This breed of cat was 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 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.
Bengals love to perch on laps or sit next to their favorite people. They have a sweet temperament and a quiet, soft voice. Bengals enjoy sitting up on their hind legs in a look that resembles an otter or flopping on their back when napping. Bengals do not enjoy being home alone and will benefit by being paired with another cat or other pet. Bengals adjust to new surroundings like hotel rooms and new people relatively easily. Bengals are somewhat playful and will enjoy an occasional game of fetch. The company of children and family dogs is welcomed by Benglas
The shorthaired variety doesn’t need much grooming – just run a steel comb through its coat once or twice a week. The longhaired variety needs to be groomed three to four times a week so that it doesn’t get matted and the dead hairs don’t build up.
Scottish Folds typically live for around 15 years. As with many breeds, they can be prone to some health problems. One common problem is degenerative joint disease, which can cause stiffness in the tail. If this is noticed, it’s important to be careful with the tail.