Welcome to our Scottish Fold Cats page! Here you will find everything you could ever want to know about Scottish Fold cats and a complete list of all the Scottish Fold catteries we have located in the USA.

The affectionate, beautiful, and caring Scottish Fold breed with its prestigious heritage is a perfect addition for every cat-loving home, as it provides a lifetime of affection, fulfillment, and enjoyment. They have distinct personalities and are intensely inquisitive and more playful than many other breeds.

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Scottish Fold

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Scottish Fold Cat Breed Information

This unusual-looking cat has a gene that produces single, double, or triple folded ears, the only cat in existence with this feature. Their ears bend forward and lie against their head, giving them an “owl-like” appearance that makes them look super cute! However, not every cat from this breed is guaranteed to have folded ears. At birth, they all have straight ears; only those kittens that have the folded ear gene will begin displaying a change in their appearance within a month.

They can be long-haired or short-haired and come in every color combination. Regardless of their appearance, they all have in common that dignified but humorous personality.

They have a very sweet look that makes everyone around them want to cuddle them. They like that because they are very social and always thrive on human love and attention. They are uncommonly personable cats because they really want to relate to their human. Furthermore, they have a cute sitting pose – the Buddha pose.

Never overly demanding, these soft-spoken cats prefer lying in someone’s lap over fetch and other games. Most Scottish Folds have a strange fascination with water. They can spend hours watching cat fountains and come running when they hear that the faucet or the shower is on.

General Information:

Height/Length: medium size

Weight: 6-13 pounds

Lifespan: 11-15 years

Coloring: virtually every coat color and combination of colors

Area of Origin: Scotland

Breed History and Origins:

In 1961, William Ross, a Scottish shepherd noticed a beautiful white cat with strange ears at his neighbor’s farm. He quickly realized that this cat was unique due to its folded ears. He asked around and found out that the cat had no particular pedigree. The cat was named Susie.

Susie’s mother was an ordinary white cat with normal straight ears. There is no info about Susie’s father, so no one knows whether Susie was the first cat of this kind or maybe the father had the folded ears feature.

Ross was simply enchanted by this beautiful cat that he even waited for Susie to have kittens so that he can acquire one. A year later, Susie had two kittens with folded ears and Ross took one – a beautiful white cat just like the proud mom. He named the kitty Snook.

In 1966, Ross began registering his cats with cat associations, and along with other cat enthusiasts, he began the process of getting acceptance for these folded ears cats. A couple of years later, the folded ears cat were named Scottish Fold.

At first, many breeders were fascinated by this breed. By 1971, however, GCCF had decided to stop registering Scottish Folds because they were concerned about ear disorders like hearing problems, mites, and infections. In order to continue with the shows, the Scottish Fold had to move to America. Three kittens of Snook’s litter were taken to Dr. Neil Todd who researched spontaneous mutations. He abandoned the research, but managed to find home for the cats. One cat ended up in the hands of Salle Wolfe Peters – the person responsible for the development of Scottish Folds in the U.S. So all cats from this breed can be traced back to Susie.

In 1973, the Scottish Fold was accepted for registration by CFA, and five years later, in 1978, the breed received Championship status. In a short period, these cats earned acceptance in every cat association and were listed as one of the top ten most popular breeds.

In 1993, the long-haired Scottish Fold was accepted for competition in CFA.

Controversy

It was discovered that breeding two Scottish Folds increases the number of Folds, but also increases the chances of genetic skeletal problems. Fold kittens with two Fold parents are more likely to have a serious genetic condition that might cause bones enlargement and crippling distortion. Responsible cat breeders decided to stop breeding Folds to Folds.

Size and Physical Characteristics:

It began several decades ago as a random mutation of a cat, but now has become one of the most sought-after distinctions – the Scottish Breed. These cats are best known for their folded ears and large, round eyes. Both the eyes and ears give this cat a sweet expression. Breeders describe this breed as an “owl in a cat suit.”

