Scottish Fold Cat Breed Guide

The Scottish Fold cat is one of America’s all-time favorite breeds of cat. What is a Scottish Fold, we hear some of you say? Well, you’ve come to the right place. Plucky, petite, and pretty, there’s a ton to learn about the folded-ear cat. Today, we’ll run you through all the important facts and tips on how to spot a Scottish Fold cat and how to be a great pet parent to them.

Ears down, paws at the ready, let’s jump into the world of folded-eared felines…

Scottish Fold Characteristics

How can you tell if you already own a Scottish Fold cat? Here’s a hint, it’s in the name! The Scottish Fold is mostly known for its small, folded-down or lop-eared ears. Some people (and the Internet) often refer to them as owl cats because of their earless appearance, round faces, and large eyes.

Fun fact, All Scottish Fold cats are born with straight ears and not all of them go on to have the distinctive fold. If they do have the folding gene (yes, this is a thing), their tiny ears will begin to flop at around 4-weeks old.

For those who develop the lop-eared look, there is a scale for folded ears. Your Scottish Fold can have ears anywhere from a ‘loose single fold’, or to a ‘very tight triple fold’. And anything else in between!

You can also find Scottish Fold Munchkin Cats - kitties born with shortened legs. These guys are technically neither a Munchkin nor a Scottish Fold, they are a mix of both breeds.

Scottish Fold Personality

Gentle, affectionate, quiet, and quirky, these folded-ear furry friends make excellent home companions and indoor cats. They love spending time with their humans but do require a softer touch so they aren’t compatible with young children.

Their love for humans extends to how they sit. If you’ve spent any time on YouTube, you’ve probably seen videos of these funny fuzz-balls sitting like their people on a sofa. This pose even has a special name - The Buddha Sit!

Despite this interesting choice for their sitting pose, they are rather intelligent cats and love to spend time playing with a cat fancier or puzzle toy. Though they may not be the zoomiest of kitties, they still have bursts of high energy, particularly after dinner time.

What’s the Ideal Home for a Scottish Fold?

Humans who have a quiet home with few visitors are purr-fect for these little cats. They’re wary of strangers and can be shy, so a home with plenty of hiding spaces would be ideal for them.

Although affectionate and patient with people, many are born with a stiff tail which requires care when stroking them. Because of this, it’s advised not to adopt a Scottish Fold if you have very young children.

What’s the Ideal Human for a Scottish Fold?

Calm humans who love constant cat company. The Scottish Fold has a lot of love to give to their humans, so someone who is regularly at home is ideal. Pet parents to these folded ear felines must be able to brush their fluff on an almost daily basis and they need to be okay with occasional stray cat hair.

Tips for Training a Scottish Fold

Scottish Folds are intelligent domesticated cats who don’t err on the side of stubbornness. Therefore, these little owl cats are pretty easy to train. As they’re quiet and calm, plenty of paw-positive reinforcement and treats are always the best way to train your kitty. This includes everything from litterbox training to learning how to give you a high-five!

Grooming Scottish Fold Cats

Like American Shorthair and British Shorthair cats, these furballs shed their fluff all year round. To stop a fur nado from appearing in your home, it’s best to brush your Scottish Fold regularly, at least a few times a week. A decent grooming brush will help remove dead hairs and fluff to reduce the amount of pet parent home cleaning.

Scottish Fold Cat History

The first documented account of a folded-ear cat is from around 1796 when an English sailor returned from China with a lop-eared kitty. However, it wasn’t until the late 1930s that there was any further record of a folded ear cat.

If we want to pinpoint when the Scottish Fold was first defined as a breed, we only have to go back to 1961 when a kitten, called Susie, was the only baby in the litter born with folded ears. Born in Perthshire, Scotland to a farmer named William Scott, he recognized Susie’s unusual trait and decided to Christen her as a new breed. 

Susie was then bred with other shorthaired domestic cats so has to ethically continue on her unique ear gene. Therefore, all Scottish Fold cats have a common ancestor - Susie! Because of this, Scottish fold cats are never bred together to avoid any degenerative mutations that can occur with closely related felines. To continue the lop-eared gene, Scottish Folds are bred with American Shorthair and British Shorthair cats.

How much is a Scottish Fold cat?

Firstly, you should always check your local animal shelter before looking for a certified cat breeder. Local pet charities are always searching for new forever homes for their residents and, who knows, you may find a Scottish Fold cat amongst them!

If having Scottish Fold cats is a must for you, they can be purchased from reputable breeders for between $1000 and $2000 purr cat. Yeah, these little guys ain’t cheap!

Scottish Fold Quick-Fire Facts

1. They are a celebrity favorite: Specifically Ed Sheeran and Taylor Swift! Both a proud pet parents to two Scottish Fold cats and adore their lop-eared purr-babies.
   
2. The Highland Cat: This is the name given to Scottish Fold longhaired cats. They’re still Scottish Folds, only with a slightly fancier look.
   
3. These cats are prone to tail arthritis: Unfortunately, part of their genetics includes developing arthritis at the base of their tails from a young age. If you’re ever concerned about whether this has happened to your furry friend, be sure to avoid touching their back and tail, and take them straight to a vet.
   
4. You can find them in almost any coat color: Because they are bred out with American Shorthair and British Shorthair cats, the Scottish Fold can be found in almost any coat color. 
   
5. They aren’t the only breed of cat with folded ears: Originating from China, cats with folded ears can still occasionally be found in the odd litter in this part of the world. However, they are often not classified as a pure Scottish Fold.