There are many stunning cat breeds. A perfect example are Scottish Fold Cats. A distinctive feature of thesee cats are fold ears forward. However, this is not all the advantages and features of the Scottish cat. Its character, personality and appearance deserve our love and appreciation.
History of Scottish Fold breed origin
Scottish Fold might seem to be an odd name for a cat breed isn’t it? What is even odder to someone who hasn’t seen Scottish fold kittens is the physical appearance of this graceful creature. It looks more like an owl and less like a kitten due to a dominant gene mutation in the DNA which causes its ears to bend forward and fold up. This cat breed traces its origin to the first-ever documented Scottish Fold cat called Susie who was discovered in Scotland in 1961.
The Scottish fold was originally called lop-eared, a name highly inspired from the lop-eared rabbit and in 1966, the name Scottish fold was derived to differentiate it from its namesake rabbit.
This particular cat breed was not very popular in Europe owing to certain misconceptions of them harboring mites and deafness. While these two illnesses were not dominant in this breed, a certain buildup of wax in the ears was registered on a high scale in this particular breed.
Scottish Fold appearance
Scottish fold is a medium-sized breed. The males range between 9 and 13 lbs and the female between 6 and 9lbs. But how much a Scottish fold weighs also depends on its feeding diet and lifestyle. Scottish folds are not prone to obesity as much as, for example, British cats, but they can still be overweight, especially if the individual is spayed. For such pets you need to choose a special food, come up with physical activities.Originally, all Scottish fold kittens had just one fold in their ears but due to selective breeding processes, these folds have increased to double and triple creases hence, increasing their price manifold too. Not all Scottish fold kittens in a litter will have folded ears. Some can come out as regular-looking kittens. The rule is never to breed two Scottish fold kittens as their litter may consist of kittens that are prone to displasia which is very painful for them and the owners too who end up seeing them in pain and discomfort.
All Scottish Fold kittens are born with straight ears. The fold gene becomes dominant approximately three weeks later.
Their noses are essentially round, the head is domes at the top and the neck is extremely short. There is no rule as to what their coat color may be; they can be any color depending on how they were bred. Let’s look at the main characteristics of Scottish Folds to get a complete picture of the breed’s standards.
- Scottish Fold cat’s tail
The tail at normal length reaches the shoulder blades when bent along the body. A Scottish cat’s tail should be agile, fairly flexible along its entire length. If this is not the case, we are dealing with a problem where the lop-eared gene has significantly affected muscular or skeletal health. - Scottish Fold’s body and paws
Healthy Scots have a muscular strong body and hind pushing paws strong enough to jump well. Be sure to check for looseness and ease of movement. This is very important for Scottish Folds, as due to the lop-eared gene they are at risk of joint diseases. - Scottish Fold cat’s coat
The coat of Scottish Fold cats is dense, fairly short, thick, with a good undercoat, which does not let it lie down. All this creates a feeling of plushness. The breed’s color standard includes many colors. [Read more about colors of Scottish cats in our article]. The same coat is also found in Scottish straights. Highlend straights and Highlend folds have quite a different coat, much longer and more like the Angora breed. - Scottish Fold cat’s head
Both Cattish Folds and Cattish Straights have round faces, due to dense and pronounced cheekbones, a strong jaw, and the round shape of the skull. This is another reason for the appearance of the coveted babyface. But it is not the last. - Scottish Fold cat’s eyes
The Scottish cat also needed more round eyes for this effect, which sometimes resemble the surprised eyes of an owl. The color ranges from blue to amber, depending on the color of the coat. And it comes in both monochrome and with a pattern or with different colors of the base and tip of the hair. - Scottish Fold cat’s nose
Pay attention to the nose of the cat. It should not have a hook or deflection, and must be short enough. It is a short nose that completes the portrait called a baby face. But not all Scottish cats have it. Some, so-called old-type Scottish cats, have an elongated nose shape. However, competent breeders are now working to make the spouts of Scottish Folds more and more neat. - Scottish Fold’s ears
The main features of Scottish Folds are, first of all, the ears. They are where Scottish Folds differ from Scottish straights (Scottish straight-eared cats). The ears of Scottish folds must have folds, the best standard is when there are 3 of them. Proper ears drop slightly forward and downward, making the head spherical.
