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11 Surprising Facts About Scottish Fold Cats.

Scottish fold cats are known for their trademark folded ears that make for an adorable look. They have round faces and big round eyes, and their folded ears make them appear even rounder. In fact, they’re often compared to teddy bears or owls. Because of their cute appearance and sweet temperament, they’re very soughtafter and beloved by many.

Their ears are their signature feature, and they’re completely fascinating. But there are other interesting facts to know about these kitties. How much do you know about Scottish fold cats? Read on to learn nine surprising facts about them!

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. Scottish Folds were first imported into the United States in 1971. By the mid1970s, they had been recognized by most cat associations in North America. They can be outcrossed to American Shorthairs and British Shorthairs. 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.” This trait is caused by an incomplete dominant gene that resulted from a spontaneous mutation. It affects the cartilage in the kitty’s body; while the Scottish Fold’s ears are the most visible sign of this abnormality, the rest of its body is also impacted. In particular, Scottish Fold cats may have cartilage abnormalities. The Scottish Fold breed of cat is a very popular pet in the USA, due to its affectionate and gentle nature and distinctive appearance. These cats have flattened ears that fold forward and downward, sitting like a cap and giving the quaint look of an owl. This ear fold is the result of a natural genetic mutation first observed in a farm kitten in Scotland in 1961.



3. They’re born with straight ears

Scottish Folds are born with normal, pointy ears. They don’t develop their trademark look until they’re around 2 to 4 weeks old and the ears begin to fold. A cat's ears might also stay straight; these kitties are sometimes called Scottish Shorthairs. However, the CFA and other cat fanciers’ associations only allow cats with complete ear folds to compete in shows.

The Scottish Folds’ ears once weren’t as dramatically creased as they are now. Their ears folded from about halfway up, tilting forward and down. Decades of selective breeding are responsible for the double or triple ear folds of modern Scottish Folds, which cause their ears to lie completely flat.

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. Subsequently, Scottish fold cats remain rather rare.

5. There are three degrees of folds

Their ear folds are categorized into three types: single, double, and triple. According to MIT, “Today’s folds have ear folds ranging from the loose single fold to the very tight triple fold which is seen in the show quality cats.”

A single fold is just a slight fold that only involves the tips of the ears. A double fold ear has a more prominent bend than a single fold ear, with about half of the ear bending downward. A triple fold ear lies flat against the head, making the head appear rounder. Scottish fold cats didn’t always have sharply folded ears; they have become a fixture in these cats through years of selective breeding, with breeders choosing only cats with double and triple folds.

6. 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.” Scottish Folds are known for sitting, standing, or laying in a variety of cute and comical humanlike positions. They'll sit on their haunches in a "Buddha" position; they'll stand on their hind legs; and they'll flop, stretch, and twist themselves into other unusual poses.