This breed of cat was first discovered in Scotland in 1961. A shepherd named William Ross found a kitten with folded ears and named her Susie. 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 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 around people. They have a sweet temperament and a quiet voice. This cat enjoys sitting up on their hind legs, which looks like an otter, or flopping on their back when taking a nap. This cat does not enjoy being home alone and benefits from having another pet or person around them. This cat adjusts to new environments and people relatively easily. They are somewhat playful and will enjoy an occasional game of fetch. Lastly, this cat welcomes the company of children and family dogs.
The shorthaired variety doesn’t need much grooming. You can just run a steel comb through its coat once or twice a week. The longhaired variety needs more grooming. You will need to groom it three to four times a week 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, like many others. One common problem is degenerative joint disease, which can be an issue, especially in the tail. If stiffness is noticed, the tail should be handled with care.