Scottish Fold Cat Breed Guide
Quiet | Friendly | Sweet. The Scottish fold cat is a sweet-natured floof, known for its folded ears, round doe eyes and cuddly chubbiness. However, the genetic anomaly that causes their distinctive look unfortunately brings with it distressing health complications which makes breeding them controversial. Let’s take a closer look.
SCOTTISH FOLD CAT BASICS
Average Lifespan: 10 - 15 years
Average Weight: 2.5 - 6kg
Coat Length: Short - Long
Colouring: All colours and combinations
Shedding: Moderate
WHAT IS THE ANCESTRY OF THE SCOTTISH FOLD CAT?
The first Scottish fold was a barn cat named Susie who was found on a farmer’s property in Perthshire, Scotland in 1961. She had uniquely folded ears which she passed on to half of her litter of kittens. Neighbouring farmers, William and Mary Ross adopted one of Susie’s foldy-eared kittens who they named Snooks. Snooks became the queen of the Scottish fold breed with all Scottish fold cats tracing their DNA back to Susie and Snooks.
Breeding Scottish fold cats is controversial and not supported by the GCCF or Cats Protection as the genetic mutation that causes their signature folded ears also causes severe abnormalities in the cartilage of their bones known as Osteochondrodysplasia or Scottish fold disease. This can cause arthritis as well as severe pain which is most extreme in kittens that have two Scottish fold parents.
WHAT DO SCOTTISH FOLD CATS LOOK LIKE?
Scottish fold cats are instantly recognisable by their folded-down ears. They’re popularly used in advertising and commercials due to their round, cuddly bodies and unique facial structure. They have round eyes and chubby cheeks, almost resembling an owl in appearance. Although Scottish fold cats are undeniably adorable we do need to consider the ethics before seeking out one of these kitties. International Cat Care has also been campaigning to stop advertisers from using cats with extreme body features in their ads as this can persuade viewers to seek out these breeds that often have health issues.
WHAT IS THE PURRSONALITY OF THE SCOTTISH FOLD CAT?
Scottish fold cats are sweet-natured, friendly and love cuddling. They get along well with other fur babies as well as young children and form strong lifelong bonds with their pawrents. They tend to be quite shy around strangers but once comfortable they’re drawn to the laps of hoomans like a high-powered magnet. Many parents of Scottish fold cats observe them sitting almost human-like, upright on their bottoms with their legs spread. This is referred to as a “Buddha sit” and truly is a sight to behold.
IS SCOTTISH FOLD A LAZY CAT?
Scottish fold cats are often seen as lazy and laid-back cats however the reason for this is likely due to the chronic pain many of them experience due to their inherited health condition Osteochondrodysplasia. The pain that they experience sadly makes them reluctant to run, jump and play.
SCOTTISH FOLD CAT FEEDING REQUIREMENTS
As these cuties are unfortunately prone to developing painful arthritis, feeding them a nutritious cat food with added joint-nourishing goodies like Omega-3s, fish oil, glucosamine and chondroitin can be helpful in managing their symptoms.
These can help with pain management by increasing the fluidity in the joints of Scottish fold cats as well as calming inflammation. They also have the added benefit of keeping their skin and coat silky smooth.
Like all cats, Scottish fold cats are also obligate carnivores and need to eat a diet high in animal meat to keep them in their best health. They also need a careful balance of 41 essential vitamins, nutrients and minerals. Always look for a cat food that is formulated to FEDIAF guidelines and labelled as “complete”. This way you know you can feed your cat this food on its own every day without having to add supplements to it.
SCRUMBLES, THE PAWFECT FOOD FOR SCOTTISH FOLD CATS
If you have a Scottish fold cat and are on the hunt for a nutritionally dense cat food with added gut and joint health goodies, look no further than our Chicken and Salmon Dry Cat Food.
With 75% human-grade chicken and salmon, it provides essential levels of animal protein to your carnivorous Scottish fold cat to keep them thriving. We’ve also added 1 BILLION live probiotic bacteria into this recipe to aid digestion, reduce tummy upsets and promote pretty poops.
With plenty of fish oil and Omega 3’s, it has added joint health and anti-inflammatory properties purrfect for Scottish folds and senior cats who are prone to developing arthritis.
We also leave out any artificial nasties or preservatives, as well as added salt, sugar and common allergens to provide your kitty with all the good stuff without the added fluff.
Served in a 100% recyclable bag and with a Scrumbles brand commitment to reducing our carbon pawprint and pledging 1% of sales to environmental causes, choosing Scrumbles is the best decision you can make for both your cat’s health and the planet’s.
But don’t just take our word for it! Check out the thousands of pawsitive reviews from happy floofs across the UK.
