The Scottish Fold Cat is a breed of domestic shorthaired cat known for its friendliness and unusual appearance, particularly its folded ears.
The cat’s little ears are positioned to point forward and downward, making it a peculiar appearance reminiscent of an owl. The origin of this characteristic may be traced back to a barn cat in Scotland carrying the mutant gene that was used to establish the breed as it is today. The gene responsible for folded ears has also been related to a severe bone ailment, which is unfortunate.
Because they are so friendly, bright, and talkative, Scottish Folds Cats make excellent companion animals for people who live in the house. They do well as indoor pets, get along well with children and other animals, and accept any care you can offer them. Try to acquire as much information as possible about them if you are attracted to their appearance and believe their personality will suit your home.
The Scottish Fold Cat is a cute but controversial breed. It looks like a small bear or even a little cub, but with it comes potential health issues which caused it to be banned in some parts of the world. While many breeders, particularly in the US, are looking to fix this, the breed’s issues must be something you have to think about before deciding to buy or adopt a Scottish Fold Cat.
Here are 16 fascinating facts about the Scottish Fold Cat breed that you should be aware of before purchasing or adopting one. These Scottish Fold Cat Pros and Cons will give you a balanced set of information to help you shape your opinion as you decide whether to get a Scottish Fold Cat.
Table of Contents
- 8 Scottish Fold Pros
- PRO #1: Scottish Fold Cats are adorable
- PRO #2: Scottish Fold Cats can be very comical
- PRO #3: Scottish Fold Cats are pretty carefree
- PRO #4: Scottish Fold Cats are intelligent.
- PRO #5: Scottish Fold Cats are relatively relaxed
- PRO #6: Scottish Fold Cats are adaptable
- PRO #7: Scottish Fold Cats are playful
- PRO #8: Scottish Fold Cats are great with families
- 8 Scottish Fold Cons
- CON #1: Scottish Fold Cat have dense fur
- CON #2: Scottish Fold Cats may have genetic health issues
- CON #3: Scottish Fold Obesity is common in cats.
- CON #4: Scottish Fold Cats are controversial
- CON #5: Scottish Fold Cats can’t be bred in the UK
- CON #6: Scottish Fold Cats may live a life of pain
- CON #7: Scottish Fold Cats’ history has a sad ending
- CON #8: Scottish Fold Cats dislike being alone.
- Final Thoughts
8 Scottish Fold Pros
PRO #1: Scottish Fold Cats are adorable
The most distinctive aspect of a Scottish Fold Cat is its Folded ears, but its whole appearance is also noticeably spherical. Both its head and body are orb-shaped, with stocky legs and a stubby tail that emphasize the cat’s overall roundness. Their huge eyes are nearly round.
Scottish Folds are medium-sized cats with short, dense hair rather than long fur, and their coats can come in various colors and patterns.
PRO #2: Scottish Fold Cats can be very comical
The Scottish Fold’s unique ear shape is one of many distinguishing features. For some reason, they always contort themselves into the most amusing poses!
They can be seen on their backs with their four paws in the air one second, then on their hind legs like a meerkat the next. They’re little clowns that will always find a way to make you laugh.
PRO #3: Scottish Fold Cats are pretty carefree
This breed is well-known for its laid-back personality and general sociability. It usually gets along well with other cats and cat-friendly canines and adapts well to multi-pet households.
Children of all ages will become quick friends with the Scottish Fold, whose loving demeanor is soothing and endearing to individuals of all ages.
PRO #4: Scottish Fold Cats are intelligent.
They are affectionate but not needy or demanding like Bengals, Siamese, or Balinese (and they are not as noisy).
Because the Scottish Fold is brilliant, it can swiftly adapt to new surroundings. They enjoy games that test their wits and puzzles that allow them to skillfully fish for food with their paws. They also want to fetch.
