This breed of cat was first discovered in 1961 by Scottish shepherd William Ross. He found a kitten with folded-ears and named her Susie. Susie’s mother had normal ears, but the father was unknown. Ross then 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. However, 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 sit on people’s laps or next to them. It has a sweet temperament and a quiet, soft voice. This cat also enjoys sitting up on its hind legs like an otter or flopping on its back when it takes a nap. However, this cat does not enjoy being home alone and benefits by being paired with another cat or other pet. This cat also adjusts to new surroundings relatively easily, 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 need a lot of grooming – 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 to remove dead hair and prevent mats from forming.
The typical lifespan of a Scottish Fold is about 15 years. They can have some health problems, just like other breeds of animals. One problem that Scottish Folds sometimes have is degenerative joint disease, which can cause stiffness in the tail.
