Scottish Fold

Scottish Fold: Cat Breed Information Guide 2022

The original Scottish fold was a white barn cat found in Scotland in the early 1960s. A man named William Ross found the cat, Susie, and, after consulting with a geneticist, began breeding her to produce more kittens with folded ears. After she died, William began using Susie’s daughter Snooks to continue the line.

Why do Scottish folds have folded ears? 

If you see Scottish fold kittens when they’re first born, you’ll notice their ears look the same as any other cat. This happens because their ears don’t begin to fold until they’re about three weeks old.

The gene that causes the folded ears is dominant, but since the offspring of two Scottish folds with folded ears have severe health issues, a Scottish fold with one dominant gene and one recessive will be bred with a cat with two recessive genes, compared to the folded mutation.

A responsible breeder will typically breed the Scottish fold with cats like the American Shorthair or the British Shorthair. Many think it’s risky to breed a Scottish Straight and a Scottish fold.

Although it seems that the fold gene is dominant, it is possible that Scottish Straights still have the gene, but it doesn’t present or cause issues. However, if this is the case, the offspring of the two Scottish cats might have more severe health problems that are related to the gene.

Scottish fold breeding is highly debated in the cat fancier world since all Scottish folds inherit, to some extent, the same health issue. However, until that debate is settled, there are Scottish folds in need of good homes now.

What are other health risks for Scottish folds? 

Other health risks for the Scottish fold include:

At Spot Pet Insurance, we understand that adopting a pet can be pretty overwhelming. There are a lot of factors to consider, so our hope is to help you learn about the breed. We want to remove some of the weight of learning to be a new pet parent.

Part of being the best pet parent you can be is knowing about your cat, what they need, and why. Having educational resources to look through can help you determine what’s normal and what isn’t.

By providing personalized pet insurance plans that can cover hereditary or chronic conditions, unless they’re pre-existing, as well as educational resources, we’ve got your back in more ways than one.

Are there different kinds of Scottish fold cats? 

The most popular type of this kitty is the shorthaired cat with folded ears. They have round eyes, and people describe them as looking like an owl in cat form. However, there are three other forms of Scottish fold that you can find.

The first is the longhaired Scottish fold. They have the folded ears and rounded body that their shorthaired relatives have, but their fur is much longer, so they look fluffier. People originally called them Highland folds, but after a few years, they were included as Scottish folds in cat competitions.

There are also long and shorthaired versions of the Scottish fold that have normal cat ears, which are also called Scottish Straights. Although they don’t qualify as Scottish folds in cat shows, they are related. They are usually siblings of Scottish folds with short ears.

The gene that causes Scottish folds to have the folded ears is a dominant gene, but if two cats with folded ears are bred together, it can cause severe health issues, so they are usually bred with a straight-eared cat like American or British Shorthairs and Scottish Straights.

As a result, usually, only half of the litter will have the folded ears of a Scottish fold, and the other half will be straight eared. Aside from the difference in ears, the Scottish Straights have all the same physical characteristics as a true Scottish fold.

What is the personality of a Scottish fold like?

Any form of the breed you adopt will still have the same sweet and affectionate personality. They aren’t very vocal cats, but they will express their desire for your attention one way or another.

How much does a cat or kitten cost?

Adoption fee from a reputable breeder: $35-$500

[Expense: first year, following years]

Food: $300-$840, $300-$840

Water/food bowls: $10-$50, N/A

Collar and ID tags: $5-$19, N/A

Bed: $15-$70, N/A

Toys: $5-$30, $0-$30

Vaccines and routine care: $120-$1,665, $120-$1,535

Monthly medications: $120-$600, $120-$600

Litter: $360-$600, $360-$600

Litter box and scoop: $15-$65, N/A

Total: $950-$3,939, $900-$3,605

Scottish fold: An introduction to the breed

Scottish folds are fluffy, round cats, typically with distinctive folded ears. Scottish folds tend to be medium-sized cats.

They have very dense coats, so they need to be brushed often to help them get rid of dead hair. They come in a very wide array of colors and patterns, most of which are accepted in cat shows if you are interested in competing.

They can also have various eye colors, from blue eyes to amber ones. Some Scottish folds can even be odd-eyed, a trait where their eyes are two different colors, usually blue or blue-green and amber.

With their large, roundish eyes and lack of straight ears, many people have compared the Scottish fold to an owl. They have also been compared to pixies and teddy bears, and, like teddy bears, they are fun to cuddle with.

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