This breed of cat was first discovered in 1961 by Scottish shepherd William Ross. He found a folded-eared kitten on his neighbor’s farm and named her Susie. 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 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. It has a sweet temperament and a quiet voice. This cat enjoys sitting up on its hind legs, which makes it look like an otter. It also enjoys flopping on its back when taking a nap. This cat does not enjoy being home alone and would benefit from living with another cat or pet. This cat adjusts to new environments and people relatively easily. 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 requires little grooming. You will only need to run a steel comb through its coat once or twice a week. The longhaired variety, on the other hand, will require grooming three to four times a week. This is necessary to remove dead hairs and prevent mats from forming.
The average lifespan of a Scottish Fold is about 15 years. This breed can have some health problems, such as degenerative joint disease. If stiffness is noticed, it is important to be careful with the tail.
