Scottish Fold: Know These Cats with Folded Down Ears?

The Scottish Fold cat is sometimes mistaken for not having ears (don’t worry that’s not true). Rather, they’re cats with folded down ears, which, from just the right angle can look like no ears. Not all Scottish fold kittens are born with these bendy ears though…

In this article we’ll tell you why this is. We’re also answering whether the Scottish Fold is a friendly cat, how expensive it is, why it sits in a funny way and more.

Is Scottish Fold a friendly cat?

Yes! The Scottish Fold is a cat that’s happy cuddling and sitting on your lap. This breed enjoys the whole family vibe but does tend to fall in love with that one special person, shadowing them around the house.

That said, they’re also very much up to a (little) bit of solo time, lounging and playing. Too much, though and your meow will get sad and experience separation anxiety.

Read more about leaving your cat home alone and how long is too long.

The breed history of cats with folded down ears

As you can imagine from the name, the Scottish fold cat starts its story in Scotland. The first known fold was a barn cat named Suzie. When she had a litter of kittens, two of them also had the little fold in their ears. One was neutered soon after being born and the other, a little girl named Snooks went to a neighbouring farmer.

Soon after giving birth, Suzie died when she was hit by a car. That left Snooks as the only hope of breeding cats with folded down ears, which is just what happened.

The neighbour who became Snook’s owner was both a farmer and cat fancier. He teamed up with a geneticist and together they developed a breeding programme for Scottish Fold kittens.

Before they were folds, they were “lops”

Originally, these cats with folded down ears were named “lops” after the lop rabbit whose ears droop. But as breed names sometimes have a habit of doing, the name evolved, and by 1966 the moniker “Scottish Fold” was settled on for this cat.

That’s not the only name Scottish Folds go by though. Even today, different cat registries call them a range of names, including:

• Coupari
• Highland Fold
• Scottish Fold Longhair
• Longhair Fold 

They say, “What’s in a name?”. In this cat’s case, perhaps the saying go, “What’s in many names?!”

What made cats with folded down ears?

While we know the story starts with Suzie, what caused her to have folded down ears?

• Genetics. It all started with a gene that plays with ear cartilage, making them fold forward and downward like a snazzy cap.

• Selective breeding. Early Scottish Fold kittens were born with a single fold in their ears. Over time, selective breeding for this characteristic means this breed can sometimes have double and triple the number of folds. Some even have ears that lie flat.

But despite them being folded, Scottish Fold cats and kittens still know how to use them! These ears can swivel to catch every sound, lie back in a huff when they’re not pleased and perk up in excitement when they hear the treat bag shuffle. Talk about expressive ears!

That said, there are some health complications that can come from this genetic mutation.

Breed health

Sadly, the genetic quirk that gives cats folded ears is a congenital developmental abnormality of the bone. And it doesn’t just affect their ears, it affects the whole body.

This can lead to degenerative joint diseases like arthritis in cats, which, can be painful for them to live with. The breed is also known for being prone to heart and kidney disease.

Because of the congenital developmental abnormality, some countries have said "no" to breeding the Scottish Fold cat and some big cat clubs don't even officially give them a nod. The state of Victoria in Australia is among them, along with Norway and the cat's birthplace, Scotland, to name a few. 

How expensive is a Scottish Fold cat?

Because of the rare genetic mutation that gives rise to Scottish Fold kittens, breeding them is not all that simple. Ethical breeders must do a range of specific health checks and DNA tests before cats are mated.

Additionally, owners in New Zealand need to be in communication with the New Zealand Cat Fancy and/or researchers to give updates on their cat’s health. As you can imagine, this makes Scottish Fold kittens more expensive that most cat breeds.

Where can I get a Scottish Fold kitten?

If you’re researching Scottish Fold kittens and hoping to parent one, the right way to do this is via an ethical breeder. Contact the New Zealand Cat Fancy for a list of registered breeders. Choosing a registered breeder when buying any pedigreed pet is your safest bet for a healthy fur kid.

It’s also your best bet to avoid being scammed by breeders that either plan to take your money and run, or simply don’t practice good breeding. Poor – or unethical – breeding, can be bad for the parents and the litters and tends to lead to behavioural and physical health problems as pets grow up.

Find out what’s the difference between purebred and pedigree dogs and cats.

Why do Scottish Folds sit weird?

OK, it’s not just sitting, it’s also lying down…

Scottish Fold cats have a reputation that precedes them for sitting in funny postures. In fact, this posture is so cute, it’s been dubbed the “Buddha Position.” They sit with their legs stretched out and paws on their belly like they’re in the middle of a Zen meditation session.

Now back to lying down… They’ve got a knack for sleeping on their backs which is another oddity you don’t see many cats do.

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