PRO #5: Scottish Fold Cats are relatively relaxed
The Scottish Fold does not require much physical interaction or strenuous exercise to be content; it will thrive in a home where casual play is tempered with plenty of peaceful snuggle time.
While they require stimulation and activities to keep them entertained, Scottish Folds are not particularly energetic felines, so you won’t find them climbing your drapes or leaping across your living room furniture.
PRO #6: Scottish Fold Cats are adaptable
What a super chill and flexible kitty! Due to their modest stature and relatively short hair, Scottish Fold Cats may live practically anywhere with little effort. They can be equally content in a one-room apartment as they are in a sprawling home.
The Scottish Fold is a low-maintenance breed of cat with a friendly demeanor. Because of these cats’ adjustable nature, they are ideally suited for a wide variety of environments, from high-energy setups such as bustling families to low-key environments such as single-person houses.
PRO #7: Scottish Fold Cats are playful
Before bringing home a Scottish Fold kitten—or any cat, for that matter—you should have a few things to supplement their playful characteristic. They, like all other cats, require mental and environmental enrichment. Make sure they have scratching posts, vertical and horizontal spaces with perches and hiding places, a range of toys that should be cycled regularly to create novelty, and structured social and play times with the family.
Play is a great activity; therefore, consider its significance to your cat. It helps keep your cat’s mind active and its body fit. It is common knowledge that cats enjoy playing with catnip-stuffed mice, plush toys, balls of yarn, and even cardboard boxes. The surest way to strengthen the connection between you and your cat is to spend quality time together. To provide your cat with a long and satisfying life, it is your responsibility as a pet owner to make time to play with your cat regularly.
PRO #8: Scottish Fold Cats are great with families
Scottish Folds make excellent family cats and can live with a single person or a household with children. Just make sure to teach any children how to interact appropriately with feline buddies.
The Scottish Fold is a loving cat that bonds well with its human carers and gets along well with kids and other pets in the home. They have a chirpy, sweet voice and can be reasonably conversational. Scottish Folds are homebodies who thrive as indoor cats.
8 Scottish Fold Cons
CON #1: Scottish Fold Cat have dense fur
Scottish Folds shed all year, with higher shedding in the spring and fall. Weekly comb shorthaired Folds to remove loose hair. Longhaired Folds may need to be groomed many times per week. Scottish Folds have dense fur that may require weekly brushing to keep hairballs at bay.
The Scottish Fold’s dense, fluffy, and soft coat comes in various colors and patterns, including solid, tabby, and more. Their coat color frequently determines their eye color. A white Fold, for example, will have blue eyes, whereas a red or brown tabby may have copper-colored eyes.
CON #2: Scottish Fold Cats may have genetic health issues
Despite the tremendous efforts of competent breeders to prevent significant diseases, the Scottish Fold may suffer from degenerative joint disease. This can be pointed out in their tail, ankles, and knees, as well as hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Their folded ears may also render them prone to ear infections.
The most serious health risk for Scottish Folds is osteochondrodysplasia, a hereditary skeletal disorder that affects cartilage and bone formation. When inspecting a cat for possible purchase or adoption, watch for stiff leg joints, tail, or any unusual movement problems in the legs or feet that could indicate osteochondrodysplasia. The situation is expected to deteriorate over time.
Aside from osteochondrodysplasia, the most common health issues in Scottish Fold Cats are kidney and heart problems.
CON #3: Scottish Fold Obesity is common in cats.
A Scottish Fold should be fed the same way as any other domestic cat, emphasizing weight control because obesity strains the skeleton and can lead to diabetes.
You can eat wet or dry food or a combination of the two.
Your cat’s nutritional requirements will alter over time, so see your veterinarian for advice. Obesity can limit a cat’s lifespan, so keep an eye on your companion.
CON #4: Scottish Fold Cats are controversial
While the ethical discussion of breeding Scottish Fold Cats is debatable due to the possibility of anatomical malformation, the practice continues because people adore this attentive, loving, and intriguing-looking feline.
