This breed of cat was first discovered in Scotland in 1961. A Scottish shepherd named William Ross found a kitten with folded ears and named her Susie. Susie’s mother had regular-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 is a people person. They love to sit on laps or be close to their favorite people. They have a sweet temperament and a soft voice. This cat also likes to perch on its hind legs, which looks like an otter. When they are not near people, they will nap on their back. This cat does not do well when left alone and benefits from having another pet or cat around them in the home. They are relatively easy going and will adjust to new surroundings quickly, such as in hotel rooms or with new people. They can be playful at times and enjoy playing fetch every now and then. Lastly, this cat welcomes the company of children and family dogs without any problems.
The shorthaired variety is easy to groom. You just need to run a steel comb through its coat once or twice a week. The longhaired variety needs more grooming, three to four times a week, in order to remove dead hair and prevent mats from forming.
The typical lifespan of a Scottish Fold is about 15 years. Scottish Folds can have some health problems. One example is degenerative joint disease, which can be a problem in the tail. If you notice stiffness, be careful with the tail.
