Scottish Fold
Scottish Fold History
- This breed can be traced to Scotland in 1961 when Scottish shepherd William Ross discovered a folded-eared kitten named Susie on his neighbor's farm. Susie's mother was a cat with normal-shaped ears, but the father was unknown.
- Ross adopted a white kitten named Snooks 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. As a result, Scottish Fold breeding in Great Britain came to an abrupt halt. Even today, this breed is not accepted by Great Britain's Governing Council of the Cat Fancy.
- Reputable breeders in the United States worked hard to weed out this gene that causes osteodystrophy and regards it as a very healthy breed.
- In 1978, the Scottish Fold earned championship status by the Cat Fanciers Association.
Scottish Fold Behavior Concerns
- Loves to perch on laps or next to their favorite people.
- Sweet temperament and quiet, soft voice.
- Enjoys sitting up on its hind legs in a look that resembles an otter or flopping on its back when napping.
- Does not enjoy being home alone and benefits by being paired with another cat or other pet.
- Adjusts to new surroundings like hotel rooms and new people relatively easily.
- Somewhat playful and will enjoy an occasional game of fetch.
- Welcomes the company of children and family dogs.
Look of Scottish Folds
- Spotlight on the folded ears, the result of a natural mutation
- Scottish Folds feature round faces, round eyes, short necks, round whisker pads that curve forward and a round, sturdy body accented by a bushy tail. They look like they are smiling.
- This breed's dense, resilient coat comes in shorthaired and longhaired versions.
- This breed's coat comes in nearly every color and combination except for pointed colors.
Grooming Scottish Fold Cats
- The shorthaired variety requires little grooming - just run a steel comb through its coat once or twice a week.
- The longhaired variety requires grooming three to four times a week to remove dead hairs and prevent mats from forming.
Suggested Nutritional Needs for Scottish Fold
- Prone to being overweight, so measure food portions and control caloric intake.
Fun Facts of Scottish Folds
- At birth, all Scottish Fold kittens sport straight ears. In some kittens, the ears begin to fold within the first month or so.
- Only folded-eared Scottish Folds are eligible to compete in cat shows.
- Due to the ears, this breed is often affectionately known as Lops. Some also refer to this breed as an "owl in a cat suit."