All Scottish cats are born with straight ears, but after about 21 days the ears of Fold kittens begin to droop. Nevertheless, even a professional breeder can not say how closely the ears will adhere to the head, or even slightly stand up, turning into so-called helicopters, which is a marriage. But there is a rule: the ears with one fold almost always later raised, ears with two folds slightly raised, but the ears with three folds (the bottom fold is located 3-5 mm from the tip of the ear) are rare, but make the ears champion, and the head perfectly round and owl-like.
It might happens that when the ears fully stand up, a breeder can rewrite the pedigree, calling the kitten a Straight. And in fact it is a Fold, that is a carrier of the fold gene, but with raised ears. As a result such cats are mated with other Folds, which is forbidden by breeding rules preventing the birth of defective Scottish fold kittens.Not to confuse a Scottish Fold with raised ears with a Scottish Straight, you should look at the size of the ears: Folds’s ears are very, very small, even when standing.In Strayt full ears are triangular in shape, but, of course, not too big, otherwise it will be considered a defect.However, any responsible breeder will not give any guarantees when selling a kitten, that the ears will not stand up later. It depends on the further health of the kitten, on his hormonal background, on nutrition, on the presence of stress, as well as many other factors. [On what the difference between Scottish Fold and Scottish Straight, as well as all their varieties, we wrote a separate article].
As you can see, the standards of the Scottish Fold cat breed have clear characteristics. If you want to become the owner of a purebred Scottish Fold, you will get an exotic cat, but also easy to care for and with a great temperament.
Scottish Fold temperament
Scottish fold kittens are extremely good-natured and make amazing pets – better than all the other feline breeds which come across as highly arrogant. They sleep on their backs, sit with their legs stretched out and their paws usually rest on their tummy. The temperament of the Scottish fold is praised by breeders, but not always by owners. The first ones say that they are plush creatures both outside and inside, that they are malleable, kind and not aggressive at all. The latter, on the other hand, sometimes encounter the complete opposite picture. Why does this happen?
The Scottish fold kitten’s temperament is strongly influenced by mother
You can not predict what temperament your cat will have. After all, everyone has their own individual set of genes. Look at how the kitten behaves in the breeder’s home, look at his mother. Because a lot depends on the initial conditions of care and socialization. And even further personality of Scottish fold depends on the mother and the relationship with other litter-mates. If a kitten is weaned too early, up to 2 months of age, it may still have an unformed personality with bad habits. For example, it can let his claws out when playing, or will not know the litter box and scratching post. Taking the pet from her mother too early, you provoke the development of psychological problems in him later, and actually deprive him of his childhood.
Does the upbringing in the new family form the Fold’s personality
Also, much will depend on the new family. The cat should not be allowed to do whatever he wants, such as scratching, walking past the litter box, spoiling things. He will have to be methodically taught the rules of behavior among people or, in other words, socialized. But suppose you took the kitten from her mother after 2 months, the breeder’s conditions were proper, you train him more or less correctly and he did not get aggressive genes untypical for Scottish cat breed. What would a Scottish cat with an average character be like in such a case? It will be kind and cheerful. And, of course, it may be active as a toddler, though he may be quiet. Your cat will have a fairly simple character, unlike, for example, harsh Norwegian Forest Cats, Angora or Siamese cats. Simple in terms of not vindictiveness, without deliberate pettiness and vindictiveness. In this respect, Scottish cats are plush, it’s true.
What do Scottish Folds not like
As for the negatives, in the first place, it is not liking to sit in your arms and disliking excessive cuddling. But the presence or absence of these traits depends on each individual pet. Well, as a whole the Scottish Fold cat will not allow manipulating itself even with a well-behaved temperament. The key to understanding the inner world of Scottish fold is respect. If you will respect its privacy, not to grab it in your arms, not to torment it with active caresses, not to play too noisy games, you will receive an excellent friend who will resemble a dog in some respects – Scottish cats are very loyal to their owners.
