Scottish Fold

#6

Wamiz's Top Breed

Scottish Fold

Originally from Scotland, the Scottish Fold has the unique feature: ears that are folded forward, as a result of a spontaneous genetic mutation - hence their name. Their round body, with soft, thick fur and a rounded head with big, astonished eyes, give this cat the look of a teddy bear.

Key facts about the Scottish Fold

Life expectancy :

7

20

12

15

Temperament :

Affectionate

Type of coat :

Naked Short Long

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Origins and history

The spontaneous mutation of the folded ear (Fd) gene, first appeared in 1961 in a white cat named Susie, who was discovered by William Ross on the McRaes farm in the Tayside area of ​​Scotland. A year later, Susie gave birth to a litter of kittens, two of which had folded ears. William and Mary Ross, who were breeders of British Shorthairs, kept the white female and started a breeding program with the help of a geneticist to try to reproduce the folded-ear phenotype, using British Shorthairs and farm cats. This proved a difficult task for a number of reasons, such as the fact that the fold took three weeks to appear, the articular malformations diagnosed in some individuals, and the deafness that appeared in others and was wrongly attributed to the Fold gene (Fd). This resulted in the non-recognition of the breed in the United Kingdom from 1971. Mary Ross sent several cats to the United States and the breeding of Scottish Folds developed there. The Cat Fanciers' Association (CFA) granted them official breed status in 1978.

Physical characteristics of the Scottish Fold

  • Scottish Fold
    Scottish Fold

    Adult size

    Female : Between 12 and 14 in

    Male : Between 12 and 14 in

    They reach adult size at about 10 to 12 months.

    Weight

    Female : Between 7 and 11 lb

    Male : Between 9 and 13 lb

    Coat colour

    Type of coat

    Eye colour

    Blue
    Green
    Yellow

    Description

    Medium in size, the Scottish Fold’s body is semi-cobby and rounded with a strong bone structure and powerful musculature, carried by well-muscled legs which are slightly shorter than the length of the body. Their tails are extremely flexible, medium in length, and have a very thick base that tapers towards a rounded end. The head is broad, with rounded contours, a short, wide nose, full cheeks and very full whisker pads. They have large eyes which are spaced out and wide open, giving them a remarkable expressiveness. The ears are small, broad at the base, rounded at the end and bent forward. There is a distinction between two types of fold: the simple fold (ears folded from the middle) and the double fold (ears completely flattened on the head).

    Good to know

    Kittens of this breed are actually born with straight ears, and the folding develops later on, when they are about three weeks old.

    Temperament

    • 100%

      Affectionate

      Their teddy-bear looks attract their fair share of caresses, which they’re great at demanding from their humans and are always grateful for.

    • 66%

      Playful

      Behind their cuddly looks lies a hidden mischief and very curious cat, with an expression that’s always coaxing their favourite human to come and play with them.

    • 66%

      Calm

      They appreciate long periods of calm once they’ve exhausted themselves playing.

    • 66%

      Intelligent

      These cats are easy to live with and show a great ability to adapt.

    • 66%

      Fearful / wary of strangers

      Scottish Folds are relatively sociable, you just need to take the time to get to know them and let them come to you.

    • 66%

      Independent

      They are very much capable of looking after themselves if they have plenty of stimulating activities at their disposition.

      Behaviour of the Scottish Fold

      • 33%

        Chatty

        Their voice isn’t their most developed mode of expression, but they won’t hesitate to use it to get what they want.

      • 66%

        Need for exercise / Sporty

        In order to use up the energy they accumulate during their long siestas, these felines need to run and unwind with long play sessions, ideally twice a day, whether that be by themselves or with their favourite human.

      • 66%

        Tendency to run away

        With their curious nature, these are cats that won’t hesitate to explore and extend their living space given the opportunity.

      • 100%

        Greedy / Gluttony

        If these kitties get bored, they are left to compensate for inactivity with a voracious appetite, so it’s important that you offer them plenty of stimulation. Using interactive feeding stations is highly recommended as it will allow them to eat and play at the same time - their two favourite activities!

