This breed started in Scotland in 1961 when a shepherd named William Ross found a folded-eared kitten 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. In 1977, British geneticist Oliphant Jackson reported that one-third of kittens from folded-eared cats developed osteodystrophy, a skeletal lesion.
This cat loves to be around people and will sit on your lap or next to you. They have a sweet temperament and a quiet voice. This cat enjoys being playful at times, but mostly just likes to relax. They are easy to adjust to new surroundings and get along with other pets.
The shorthaired variety doesn’t need much grooming. Just use a steel comb to brush its coat once or twice a week. The longhaired variety needs to be groomed three or 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, like other breeds of cats. One problem is degenerative joint disease, which can be an issue in the tail. If stiffness is noticed, be careful with the cat’s tail.
