This breed of cat was first discovered in Scotland in 1961 when Scottish shepherd William Ross found a folded-eared kitten named Susie on his neighbor’s farm. 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 in order to create 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 a skeletal lesion called osteodystrophy.
This cat loves to sit on laps or next to their favorite people. They have a sweet temperament and a quiet, soft voice. This cat also enjoys sitting up on its hind legs in a look that resembles an otter or flopping on its back when napping. This cat does not enjoy being home alone and benefits by being paired with another cat or other pet. This cat adjusts to new surroundings like hotel rooms and new people relatively easily. 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 needs little grooming. You can 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 stop mats from forming.
The typical lifespan of a Scottish Fold is about 15 years. Scottish Folds 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 stiffness is noticed, you should handle the cat’s tail carefully.
