Most of the pet lovers are very specific about the physical characteristics of their cats. They are often more concerned about the features that make them look cute and adorable. The Scottish Fold is one such breed that is praised and loved by the cat lovers for its distinctive appearance and folded ears as their trademark.

History of the Scottish Fold Cat

The history of the Scottish Fold cat is very interesting. Many animal breeds come into existence by an unexpected but natural genetic mutation. The same incident happened with the Scottish Fold.

In a barn of the Tayside region of Scotland, a white cat with folded ears lives as a mouser. Her name was Susie. In 1961, a shepherd named William Ross noticed this breed with distinctive ears as he had an interest in cats. As Susie gave birth to kittens, Ross adopted one of them; that was a female and named it Snook.

Ross registered this cat breed to the governing Council of the Cat Fancy in 1966 and started breeding the Scottish Fold cats. In the first three years, he got 72 kittens, 42 with folded ears, and 34 had straight ears. Research told that the folded ears were due to a dominant gene. Susie is regarded as the ancestor of all the Scottish Fold cats.

This cat breed was not accepted in Europe and was also rejected by GCCF in 1971 due to expected ear problems and other genetic issues. However, this cat breed was imported by America and started establishing. There, it was crossed with the American Shorthair and the British Shorthair and resultantly, became a cat with American self-confidence and British decorum.

Today the American Cat Fanciers Association (ACFA), Cat Fancier’s Association (CFA), and The International Cat Association (TICA), all have accepted and registered the Scottish Fold cat breed.

Height & Weight

This innocent looking cat breed varies in its length from 10 inches to 30 inches. It is a lightweight cat breed that weighs about 5 to 11 pounds depending upon the length.

Life Span

The adorable Scottish Fold can be a great companion for about 11 years to 14 years.

Body Features

The Scottish Fold cat has a medium rounded body. It firmly stands with a well-padded body. The round head, with round whiskers pad, round eyes, and rounded cheeks give it an overall rounded look.

The most prominent feature of the Scottish Fold cat is the rounded ears. The kittens are born with straight ears that start folding after 21 days. The folded ears look like a cap held over the cute rounded head. The folded ears with a round head make the Scottish Fold cat look like an owl.

The Scottish Fold cat has short legs with rounded small and neat paws. The tail extends to be medium to long and has a rounded tip.

Eye Colors

The sweet rounded and expressive eyes have colors according to the coat colors. The white, bi-colored, and van patterned cats have blue and odd-colored eyes. Green, gold, and blue-green are common eye colors for this cat breed.

Coat and Patterns

The Scottish Fold cats can have short as well as long hair. The coat is dense, full of life, and soft texture. The coat may appear in tabby, calico, and tortoiseshell patterns.

Colors

The Scottish Fold cat appears in various colors. White, lilac, chocolate, lavender, bi-color, van patterns, and Parti-color are common for the Scottish Fold cat breed.

Personality and Temperament of the Scottish Fold Cat

The Scottish Fold cats got their name as a combination of their land of origin Scotland, and their trademark folded ears. These well-rounded adorable cats tend to have a very sweet and affectionate nature. They are extremely loyal and pay attention to everything their owner says or do.

Besides their cute folded ears, their odd positioning makes them noticeable and loved. They love to lay on the floor like a lazy sack of flour or lay on their back with their legs held up in the air.

They like to keep close with the family members, play with them, and seek their attention. It is a smart and active cat that likes to play with teasing toys, puzzles, and loves to chase a laser beam or a mouse. It also likes to jump and climb.

The Scottish Folds are strongly attached to the owners and love to sit in the lap or curl next to them. This means that they cannot be left alone at home.

Health Problems of the Scottish Fold Cat

The Scottish Fold cat is a result of genetic mutation and it’s a mixed breed. This makes it prone to diseases that can be genetic like;

• Osteochondrodysplasia 

This is a developmental abnormality of the cartilage and bones in the body. The folded result is a result of this genetic issue.

•  Polycystic Kidney Disease 

The Scottish Fold cats are prone to this disease which causes several cysts in the kidneys and affects kidney functioning.

• Degenerative joint disease

This disease affects the tail, ankle, and knee joints causing pain and difficulty in movement.

• Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

It is a famous heart disease of the cat breeds that can affect the Scottish Fold cats as well. It can become severe and result in heart failure.

Nutrition of the Scottish Fold Cat

The Scottish Fold is a domestic cat and requires the same nutrition. It can be fed with dry or wet food but wet food is more appropriate to meet the water need and avoid Polycystic kidney disease. Plenty of water must be a part of the Scottish Fold cat’s diet.

Some breeders also suggest using grain-free cat food for the Scottish Fold cats.

Care of The Scottish Fold Cat

This adorable and sweet-tempered cat needs to be taken care of for a healthy and long life span.

• The Scottish Fold has a dense coat. Both short hair and long hair Scottish Fold cats need twice a week grooming to avoid hairball formation.
• A regular bath will keep the coat tidy and smooth.
• The folded ears can have more infections, mite, and excessive ear wax as compared to other cat breeds. Check their ears twice a week and clean the wax with a cotton cloth.
• Do not overfeed your cat to get obese. It can lead to heart diseases.
• This active cat breed gets bored easily. Provide them with cat toys, cat house, mouse teasers, and play with them in your spare time.
• For safe climbing, train them on the cat tree.
• Keep their litter box tidy and welcoming.
• Keep the Scottish Fold cats indoors to ensure their safety.

Friendliness of the Scottish Fold Cat

The Scottish Fold is a social and friendly cat breed. It loves to play with the children and wants their attention. It also goes well with other pets and dogs that are friendly. It likes to be picked up and held by children.