Their body is of a medium size, and their entire body structure, especially the face and head, is rounded with large eyes. The nose is small and short and has a gentle curve, the neck is also short, while the body is well-rounded with medium to short legs. The color of the eyes corresponds with the color of the coat.

The coat can be either short-haired or long-haired. Long-haired folds have a medium-long coat; short-haired have a medium-short coat that is soft in texture and different in color. They come in almost any color and many color combinations except lavender, chocolate, and the Himalayan and Siamese patterns.

And now, everyone’s favorite feature – the ears.

Fold kittens are born with unfolded and straight ears. Kittens with the fold gene will show the fold feature within three weeks. Some kittens do not develop folded ears, which is why they are called Straights. At first, Scottish Folds only had one fold, but as a result of the selective breeding, some breeders have decided to increase the fold to a double and triple crease, making the ear to lie completely flat against the head.

Even though the ears are folded, they are still expressive; they swivel to listen, prick up when the owner opens a can, or lay back when they are angry.

Personality and Temperament:

Scottish Folds have evolved as sweet-tempered cats: bouncy, but not too boisterous; devoted, but not too demanding; and they manage to charm everyone, even dog-like people. When it comes to their personality, they are known for their posing in odd positions – lying on their back with their paws up in the air, or standing on their back legs like meerkats.

In general, the Scottish Fold is moderately active, but very smart cat. They love teaser toys that test their agility, as well as puzzle toys that challenge their intelligence. Their favorite game is any game that involves their favorite human. They are very loyal to every family member, but will bond with one person who will become their favorite person. So they will allow everyone to pet and cuddle them, but their priority will be cuddling with “the chosen one.” Docile and mellow, they are no problem to keep off the table.

They are also known for their soft voice and ability to “speak” to their family in a wide variety of weird but cute meows and purrs not commonly heard in other cat breeds.

Scottish Folds are very intelligent, so they will learn how to open cabinet doors to see if there is something interesting inside to play with. Drinking from running water is another personality feature that makes them unique.

They are curious and follow everyone from room to room. They always like to be involved in whatever their humans are doing. They can adapt to different situations and are comfortable in a room full with people. They adjust to strangers and other pets extremely well. They display a sense of decorum along with a sense of self-confidence.

Nutritional and Exercise Needs:

Scottish Folds and Nutrition

Scottish Folds do not just eat; they live to eat!

This breed can have problems with their joints and bones and are prone to arthritis, so their diet should be rich with alternating krill oil and salmon oil, both of which are anti-inflammatory. As for food, a wide variety of canned grain-free food, homemade raw and commercial freeze-dried raw food.

This is not really a shock since all cats are carnivorous, so feeding them raw meat will make them healthier. Folds will have better coats, cleaner teeth and will be more active and fit.

Reading the food labels is a must, as well as avoiding foods that contain animal byproducts or filler grains. Vets recommend that owners of Folds place more water bowls around the house. This will encourage the cat to drink more. Having a fresh supply of catgrass is also recommended as it will give the cat the needed nutrients and will help with the digesting process.

And contrary to popular perceptions, Scottish Folds are not overweight; they are supposed to be round, so they usually look chubby.

Scottish Folds and physical activities

The ancestors of the Scottish Folds were farm cats, so it is no wonder why these cats love to spend time outdoors if given the opportunity. They love to roam around and hunt butterflies in the yard.

Leaving a Scottish Fold without physical activity is bad because its lackadaisical demeanor might enable obesity. In order to prevent gaining excess weight, owners must provide a healthy diet and initiate regular play. Dangling a piece of string or buying toys will do the trick.

They need enough space around the house for physical activities in a clean indoor environment. They do not need luxurious toys, except for a scratching post, which is a necessity for every cat. The most famous Scottish Fold, Maru, spends hours playing with boxes.

Considering bringing another cat into the household is also a smart idea.

