 Scottish
Fold Cat Breed Profile
Related Links
Scottish Fold Breeders
Scottish Fold Pictures
Photos
and Breed Profile courtesy of
Glencairn Cats
Scottish Fold History
In 1961 a Scottish shepherd named William Ross
saw a white barn cat named Susie with the distinctive folded ears on his
neighbour's farm . William and his wife Mary obtained a white female kitten from
Susie's next litter which also had folded ears. They named the kitten Snooks and
all Scottish folds of today can trace their pedigrees to her.
Scottish Fold Appearance
The first thing you notice about a Scottish Fold cat are that its ears are
folded forward and downward.
The Scottish Fold is a very unique and
delightful cat with a sweet temperament. They require minimal care to maintain
health and vigour. The
Fold has developed a look all it's own, being a medium cat with a rounded,
well-padded body and a soft, dense coat. The eyes are round, broadly
spaced, giving an innocent and sweet expression.
Scottish Fold Personality
Scottish Folds
are a very friendly and docile cat. Their large round eyes and folded ears, coupled
with expressive looks, intelligence and inquisitive nature make them a wonderful
extension to the family home. Folds are not very vocal. Scottish Folds have very tiny
"meows". The breed is very good with children, and can adapt to almost any
situation. Scottish Folds also make friends readily with other cats.
Scottish Folds are hardy
cats, with a disposition that matches their sweet expression. They are a treasure to own and will provide the family with
lots of love and entertainment for many years.
Scottish Fold Colours
Scottish Folds come in a large spectrum of
colours. You will find Scottish Folds come in just about every colour that a cat
can come in. Bi-colours, parti, solid and tabby.
Scottish Fold
Information
Scottish Fold kittens are not born with
folded ears but by about three to four weeks of age the ears begin to
fold. There are degrees of folding, usually described as a single, double,
or triple fold.
Not all Scottish Fold kittens to a litter will be born with folded ears. Most breeders
use a straight eared cat usually the British Shorthair as an outcross and
therefore some of the kittens in the litter will have straight ears and
some will have folded ears. The straight eared kittens are known as
Scottish Shorthairs.
The folded ear is
produced by an incomplete dominant gene and is the result of a spontaneous
mutation.
The gene causing the
folding of the ears was a non-lethal mutation, a single dominant gene
(possibly an incomplete dominant). The responsible gene appears to
manifest itself in the cartilage in the ears and may affect cartilage
development elsewhere in the body
The folding of the ears occurs on a gene
that affects the development of the spine, which is why two Scottish Folds
should never be bred, as the resulting kittens could be born with spinal
and leg deformities. Early in the development of this breed a degenerative
joint disease was discovered to be linked with breeding folded-eared cats
to folded-eared cats. Because of this, ethical breeders will only breed
straight-eared cats to folded- eared cats. Scottish Folds who are the
products of folded-ear to straight-ear breedings seldom if ever develop
joint disease.
Related Links
Scottish
Fold Breeders
Scottish
Fold Pictures
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