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9 Little-Known Facts About Scottish Folds

From their tiny meows to their silly quirks, there's a lot to love about the Scottish Fold!

By Corrie AlexanderPublished 3 years ago 5 min read
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For years, my spouse and I longed for a pet but couldn’t decide what kind would be right for us. We loved dogs but at the time, we weren’t home enough during the day to take care of one properly.

We needed a fuzzy companion with some amount of independence.

A cat seemed like the answer, but we didn’t want one that would be too aloof; we wanted a pet that would interact with us.

So we researched friendly cat breeds that are like dogs, and that is how we came to learn about the Scottish Fold. You may have heard of them, but if you haven’t, they have an owl-like appearance and are immediately recognizable by their large, round eyes and folded ears.

After months of research and searching, we finally brought home our very own Scottish Fold kitten named Molly in 2016. We fell in love instantly and she’s brought us so much joy in the five years that we’ve had her.

As it turns out, they are a pretty unique breed with many quirks and amusing traits. Here are 9 little-known facts about Scottish Folds.

1. All Scottish Folds descended from one cat named Susie

Mini Molly, circa 2016

It’s an amazing fact that every Scottish Fold today can be traced back to a cat with folded ears named Susie, who was found on a Scottish farm in 1961. Susie had just one litter (sadly, she was hit by a car three months later) but her female kitten, Snooks, went on to have many litters, and the Scottish Fold breed was born.

2. Scottish Folds are never bred with each other

I miss when she was this small!

Because of the genetic mutation that causes their ears to fold, Scottish Folds must be bred carefully and responsibly to prevent degenerative problems with their bones. They can’t be bred with other Folds, so are normally bred with British or American Shorthairs.

For that reason, not every kitten in a litter will have folded ears. (The odds are roughly 50%.) The kittens that do not end up with folded ears are referred to as Scottish Straights, and they have the same wonderful personality as their Folded siblings.

3. They aren’t born with folded ears

Their large eyes and folded ears make them look like an owl.

The kittens are all born with straight ears, then as they grow to 3 or 4 weeks of age, their ears begin to fold.

There are also 3 degrees of folded ears: single, double, or triple. Single folds are just bent a bit at the tip. Double folds are more prominent, bent at about halfway down the ear.

Triple folds are flat against the head and are the desired degree for showing. (Our Molly looks to have a double fold which I think is the cutest!)

4. They have unusual lounging preferences

Our cat sits like this all the time.

Folds are known for their tendency to sprawl out in the silliest positions. They like to sit on their bums with their hind legs out in front of them like a little person. (It’s sometimes referred to as the “Buddah sit”.) Ours always sits this way and sometimes she even falls asleep like that with her chin on her belly!

They also like to sleep on their backs with their legs stretched out.

Like many cats, they also have a thing for boxes - but they have a unique way of flopping out in them too!

5. They *are* like dogs in the best - and worst - ways

We never taught her to roll over - she just does it.

While you can’t really teach them to fetch or heel, Folds are a lot like dogs in that they are friendly, social creatures. They’re not the kind of cat who hides away most of the time and only appears for dinner.

Ours always greets us at the door when we get home and lays on the couch with us when we’re watching T.V. They’re also silly, playful, and laid back.

However, they will also shamelessly beg for food at the dinner table, raid the garbage (if given the chance), and get underfoot in the kitchen.

6. They don’t meow much

Big eyes, tiny meows.

Folds are one of the quieter cat breeds. Ours didn’t make a peep for the first six months we had her. She’d open her mouth to meow but nothing would come out!

Since then, she’s progressed to tiny, croaky little meows that are adorable, but often too soft to hear.

She purrs louder than any cat I’ve ever known, though!

7. They love being near their people

She usually wants to cuddle at inconvenient times.

Folds aren’t exactly what you would call a “lap cat”. They do want to cuddle now and then (usually five minutes before I need to get up and leave for somewhere), but mostly they just want to be near you.

Ours is always lying on the couch next to us or in a cat bed (or box) close by. When we go upstairs, she will follow us or, if she’s feeling lazy, will meow for us from the bottom of the stairs.

8. They’re not particularly athletic - or graceful

Choosing her silliest photos is no easy task - there are so many!

You know how some cats can leap from the floor to a high counter-top in a single, elegant bound?

Yeah, that’s not a Fold. Ours can barely jump onto the couch and when she does, she has to pull herself up with her front legs. She also never learned how to jump down either, and each time she descends to the floor it's a bit of a crash landing.

During her rare moments of high-energy, she will galumph through the house like a bumbling panda. You can always hear her coming!

9. They are extremely docile (and lazy)

Many hours are spent lounging in empty Sephora boxes.

Scottish Folds are about as chill as cats get. You can rub their bellies without having to worry about them closing up on your hand like a venus flytrap, and you can carry them around in your arms like a baby.

I think part of it is that they’re too lazy to care!

Scottish Folds: One Awesome Breed!

I hope you enjoyed learning these fun facts about Scottish Folds and that it gives you an idea of what it’s like to have one. They are great pets! Our Fold’s silly antics and amusing habits bring a smile to our faces each and every day.

If you liked this story, please hit the like button and consider sending a small tip! You can also follow Molly on Instagram @Molly_the_fold, or check out my other stories here.

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About the Creator

Corrie Alexander

Corrie is an ISSA-certified PT, fitness blogger, fiction-lover, and cat-mom from Ontario, Canada. Visit her website, thefitcareerist.com

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