Temperament and difficulty level of caring for the Scottish Fold Cat
| Friendliness | 70,00% |
| Level of molting | 90,00% |
| Talkativeness | 60,00% |
| Kids friendly | 70,00% |
| Health | 70,00% |
When choosing a kitten, you should consider that not all of the Scottish inherit the quality attributes of the breed.Even with breeders who for many years engaged exclusively in the Scottish breed, sometimes kittens appear in which the Fold gene is not inherited. Even with breeders who for many years engaged exclusively in the Scottish breed, sometimes kittens appear in which the Fold gene is not strongly expressed. Such kittens cannot be allowed for breeding, and are offered to customers as pets (so-called pet-class). In any case, you should buy a purebred Scottish-fold kitten only from a proven breeder, otherwise you risk getting a sick one.
Pros and cons of the Scottish Fold breed
We decided to be as balanced as possible in highlighting the pros and cons of the Scottish fold breed by compiling a table of pros and cons.
| PROS | CONS |
| Suitable for inexperienced owners | Does not like excessive cuddling |
| Friendly and not aggressive | Do not always like to be in your arms |
| Intelligent and smart | Can be testy if dissatisfied |
| People-loving, affectionate | Can be somewhat pushy |
| Not fearful | May tend to suffer from joint problems |
| Get along with other pets |
In other words, Scottish fold is the cat breed that will suit people who are calm, able to show show respect for pets and want to buy a true companion. Be ready, that a Fold will take a significant part in your life, because of their innate loyalty and active attitude. And, of course, the Scottish Fold will be everyone’s favorite and will always attract attention because of it’s stunning unusual appearance, fluffy fur and a variety of colors.
How to care for a Scottish Fold
They require very little care which is why they become excellent domestic pets. Another reason why they are fast becoming popular pets is that they are very docile; even their meows are extremely low buzzed. Scottish folds live about fifteen years as they are susceptible to various diseases like polycystic kidneys and arthritis.
Scottish Fold breed is advised to beginners not only because of its good temperament. This cat breed is also very easy to take care of, if your cat is healthy. That is why it is better to buy a Scottish Fold in a cattery from the experienced breeder who responsibly approaches health issues.
- Scottish Fold combing
Combing is required approximately once a week for short-haired Folds, during spring and fall shedding you have to do it every day. Longhaired Folds usually need combing up to 2-3 times a week. - How to Care for Scottish Fold Ears
This breed of cat needs regular checks on the health of the ears. Since the ears are folded forward, excess earwax may accumulate in the ear canals. Ears should be cleaned with cotton buds as needed. - Scottish Fold’s Eye Care
Another thing to consider is the occasional teary eyes. This is due to the structure of the nasal septum: narrowed nasolacrimal ducts, which are genetically inherited by Scottish cats. Nothing you can do about it, you’ll have to rinse and wipe your eyes as you see them. - Feeding Diet for Scottish Fold
Last but not least. Don’t ignore a proper diet, as Folds, especially spayed ones, are prone to being overfed. Decide whether you’re going to feed your cat dry food or raw food. Your breeder or veterinarian can help you choose the right diet.
The care and keeping of a Scottish cat, as you can see, is not demanding. But what about the health of adorable Scottish Folds?
What are the most common health issues of the Scottish Folds
The Scottish Fold is considered a relatively healthy breed. However, the fold gene does affect the propensity for joint problems. As a result of wrong breeding, diseases such as osteochondrodysplasia, chondrodystrophy, arthritis, arthrosis and the like can occur. This is not a statement that the Scottish Folds born from the correct crosses are immune to such problems. But those cats which are born from wrong breeding, for example, a Fold with a Fold, are guaranteed to be sick. That is why we recommend to buy a Fold in a cattery to reduce the risk of disease to a minimum.
Other issues that are more likely to occur in this breed include heart disease, genitourinary diseases, and abnormal eyelid structure. But these are just tendencies, like humans: they may or may not show up. Also the Scottish cats might be prone to brachycephalic syndrome, a kind of breathing disorders in brachycephalic cats (breeds with a shortened head shape, which include, among others, the Scottish breed).