This breed can be traced back to Scotland in 1961 when a Scottish shepherd found a folded-eared kitten on his neighbor’s farm. The mother had normal-shaped ears, but the father was unknown. The shepherd 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 folded-eared cats developed osteodystrophy, a skeletal lesion.
Bengals like to sit on laps or next to their favorite people. They have a sweet temperament and a quiet, soft voice. Bengals enjoy sitting up on their hind legs in a look that resembles an otter or flopping on their back when napping. Bengals do not enjoy being home alone and benefits by being paired with another cat or other pet. Bengals adjust to new surroundings like hotel rooms and new people relatively easily. Bengals are somewhat playful and will enjoy an occasional game of fetch. Bengals welcome the company of children and family dogs.
The shorthaired variety doesn’t need to be groomed very often. Just run a steel comb through its coat once or twice a week. The longhaired variety needs to be groomed three to four times a week so that it doesn’t get matted and so that dead hair is removed.
The typical lifespan of a Scottish Fold is about 15 years. Like many breeds, the Scottish Fold can be predisposed to some health problems. This might include degenerative joint disease, which can be an issue in the tail. If stiffness is noticed, it’s important to handle the tail carefully.
