Breed Information & Education

Often described as 'owlish', these adorable floppy-eared kitties are sure to steal hearts wherever they go. With their copper-coloured eyes, floppy ear cartilage, and an extremely affectionate disposition, the Scottish Fold is a unique and special little creature.

The Scottish Fold came about in the 1960s on a farm in the Tayside region of Scotland. A sheep farmer by the name of William Ross noticed an odd-looking white cat with folded ears hanging around his barn. This cat, who he named 'Susie', had a litter with a local tomcat which produced one female kitten with similarly folded ears. Ross went on to selectively breed from her and her offspring, and so the Scottish Fold breed began. It is believed thay every Scottish fold cat can trace their lineage back to Susie. 

About the Breed

The Scottish Folds' characteristic floppy ears were originally not as pronounced as they are today. Originally they were only folded from about halfway up, tilting forward and downwards. Decades of selective breeding have caused more and more of a double or triple-fold appearance.

Originally known as 'lop-eared' cats, it was discovered that the gene responsible for folded down ears is an incomplete dominant gene. This means that if a cat with folded ears breeds with a cat with the straight-eared gene, and the folded eared cat passes down their gene, their offspring will have folded ears.

Scottish Fold kittens are actually born with straight ears. They ears tend to 'flop' between 2-4 weeks of age. Sadly, the gene which causes the cartilage in the ears to become floppy (and oh so adorable!) also affects the cartilage all over the body.

Scottish Folds experience varying degrees of osteochondrodysplasia; a condition which affects bone development and cartilage formation and can lead to arthritis in cats and even joint fusion. Ankylosing spondylosis of the tail is particularly common, and so Scottish Fold owners are advised to gently handle their kitty's tail regularly to check for stiffness and pain. If any discomfort is noticed, it's best to get your kitty checked out straight away.

Due to these genetic abnormalities, Scottish Folds are never bred with other Scottish Folds. If two Scottish Folds are bred to one another, their offspring can suffer from genetic cartilage disorders so severe they may not be able to walk. Breeders instead cross their lines with straight-eared cats, such as the British Short Hair.

Personality

Scottish Folds are known for being sweet, affectionate, and attention-loving. They seek the company of their humans and tend to follow their owners all over the house. They are not an ideal cat for those who need to leave them alone at home for long periods of time, unless there is a second cat in the house to keep them company. 

They are a rather quiet breed and won't meow excessively throughout the day, but they tend to communicate with endearing 'chirping' noises.

Scottish Folds are well-known for being master posers. They are often found sitting up on their haunches like meercats, or flopping, stretching, and laying in a variety of quirky human-like positions.

They are also quite a clever little cat, and can greatly benefit from toys that encourage mental stimulation such as teaser cat toys like feathers and wands or interactive cat toys.

As a quiet and gentle breed, it's best to keep Scottish Folds as indoor-only cats. For any indoor cat, we recommend providing a nice tall cat tree or tower to help satisfy their climbing instincts.

Where Have I Seen Scottish Folds Before...?

Not sure where you've seen these cats before? Musician Taylor Swift has two Scottish Folds, named Meredith Grey and Olivia Benson, who feature heavily on her social media. Another social media-famous Scottish Fold is 'Maru', with thousands of fans worldwide. 

Grooming

Ear Cleaning - while some Scottish Folds don't require regular ear cleaning, it is important to check their ears weekly for any discharge, debris, or irritation. If their ears are particularly tightly folded, they may require a weekly clean with a vet-recommended ear cleaner such as Epiotic or PAW Gentle Ear Cleaner.

Brushing - most Scottish Folds have fairly low-maintenance short fur, but regular brushing can help reduce excessive shedding and can be a nice part of bonding (particularly if you use a massage brush).