This breed of cat was discovered in Scotland 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 then 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 or next to them. It has a sweet temperament and a quiet, soft voice. This cat enjoys sitting up on its hind legs, in a look that is similar to an otter, or flopping on its back when napping. 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, such as hotel rooms and 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 of this breed doesn’t need much grooming. You will only have to run a steel comb through its coat once or twice a week. The longhaired variety, on the other hand, needs to be groomed three to four times a week in order to remove dead hair 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 that they can get degenerative joint disease, especially in the tail. If you notice stiffness, take care with the tail.
