Scottish Fold
Scotland · 1961 · Welfare concernsOwl-like folded ears — with a real health cost
Scottish Folds have ears that fold forward and a round, sweet face. They are calm, affectionate and adaptable.
At a glance
Life with a Scottish Fold
They are easygoing companions that like to be near their people and often sit in odd positions. But the gene that folds the ears also affects cartilage and bones throughout the body, so many folds develop painful joint disease.
- Calm homes
- People ready to budget for lifelong vet care
- You couldn’t afford arthritis treatment
- A Scottish Straight or British Shorthair would make you just as happy
Many vets and welfare groups advise against buying folded-ear cats, and several European countries restrict breeding them. A straight-eared Scottish (Scottish Straight) has the same temperament without the fold gene.
- Watch for stiffness, a thick stiff tail or not wanting to jump — signs of joint pain.
- Clean folded ears gently; they trap wax.
- Keep them lean to reduce joint strain.
Health
Every folded-ear cat has osteochondrodysplasia: the fold gene affects cartilage throughout the body, causing arthritis and malformed tail and leg bones. Folds bred to folds suffer severe disease. PKD and HCM also occur.
- Proof of fold × straight matings only — never fold × fold
- X-rays of the parents’ tails and legs
- PKD DNA test and heart scan of the parents
Prices are rough ranges from registered breeders and vary by line, color and region. A much cheaper “purebred” kitten is a common scam sign.
See Scottish Fold kittensSimilar breeds
Sources: breed standards and profiles from CFA and TICA, DNA tests listed by the UC Davis Veterinary Genetics Laboratory, and veterinary breed profiles.