This breed of cat was discovered in Scotland in 1961. A Scottish shepherd, William Ross, found a folded-eared kitten on his neighbor’s farm. The 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 perch on people’s laps and next to their favorite family members. It has a sweet temperament and a quiet, soft voice. This cat also enjoys sitting up on its hind legs in a look that resembles an otter or flopping on its back when napping. However, this cat does not enjoy being home alone and benefits by being paired with another cat or other pet. This cat also adjusts to new surroundings like hotel rooms and new people relatively easily. This cat is 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. You should just run a steel comb through its coat once or twice a week. 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. Scottish Folds can have some health problems. One is called degenerative joint disease which can happen in the tail. If you see stiffness, be careful with the tail.
