This breed of cat was discovered in Scotland in 1961 by Scottish shepherd William Ross. Ross found a folded-eared kitten named Susie on his neighbor’s farm. Susie’s mother had normal-shaped 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 on people’s laps or next to them. It has a sweet temperament and a quiet, soft voice. This cat enjoys sitting up on its hind legs, which looks like an otter, or flopping on its back when it is taking a nap. 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 relatively easily, such as in hotel rooms or when meeting new people. This cat is somewhat playful and will enjoy an occasional game of fetch. Finally, this cat welcomes the company of children and family dogs.
The shorthaired variety doesn’t require much grooming. Just run a steel comb through its coat once or twice a week. The longhaired variety requires more grooming – three to four times a week. This is to remove dead hairs and prevent mats from forming.
The typical lifespan of a Scottish Fold is about 15 years. This breed can have some health problems. One such problem is degenerative joint disease, which can be an issue, especially in the tail. If stiffness is noticed, it’s important to be careful with the tail.
