This breed of cat was discovered in 1961 by Scottish shepherd William Ross. He 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 started to breed her with local farm cats and British Shorthairs to create 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 likes to sit on laps or next to their favorite people. They have a sweet temperament and a soft voice. This cat also enjoys sitting up on its hind legs or flopping on its back when it takes a nap. However, this cat does not enjoy being home alone and benefits from being paired with another pet or another cat. This cat also adjusts to new surroundings relatively easily, is somewhat playful, and welcomes the company of children and family dogs.
The shorthaired variety doesn’t need a lot of grooming. You just need to run a steel comb through its coat once or twice a week. The longhaired variety needs more grooming, about three to four times a week. This will help remove dead hair and prevent mats from forming.
Most Scottish Folds live for about 15 years. They can have some health problems, such as degenerative joint disease, especially in the tail. If stiffness is noticed, be careful with the tail.
