The Scottish Fold is a breed of short haired cat; the result of a genetic mutation that causes the ears to fold down. All Scottish Folds can trace their ancestry back to Susie, the first fold-eared cat discovered in Scotland in 1961 by Mary and William Ross, the founders of the breed.
Susie's parents were ordinary farm cats but her folded ears were
the result of a spontaneous genetic mutation.
The Scottish Fold is a controversial breed because the gene that causes the folded ears may also cause cartilage abnormalities in the joints. Affected cats suffer from a condition similar to arthritis. However, many breeders believe that these problems can be avoided by careful selection of breeding stock and by cross-breeding the fold with the American shorthair, a sturdy cat with a short, square muzzle; and the British shorthair, a strong, hardy cat with a round head and round eyes. The fold is most often crossbred with the British shorthair.
The Scottish Fold is a gentle, quiet cat with a sweet facial expression. Its small ears fold forward and downward. They are set like a cap on its rounded head; together with its large round eyes, short nose, and full rounded cheeks. The Scottish Fold is of a medium-sized body and is well padded. Its tail should be at least two-thirds as long as its body and must be flexible. If the tail is short and stiff, it is considered to be a serious defect since it could indicate joint stiffening somewhere else in the body. The Scottish Fold also comes in a longhaired variety called the Scottish Fold longhair.
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