Many vets are opposed to breeding Scottish Folds since every cat with the Folded ear gene has osteochondrodysplasia. This may harm the cat and cause discomfort or debilitation. In nations where breeding is still practiced, debates continue to rage.
CON #5: Scottish Fold Cats can’t be bred in the UK
The GCCF, or the Governing Council of the Cat Fancy, included the Scottish Fold Cat as an official breed in the United Kingdom until 1971 when it was revoked due to ethical concerns about the cats’ health.
Breeding, however, persisted in the United States and abroad. The following organizations officially accept the Scottish Fold Cat:
- The International Cat Association (TICA)
- The American Cat Fanciers’ Association (ACFA)
- Cat Fanciers’ Association (CFA)
Notably, despite their name, they are not recognized as a breed in Scotland due to fears about ear infections and deafness. In some circles, Scottish Fold Cats with long coats are referred to as Highland Fold Cats.
CON #6: Scottish Fold Cats may live a life of pain
Scottish Folds may have a typical feline lifetime despite the frequency of osteochondrodysplasia. Unfortunately, they may suffer from more discomfort than other breeds.
These loving cats enjoy being held until they are in pain due to skeletal abnormalities caused by osteochondrodysplasia. Scottish Fold Cats suffer from this degenerative bony cartilage and bone condition. This trait is caused by the same gene that causes the breed’s Folded ears.
Even though Scottish Folds are adorable and loving cats, they all possess a gene related to painful bone anomalies, which may cause them to feel chronic pain and soreness, which can lead them to be handicapped at some time in their lives. The concern for most breeders is if their Scottish Fold Cats pass on this life of pain to their offspring.
CON #7: Scottish Fold Cats’ history has a sad ending
In 1961, Susie, a barn cat, was discovered on a farm in Perthshire, Scotland. She was the first Scottish Fold. She was born with folded ears, a trait she passed on to half of her kittens. William Ross, a neighboring farmer, began breeding the kittens and talked with a scientist. Susie died after being hit by a car, but her daughter Snooks carried her legacy.
Oliphant Jackson, a British geneticist, observed in 1977 that one-third of kittens born from the breeding of Folded-eared cats suffered osteodystrophy, a bone condition. As a result, Scottish Fold breeding in the United Kingdom ended. To this day, breeding Scottish Fold Cats are shrouded with controversy despite many breeders’ attempts to eradicate this destructive gene.
CON #8: Scottish Fold Cats dislike being alone.
They dislike being removed from their friends and associates. They enjoy spending time with their favorite humans. They will happily play games with you and follow you from room to room.
Separation anxiety in Scottish Folds and other cats is an unpleasant disorder caused by solid attachment, temperament, or genetics. Separation anxiety syndrome can develop in cats, according to research. If you frequently leave the house without your pet, you might try a new breed or obtain another pet to accompany your Scottish Fold.
Final Thoughts
The friendliness and endearing nature of the Scottish Fold Cat cannot be refuted in any way. It is quiet, warm, and friendly and can adjust to most living situations. The “cost” of having those gorgeous folded ears is that there is a risk that the cat will experience discomfort and debilitation at some point in its life, perhaps during its entire lifespan or as it ages.
As a cat parent, you have to consider the quality of life you can offer to the Scottish Fold Cat should you have the opportunity to own one. Before buying a Scottish Fold Cat, you need to check with the breeder and the veterinarian how likely it is to have health problems. Otherwise, you’ll be setting yourself up for many issues to deal with.
It could be that you can adopt a Scottish Fold Cat, but you could think about wanting to breed it. While your cat may be healthy, it may still carry the gene that causes spinal problems and pass it on to its offspring.
Learn more about the Scottish Fold Cat Pros and Cons and consult with experts to have a solid and informed decision as a prospective owner of a Scottish Fold Cat.
Further Reading
