AllAboutScottishFolds

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The Scottish Fold is a breed of cat with a natural mutation to its ears. The ear cartilage contains a fold so the ears bend forward and down towards the front of their head.

The original Scottish Fold was a long-haired white-haired barn cat named Susie, who was found at a farm near Coupar Angus in Perthshire, Scotland in 1961. Susie's ears had an unusual fold in their middle, making her resemble an owl. When Susie had kittens, two of them were born with folded ears, and one of the siblings was acquired by William Ross, a neighbouring farmer and cat-fancier.

China Doll & Minute

Checking out the rainy day

Ross registered the breed with the Governing Council of the Cat Fancy in Great Britain and started to breed Scottish Fold kittens with the help of geneticist Pat Turner. The breeding program produced 76 kittens in the first three years - 42 with folded ears and 34 with straight ears. The conclusion from this was that the ear mutation is due to a simple dominant gene. If one parent provides the gene for straight ears, and one parent provides the gene for folded ears, the kittens will be Folds.

The breed was not accepted for showing in Great Britain and Europe as it was felt that they would be extremely prone to ear problems such as infection, mites and deafness, (in fact, they are not) but the folds were exported to America and the breed continued to be established there using crosses with British Shorthair and the American Shorthair.

Scottish Folds can be either long or short-haired, and they may have any coat colour combination except for Siamese-style points. Pointed Folds have been bred but they are not eligible for showing. The original cats only had one fold in their ears, but due to selective breeding they have increased the fold to a double or triple crease that causes the ear to lie totally flat against the head. Scottish Folds are, typically, good-natured and placid, and are known for sleeping on their backs.

If both parents have folded ears, their kittens will be extremely prone to developing a painful degenerative joint disease that fuses the tail, ankles and knees.

The Scottish Fold is a sweet natured cat who is usually quiet voiced and loves to help supervise whatever you happen to be doing. Their activity level is in the low to medium range. They love to play but usually expect you to be involved in the fun and games. While not every Fold will be a lap fungus, they will usually be found close to you.

Scottish Folds love to sleep flat on their backs and can often be found sitting up looking very much like an otter, or partially reclining looking very much like a Buddha!

In general the Scottish Fold is a healthy, hardy cat with a lifespan of approximately 15 yrs. Early in the development of this breed a degenerative joint disease was discovered to be linked with breeding folded-eared cats to folded-eared cats. Because of this, ethical breeders will only breed straight-eared cats to folded- eared cats. Scottish Folds who are the products of folded-ear to straight-ear breedings seldom if ever develop joint disease.

If you like a cat that is very active and for the most part aloof, then no, the Scottish Fold is not for you. If you want a cat who wants to know what you are doing and why you aren't paying attention to him, then yes, you'd probably do well with a Scottish Fold. Scottish Folds want to be with you and will not do well if left alone for long periods of time. If you work long hours, you might want to consider getting your Scottish Fold a playmate or buying a pair of Folds - one folded-eared and one straight-eared. Two Folds will keep each other from getting lonely and will be twice the love and devotion when you are home.

Scottish Folds are accepted in all the cat registry associations in the United States and Canada. Most of their central offices can give you names of breeders registered with them. Another option is to attend a cat show near you and talk to the breeders that are there. Get to know them and get on their waiting lists. Yes, a Waiting List!!! Because of the folded ear to straight ear breedings not all the kittens born have folded ears and for this reason most Fold breeders have waiting lists for their folded-eared kittens. Don't feel like you are getting the run around if you aren't able to find your special kitten for 6 or more months. (And if you want a specific color, sex, or coat length, you may have to wait even longer.)