This breed of cat was first discovered in Scotland in 1961. A Scottish shepherd named 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 be around people and will sit on your lap or next to you. It has a sweet temperament and a soft voice. This cat also enjoys sitting up on its hind legs, which gives it an otter-like appearance. When it’s tired, it will flop onto its back like a dog. This cat is not good at being home alone and would benefit from living with another pet or another cat. It is also relatively easy to adjust to new surroundings, whether that’s a new home or being in a hotel room with new people. This cat is playful at times and will enjoy playing fetch with you. And lastly, this cat welcomes the company of children and family dogs.
The shorthaired variety needs little grooming – just run a steel comb through its coat once or twice a week. The longhaired variety needs grooming three to four times a week to remove dead hairs and prevent mats from forming.
The typical lifespan of a Scottish Fold is about 15 years. They can have some health problems, like other breeds of animals. One problem is joint disease, which can be a problem in the tail if it gets stiff.
