This breed of cat was first discovered in Scotland in 1961 by Scottish shepherd William Ross. Ross 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 in order to create this lop-eared feline breed. However, 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 quiet, soft voice. This cat also enjoys sitting up on its hind legs like an otter or flopping on its back when taking a nap. However, this cat does not enjoy being left home alone and it is beneficial for it to be paired with another cat or pet. This cat also adjusts to new surroundings relatively easily, is somewhat playful, and 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. For the longhaired variety, grooming should be done 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. They can have some health problems, like other breeds of cats. One problem is degenerative joint disease, which can be an issue in the tail. If you notice stiffness, be careful with the tail.
