This breed of cat was first discovered in Scotland in 1961 by a Scottish shepherd named William Ross. Ross found a folded-eared kitten on his neighbor’s farm and named her Susie. Susie’s mother had regular-shaped ears, but her 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 establish 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 near people it likes. It has a sweet temperament and a soft voice. This cat enjoys sitting up on its hind legs, which looks 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 pet or another cat. This cat adjusts to new surroundings relatively easily, is somewhat playful, and enjoys the company of children and family dogs.
The shorthaired variety doesn’t need much grooming. 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 will help remove dead hairs and prevent mats from forming.
Most Scottish Folds have a lifespan of around 15 years. Breeders should be aware that the Scottish Fold can have some health problems, such as degenerative joint disease, which can cause stiffness in the tail.
