This breed of cat was 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 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 really enjoys sitting on laps or next to their favorite people. They have a sweet temperament and a quiet, soft voice. This cat also enjoys flopping on its back when napping. One downside is that this cat does not enjoy being home alone, so they would benefit from being paired up with another cat or pet. This cat also adjusts to new surroundings quite easily- for example, they would do well in a hotel room. They are somewhat playful and will enjoy playing fetch every now and then. Lastly, this cat welcomes the company of children and family dogs.
The shorthaired variety needs little grooming. Just run a steel comb through its coat once or twice a week. The longhaired variety needs grooming every three to four days to remove dead hair and prevent mats from forming.
The typical lifespan of a Scottish Fold is about 15 years. They are like other breeds and can have some health problems. One problem is called “degenerative joint disease.” This happens when the joints get stiff.
