ross found a kitten with folded ears and named her Susie. Susie’s mother had regular ears, but the father was unknown. Ross kept a white kitten from Susie’s litter and began to breed her with local farm cats and British Shorthairs to create this new breed of cat. In 1977, British geneticist Oliphant Jackson reported that one-third of kittens from the breeding of folded-eared cats developed a skeletal lesion called osteodystrophy.
This cat likes to sit on people’s laps or next to them. It has a sweet temperament and a quiet voice. This cat also enjoys sitting up on its hind legs, looking like an otter, or flopping on its back when napping. However, this cat does not enjoy being home alone and would benefit from living with another cat or another pet. This cat also adjusts to new surroundings relatively easily, is somewhat playful, and will enjoy games of fetch every now and then. Additionally, this cat welcomes the company of children and family dogs.
The shorthaired variety only needs to be groomed once or twice a week with a steel comb. The longhaired variety needs to be groomed three to four times a week to remove dead hair and prevent mats from forming.
The typical lifespan of a Scottish Fold is about 15 years. Scottish Folds can have some health problems, such as joint disease. If you notice your cat is stiff, be careful not to damage the tail.
