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Scottish Fold Cats
Never overly demanding, the soft-spoken Scottish Fold welcomes laps slightly more than games of fetch. They simply enjoy your company and revel in spending time with you.
Quick Facts
- 5.5 - 13.2 pounds
Ideal Human Companions
- Active households
- Households with children
- Singles
- Households with other pets
- First-time cat owners
Scottish Folds on Catster
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Trademark Traits
- Folded ears that give an owl-like look
- Sweet tempered and affectionate
- Enjoys children and family pets
- Comes in shorthair and longhaired varieties
- Adapts to new situations easily
What They Are Like to Live With
This laid-back breed does not get startled easily and makes for a good travel mate or hostess when you wish to have company. This breed also likes other cats, dogs and even children.
It is common for this breed to suddenly flop on their backs and go into a sound sleep in this position. They won’t take offense if you regard them as catty couch potatoes.
Things You Should Know
If you have a longhaired Scottish Fold, be prepared to comb his coat three or four times a week to maintain a mat-free, healthy look.
The folded-ears tend to build up wax and need to be cleaned at least twice a month.
Scottish Fold History
The story of the Scottish Fold takes place in the Tayside Region of Scotland in 1961 when a shepherd named William Ross spotted a white barn cat named Susie with ears folded forward and downward at a neighbor’s farm. She looked like a cuddly owl. He adopted a white kitten from Susie’s litter and later bred that cat to local farm cats and British Shorthairs. These litters led to the foundation for the Scottish Fold breed.
Since the 1960s, Great Britain’s Governing Council of the Cat Fancy (GCCF) banned Scottish Folds due to unfounded concerns about ear health and deafness. Even though it has been determined that this breed is not more prone to deafness than any other white cat with blue eyes, the Scottish Fold is not recognized as a breed in Europe.
Now ranked 17th in popularity among the CFA-recognized breeds, the Scottish Fold was granted championship status in 1978.
The Look of a Scottish Fold
Breeders describe the Scottish Fold as an “owl in a cat suit” due to its folded back ears, big, expressive eyes and smiling grin.
Scottish Folds are round in many ways: face, body shape and whisker pads. Their thick, resilient coat comes in both shorthair and longhair lengths.
This breed comes in virtually every color and pattern except solid lilac, chocolate and color pointed.
All Scottish Fold kittens born with straight ears and in a month, some evolve into folded ears. To obtain the folded ears, one parent must carry the folded-ear gene because straight-eared folds do not carry this gene.
Females weigh between 6 and 9 pounds and males average between 9 and 13 pounds.
Talk About Scottish Folds 
Mellow, chatty and full of personality
We have three Scottish Folds and I don't know if my husband and I will ever get another breed. They are mellow, chatty, full of personality, and very helpful! They love to be around their people constantly, and that's exactly what we wanted from our kitties. If you're looking for a cat who'll sleep with you, announce when they need your attention, help you do just about anything, and cuddle lots, the Fold is a great pick. They're very clean and, aside from occasional bursts of energy, quite calm. They like to be around their people so much that they'll often wake up and follow you if you change rooms, and they bond quite deeply. We like to say that they're as close to having a dog as you can get while still enjoying the cleanliness of a cat!
The downside of Folds is that they require some advanced grooming - you have to gently check their ears every couple weeks and sometimes (even more gently) clean them out. I assure you that they hate this. Also, be sure to use a reputable breeder. If they're bred Fold to Fold, then a lot of genetic issues can occur. Because they're bred non-Fold to Fold, litters will come out with perk kittens (unfolded ears, but still considered Folds) as well as folded kittens. Perks are a good alternative if you don't want to deal with ear cleaning but still want the joys of their sweet personalities.
~Amanda, owner of three Scottish Folds
Your lap cat awaits!
As far as purebreds go, my favorite would have to be Scottish Folds. Having bred them, and lived with them, my heart is taken! They're for the most part lap-fungus! They love to be loved, are a relaxed, laid-back bunch, not much interested in high places, and have the plushiest, softest coats. They're clever, curious, and definitely problem solvers! Their round eyes and faces make them look like owls, and totally endearing.
~Patty T., owner of Scottish Folds
Your friends and family will want one too
I love my Fold kitties, they are easygoing, love the water and they love love to ride in the car. They are extremely mellow and very quiet for the most part. If you are thinking of adopting one, be aware that ownership is contagious: once your friends and family see one, they will want one, too!
~Patricia K., owner of a Scottish Fold
Loving, sweet and playful
I love the fact that our Scottish Fold, Clyde, is playful and loves his playmate, Abbey, a black and white domestic medium-hair. He is so much fun to watch and does some really silly things. He likes to lie down next to me, whether on the bed or my chair and likes to lie on the back of my recliner as well. When someone new comes into our house, he hangs back at first and then will investigate them, sometimes actually getting in their lap; he likes it to be his idea.
He is very friendly and likes to appear very cool. He travels with us (as well as our other cat and dog) in our motor home and seems to love being in new places from time to time. I would recommend a Fold to anyone who likes attention from cats, instead of having to run after them for attention.
~Lucille G., owner of a Scottish Fold
Scottish Fold Personality Chart
(based on 371 Scottish Fold profiles)
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