Scottish Fold are sociable, easy to get along with other pets, as well as small children, quickly adapt to any living conditions. A cat of this breed can be an excellent companion for a single person, and a universal favorite in a large family. Short ears bent forward are the result of a spontaneous genetic mutation.

History of the breed

The ancestor of the breed is a cat with pinned ears, which was noticed by a farmer W. Ross on one of the farms in Scotland. He, with the help of geneticists, began to breed a new breed, which nowadays is known as the Scottish Lop-eared. The lop-eared kittens came to the USA, and in 1974 the International Scottish Fold Association was founded. In October of the same year, the breed was recognized by the Cat Fanciers Association.

Grooming

Because the coat of the short-haired Scottish Fold is very thick, it should be brushed once or twice a week. Long-haired Scotties' fur can pile up, so they should be brushed more frequently and thoroughly. Folded ears are prone to excessive wax formation, so regular cleaning is mandatory.

Lop-earedness is now categorized as a defect in Europe. It is also believed that Scottish Folds are the most susceptible to ear disease.

Breeding

The first and main principle of breeding this breed is to cross lop-eared cats only with individuals who have straight ears, because when two lop-eared cats are knitted together, the offspring may have irregularities. The coat color of Scottish lop-eared cats can be very different: monochrome (blue, black, white, sandy), multicolor (harlequin, tortoiseshell) or striped.

All kittens have regular ears at birth, but at about four to five weeks of age they either begin to droop or remain erect. By the 12th week, the final position of the ears is formed. In a litter of Scottish cats, kittens with straight ears (Scottish Straight) are also born. This is due to the fact that one of the parents must be straight-eared when mating.