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 sit on people’s laps or next to them. It has a sweet temperament and a quiet, soft voice. This cat enjoys sitting up on its hind legs, looking like an otter, or flopping on its back when taking a nap. This cat does not enjoy being home alone and benefits from being paired with another cat or other pet. This cat adjusts to new surroundings relatively easily, even if it is in a hotel room or if it is meeting new people. 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 doesn’t need a lot of grooming. You just need to 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.

Scottish Folds typically have a lifespan of 15 years. Breeders should be aware that this breed is predisposed to some health problems, such as degenerative joint disease, which can cause stiffness in the tail. If this is noticed, the tail should be handled carefully.