The unusual ears of this gentle cat can give it the inquiring and charming look of a barn owl. Although not the result of a deliberate crossing, the Scottish fold has already become one of the ten most popular cats in the United States. Did you know that the Scottish folds are no more prone to ear infections than cats with conventional ears.
History
Although kittens with this type of genetic mutation have probably been appearing for a long time, the first fold we know anything about was discovered in the litter of a farm cat near Coupar Angus in the Tayside region of Scotland in 1961. She was a white cat named Susie. All of today’s Folds are Susie’s descendants.
Two Folds should never be bred together because of the danger of rigidity of the tail and stiffness in the hind legs in the kittens. Because Folds are often bred with American or British Shorthairs in the United States and with British Shorthairs in Britain, the two types are now distinctly different in head type and coat texture. The gene for the folded ears is dominant, so some kittens in each litter will have them, but not all. The breed is still unrecognized by the governing council of the cat fancy of Britain, but it has championship status with the cat association of Britain and was granted championship status in the United States in 1978.
Description
The stocky, medium sized body is well padded, rounded and proportioned evenly from shoulder to pelvis. Preference in type seems to lean forward the British Shorthair crossing. The head of this crossing is well rounded and the muzzle has well rounded whisker pads, the head should blends into a short neck. The cheeks are prominent with a jowly appearance in the males. The large, well rounded eyes are wide open with a sweet expression and are separated by a broad nose. Their color usually corresponds to the coat color. The broad nose is short with a gentle curve and a brief stop is permitted, although a definite nose break is a fault. The nose leather should match the coat color.
The ears are this cat’s distinguishing feature and should fold forward and downward and set like a cap on the rounded head. A smaller, tightly folder ear is preferred over one that is loosely folded and large. The ear tips are rounded.
There must be no hint of thickness in the legs or lack of mobility due to short, coarse legs. The paws are neat and round, with pads to harmonize with the coat color. The tapered tail is of medium length. When judging the Fold, the tail should be gently manipulated to make sure that it is flexible and not rigid.
The coat comes in both long and shorthaired versions and should be dense and resilient. Regular brushing will remove dead hair and keep the coat in good condition.
Varieties
The Scottish Fold comes in all colors and patterns, except solid lilac, chocolate and colorpointed.
Temperament
With its mixture of British and American Shorthair ancestors, the Fold has the best traits of both breeds. It loves human companionship, is placid and very affectionate and easily adjusts to other pets. A hardy cat with a sweet disposition, it has a tiny voice and is not very vocal.
One day in 1961, a scottish farmer spotted a little white cat with strangely folded ears.
A year later, this cat produced other folded ears kittens. A British Blue Shorthair was introduced into what had become the foundations of the Scottish fold. However, it was discovered that the gene that caused the folded ears was dominant, and could cause skeletal problems in some cats. The Governing Council of the cat fancy in the United Kingdom, among others, has resisted recognition of the breed because of the risk of a kitten being born with skeletal abnormalities. This may occur even if a Fold is mated with another, proven breed. The Scottish Fold, found in a wide range of coats and patterns, is a medium sized cat, which may be short or longhaired. It has a round head held on a short neck and its nose is short with a gentle curve. Despite short legs, the cat is not inactive.
Scottish Fold Cat Breed information
coat – short, dense, plush
eyes – wide set, large, round
other features – ears folded forward
grooming – relatively easy, regular brushing, check ears
temperament – a self assured cat and, because of its british shorthair anf persian antecedents, generally placid, independent yet very loving
Scottish Fold Picture
Although its country of origin is Scotland, the scottish fold is relatively unknown in the united kingdom, although popular in the united states. Its downward folding ears emphasize the rounded of its head.
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