Scottish Fold
Also called Highland Fold.
The folded ear is caused by a cartilage mutation, and that mutation does not stop at the ears. It affects cartilage throughout the body and every folded cat develops a painful degenerative joint disease. This is the one breed on this page that a page ought to argue against.
- Coat
- Short
- Build
- Compact and heavy
- Head
- Round
- Weight
- 3–6 kg
- Origin
- United Kingdom
What it looks like
Rounded throughout with a dense coat, large round eyes, and ears folded forward and down against the skull, giving a distinctly owlish face.
The characters that confirm it
- Ears folded forward and downward, flat against the head.
- A very round head with large round eyes and a short nose.
- Kittens are born with straight ears; the fold appears at about three weeks in those that carry it.
- Straight-eared littermates occur in every litter and are healthy.
Temperament
Placid, quiet and companionable.
Health
Osteochondrodysplasia is not a risk but a certainty in cats with folded ears — the same mutation that folds the ear malforms cartilage in the limbs and tail, causing progressive, painful arthritis. Breeding them is opposed by veterinary bodies in several countries and banned in some. If you have one, discuss pain management with a vet early rather than late.
Confused with
Ears curl backward and away from the face rather than folding forward, and the mutation is not associated with skeletal disease.
The same round build with normal upright ears — Scottish Folds were outcrossed to them.
Questions about this breed
How do you recognise a Scottish Fold?
Ears folded forward and downward, flat against the head. A very round head with large round eyes and a short nose.
What is a Scottish Fold like to live with?
Placid, quiet and companionable.
What health problems do Scottish Folds have?
Osteochondrodysplasia is not a risk but a certainty in cats with folded ears — the same mutation that folds the ear malforms cartilage in the limbs and tail, causing progressive, painful arthritis. Breeding them is opposed by veterinary bodies in several countries and banned in some. If you have one, discuss pain management with a vet early rather than late.