Pet Healthipedia

Personality:

• Disposition matches their sweet expression.
• Adore human companionship.

History:

In 1961, William Ross found the first known Scottish Fold cat on a farm in Scotland and used one, a white cat he named Susie, to develop the breed.  Folded ears are the result of a spontaneous mutation.  Breed was further established by crosses to the British Shorthair and American Shorthair cats.  Accepted for championship status in the Cat Fanciers’ Association (CFA) in 1978.

Body Type:

• Medium-sized cat with a rounded, well-padded body.
• There should be no sign of immobility due to short, coarse legs or splayed toes, and the tail should be long and flexible.
• The head is well rounded with rounded whisker pads.
• Ears fold forward and downward.
• A small tightly folded ear is preferred over a loose fold and large ear.
• Eyes are wide open with a sweet expression.
• Color corresponds to coat color.

Coat:

• Coat is medium short, dense, and plush.
• All colors are accepted with the exception of those showing evidence of hybridization resulting in the himalayan pattern, chocolate, lavender, or those combinations with white.

Health and Wellness:

• Neonatal isoerythrolysis.
• Prognathism.
• Vertebral deformities.
• Osteochondrodysplasia.

What you should know:

• Although all kittens are born with straight ears, only about 40% will develop folded ears.
• If ears are going to fold, they begin to do so between three and four weeks of age.
• Ear can be a single fold, double fold, or triple fold with the latter considered the most desirable.
• Straight-eared cats are still valuable to the breeding program and make wonderful pets.
• Preferably, your kitten should come from a mating of a fold-eared cat to a straight-eared cat.
• Your kitten should walk easily and not have a stiff, thick or short tail.
• Scottish Folds should be purchased when they are at least four months of age.