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        Compatibility

        • 100%

          Scottish Fold and cats

          With the right introduction, living with other feline companions will only go well.

        • 100%

          Scottish Fold and dogs

          Living with a dog won’t pose any problems as long as they have been socialised with the canine species while they’re still a kitten. Make sure you have high-up areas so that your cat can take refuge if needed.

        • 100%

          Scottish Fold and children

          Children will see these cats as the ideal play companion and the perfect little teddy bear to cuddle. Just be careful to ensure you explain to the child that they are not a toy and that their needs and temperament must be respected.

        • 66%

          Scottish Fold and the elderly

          Their calm and docile temperament is well adapted for living in a small home with a person who is not very active but can give them some activities to keep them stimulated.

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          Price

          The average purchase price of a Scottish Fold is between £400 and £1000, with some variation depending on the lineage, breeding, age or even the sex. For your monthly budget, you should allow an average of £25 per month to meet the cat’s needs, ensuring to give them high-quality food and keep them in good health.

          Grooming

          The size and the shape of their little folded ears means they must be regularly cleaned by a vet. Their thick, dual coat also requires a deep brush at least once a week, and daily during moulting periods. It is strongly advised that you habituate your cat to these routines from the earliest possible age to avoid any adverse reactions.

          Shedding

          Their abundant undercoat means they lose a lot more fur during their spring moult.

          Nutrition of the Scottish Fold

          It’s important to ensure you give your cat a high-quality diet adapted to their age and weight, and that you control their daily intake according to the energy they use. It’s wise to seek veterinary advice for the addition of chondroprotectors as a dietary supplement, given this breed is susceptible to osteochondrodysplasia.

          Health of the Scottish Fold

          Life expectancy

          Their life expectancy is about the average for most cats, between 12 and 15 years.

          Strong / robust

          These cats are relatively sturdy and don’t have any problem withstanding low winter temperatures. However, their extremely thick fur makes them fairly sensitive to heat.

          Tendency to put on weight

          Their heavy layer of fur can easily hide a little chubbiness, so be sure to keep an eye on their weight, regulate their food intake and offer them activities to ensure they use up all their energy.

          Common illnesses

          • Osteochondrodysplasia: a disorder arising from endochondral ossification disorders, leading to osteoarticular malformations, particularly affecting the distal limbs and tail, causing stiffness, lameness, paralysis, etc. It is the Folded ear (Fd) gene that is responsible for the condition. All Scottish Folds, whether homozygous (from two Fold parents) or heterozygous (from a Fold parent and a straight-eared parent) are affected by this disease - the only thing still in question is the degree of severity of the lesions in heterozygous subjects. It is essential to ensure regular veterinary check-ups throughout your cat’s life to ensure they don’t suffer from related joint disorders
          • Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: a disease that affects both non-pedigree cats and official breeds, eventually heart failure. There is no genetic test for the Scottish Fold breed, but they can be screened via ultrasound examination, along with a Doppler test.
          • Polycystic kidney disease: a disease that causes the kidneys to be invaded by fluid-filled cysts, eventually causing incurable kidney failure. This condition is hereditary in the Persian, and likely to affect other breeds like the British and the Scottish Folds. The disease can be detected by a DNA test or kidney ultrasound.
          • Scottish Folds can also develop the same conditions as any other cat, such as oral diseases.

          Reproduction

          Pairings between Scottish Folds are strictly forbidden due to the osteo-articular malformations caused by their Folded ear (Fd) gene. However, crosses between Scottish Fold and Scottish Straight (straight ears), British Shorthair and American Shorthair are allowed.

          Frequently asked questions

          How much does a Scottish Fold cat cost?

          How long do Scottish Folds live?

          Do Scottish folds like to cuddle?

          What is the friendliest cat breed?

          Can Scottish folds be left alone?

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