Cat Breed - Scottish Fold

By David Braybrooke

The unusual looking Scottish Fold is a variety of cat that comes in a short-haired and long-haired breed (sometimes called the Highland Fold). The first of its type was born in the early 1960s on a Scottish farm, its distinguishing feature being a gene that produces either single, double or triple folded ears, the only known cat breed in existence to have this.

Initially it was thought that the Scottish Fold cat was prone to deafness owing to its rather peculiar shaped ears and was not popular in its homeland yet in 1973 it was officially recognized as a breed in the U.S. The breeding of this type of cat is best left to experts owing to potential genetic problems with offspring, including joint afflictions.

Tending to weigh in at 2.4-6kg (6-13 lb) being medium-sized with shortish legs and round, well-padded feet. Colors and patterns are varied and brown tabby, red tabby, lilac and white fur are usual. A "patched tabby" or "torbie" variety, being a combination of tortoiseshell and tabby also exists. They have large, round eyes and a curious dome-shaped head.

Scottish Folds can being either long or short-haired may have any coat color combination except for Siamese-style points. Pointed Folds have been bred but they are not eligible for showing. The original cats only had one fold in their ears, but as mentioned due to selective breeding they have increased the fold to a double or triple crease that causes the ear to lie totally flat against the head.

This breed of cat, whether with folded ears or with normal ears, are typically good-natured and placid, and are known for sleeping on their backs. They tend to become very attached to their human caregivers and are by nature quite affectionate.

Scottish Folds typically have soft voices and display a complex repertoire of meows and purrs not found in better-known breeds.

These cats have confident, well-behaved temperaments and well-developed curiosities and are known to be a hardy and happy breed; also being affectionate and fond of human contact, playful but not overly extroverted.

A Scottish Fold makes an ideal choice as a unique, family-friendly pet.

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