5 Surprising Facts About Scottish Fold Cats

1. They all have one common ancestor: Susie
While cats with folded ears date back to the 1700s, Scottish fold cats first came about in the 1960s. In 1961 in Perthshire, Scotland, a kitten with folded ears was discovered in a litter of nonfolded cats. This kitten was named Susie. She was bred with other cats to develop the breed, and subsequently, all Scottish fold cats have her as a common ancestor.

2. The fold is due to a mutation.
According to The International Cat Association, “The folded ear is a spontaneous mutation and comes from an incompletely dominant gene that results in both folded and straighteared cats.” While the most obvious impact of this mutation is the fold, it can also affect the rest of the body. In particular, Scottish Fold cats may have cartilage abnormalities.

3. They’re born with straight ears.
While Scottish fold cats are known for their signature folded ears, they’re actually born with straight ears. The fold begins to develop when the kitten is between 18 and 24 days old, but only if they have the gene that is responsible for the fold.

4. Scottish folds are never bred together.
Scottish fold cats are never bred together for ethical concerns, as offspring may be born with degenerative issues. Scottish fold cats are usually bred with either American shorthairs or British shorthairs. Since they’re always bred with other breeds, not all kittens in their litters will have folded ears.

5. They sit like humans.
Scottish folds are known for their sweet personalities and fun quirks. Oftentimes, they’ll sit up prairiedog style in order to improve their vantage point when they hear a noise. They also famously sit like humans, which Scottish fold owners have lovingly dubbed “The Buddha Sit.”

Source: http://ow.ly/pG8450E9XJ

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