This breed of cat was traced back to Scotland in 1961 when a Scottish shepherd found a folded-eared kitten on his neighbor’s farm. Susie’s mother had normal-shaped ears, but her father was unknown. The shepherd, William 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 osteodystrophy, a skeletal lesion.
This cat is very friendly and loves to be around people. It has a sweet temperament and a quiet voice. This cat enjoys sitting up on its hind legs, looking like an otter, or flopping on its back when napping. However, this cat does not enjoy being home alone and would benefit from living with another cat or other pet. This cat is relatively easy to adjust to new surroundings, such as hotel rooms or new people. 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 of this breed needs little grooming. Just run a steel comb through its coat once or twice a week. The longhaired variety needs grooming three to four times a week to remove dead hair and prevent mats from forming.
The typical lifespan of a Scottish Fold is around 15 years. Like many breeds, they can have some health problems. One problem is degenerative joint disease, which can be an issue in the tail if stiffness is noticed.