Grooming and Upkeep:

Scottish Folds are easy to care for. Their coat is dense; some cats are long-haired, others are short-haired. Nevertheless, proper care is a priority. Long-haired Folds need weekly brushing, while their long-haired counterparts require daily brushing.

Folds allowed to go outdoors will likely shed more in spring and fall, so more frequent brushing will be needed. Cats kept indoors usually shed evenly all year, so maintaining a constant grooming schedule is enough.

The grooming sessions can be done by hand or brush. Owners are advised to massage their cat gently with wet hands starting from their head to the tail. This way, they can check if the cat suffers from hair loss, skin problems or rashes. As for brushes, vets recommend brushing with a quality steel comb in order to effectively remove hair and prevent mats.

Bathing is another important part of the whole grooming process because it helps remove the essential oil from the cat’s coat. Choosing a specialized shampoo that contains all the essential oils is highly recommended. Special care needs to be taken near ears, eyes and nose, so owners might need to get a helping hand in the bathing process. Fold’s coat needs about 15 minutes to be completely dry.

Cleaning the teeth needs to be done daily with gentle toothpaste for cats and a soft toothbrush.

Their nails grow pretty fast and thus they require nail trimming once, sometimes even twice a week with a special nail trimmer designed for cats. The trimming must be done at a significant distance from the root of the nail.

Cleaning the ear is probably one of the most daunting parts of the grooming procedure because their ears are folded and plus, Scottish Folds are not fans of this whole ear cleaning thing, so owners must be very, very careful.

Characteristic Unique to the Breed:

Scottish Folds dislike loneliness because it makes them feel depressed. They are playful and intelligent, but can really be stubborn sometimes. Folds are not talkative; they save their voice for special occasions; like when they are hungry, when their humans pull their fur a little too hard when grooming, or when they have locked themselves in a closet by accident.

They are known for their sitting and sleeping positions. Folds often sit with their back legs stretched out and their paws on their belly.

Aside from attention needs, these cats are incredibly low maintenance. They will make the ideal companion for people who are at home most of the time.

Health and Wellness:

Responsible breeders never mate a Scottish Fold to another Fold because of the folded ear gene. That is why breeders usually mate Folds to British Shorthairs or American Shorthairs. Listed below are the most common medical conditions for this breed.

• Congenital osteodystrophy – if both parents are Scottish Folds, the kitty is likely to suffer from this genetic condition that causes deformities of the leg, vertebrae, and tail bones as a result of a cartilage thickening. The symptoms include a short, thick tail, thickened bones tender to the touch, lethargy, or the cat might avoid jumping or playing. There is still no cure for this condition, but it can be quite painful.
• Cardiomyopathy is a heart disease that might result in congestive heart failure. This disease is serious because it can be life-threatening, often resulting in blood clots or acute paralysis of a Fold’s rear legs. The cause is still unknown, but it is believed that the hereditary factor plays a role in the development of this disease.
• Polycystic kidney disease is a disease where cysts are formed in the kidneys and slowly increase in size. There is no treatment, but the disease can be managed by proper diets that reduce the kidneys’ workload. However, if not managed on time, the disease might result in terminal kidney failure.
• Ear conditions – this health concern is no longer that serious because a good breeding practice is the key.

4 Interesting Facts about the Scottish Fold:

1. For a long time, this breed didn’t have a real name. It has been called Longhair Fold, Scottish Fold Longhair, Highland Fold and Coupari.
2. Kittens that don’t develop folded ears are known as Straights.
3. Maru, a popular Internet cat sensation, is a Scottish Fold.
4. Waffles is another famous Scottish Fold that has a Facebook page with 1,421,337 likes as of November 2014. The page is called “Waffles the Cat”.

Why Choose a Scottish Fold?

Scottish Folds are unique in many ways: they have a cute, owl-like appearance, they stand on their hind legs, sleep on their back, and sit on their rump like humans do. They are affectionate, lap-oriented cats that follow their humans around the house, but are not as boring or attention-demanding as some cats are.