Scottish Fold Cats

Scottish Fold cats are known for their folded ears. This breed was discovered and nurtured by a shepherd in the Tayside region of Scotland in 1961. The cat he used to perpetuate the breed was a white barn cat named “Susie.” Suzie’s ears were folded forward and downward on her head.

The folded ears of the Scottish Fold cat give the cat’s head a rounded appearance. The Scottish Fold cats are thought to resemble a teddy bear or owl. The owl-like appearance is further accentuated by the Scottish Fold’s wide-set, large, round eyes.

Not all Scottish Fold kittens end up with folded ears. The kittens have straight ears at birth. At around twelve weeks, those Scottish Fold kittens whose ears will fold are folded by that time. The fold of the ear can vary among folded ear Scottish Folds. The ears could be single, double, or triple folded.

Scottish Fold kittens with ears that didn’t fold are not suitable for show cats. Like the folded ear Scottish Fold cats, straight ear Scottish Folds can be used for breeding and make excellent pets. The straight ear Scottish Fold cat is recognized as its own breed called the Scottish shorthair in the Australian Cat Federation.

The Scottish Fold is a medium cat with a well-padded body. The coat of a Scottish Fold is short and dense. The coat can be shorthair or longhair and come in a wide variety of colors. All colorings are acceptable by show standards except those showing evidence of hybridization resulting in the colors chocolate, lavender, the Himalayan pattern, or a combination of these and white. Longhaired Scottish Fold cats are sometimes called Highland Folds.

The Scottish Fold cat is relatively rare. Breeders may have difficulty maintaining a supply of folded ear Scottish Fold kittens due to high demand and the fact that not all kittens will have folded ears. Scottish Folds are not very vocal, but they have a small, squeaky voice. They are affectionate and are generally good with children and other pets. Scottish Fold cats adapt well to their surroundings. Scottish Fold cats are typically calm and undemanding.