This breed of cat was first discovered in Scotland in 1961. A Scottish shepherd named William Ross found a kitten with folded-ears and named her Susie. Susie’s mother had normal 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 it has a sweet temperament. It is quiet and doesn’t make a lot of noise. This cat also enjoys sitting up on its hind legs, which makes it look like an otter. And when it’s tired, it will flop over on its back for a nap. This cat does not like to be left alone and does better if it has another pet or another cat to keep it company. This cat is also relatively easy to adjust to new environments, such as hotels or homes with new people in them. And while this cat isn’t considered very playful, it will enjoy playing fetch every once in a while. Finally, this kitty welcomes the company of children and family dogs without any problems.
The shorthaired variety doesn’t need much grooming. You can just run a steel comb through its coat once or twice a week. The longhaired variety needs to be groomed three to four times per week so that it will not have any dead hair and will not form mats.
The typical lifespan of a Scottish Fold is about 15 years. The breed can be prone to some health problems, such as degenerative joint disease, which can cause stiffness in the tail.
