Scottish Fold Cat Best Known for its Ears

Scottish Fold Cats can certainly be considered one of the more unusual breeds of cats you can adopt. Mellow, affectionate felines, they have a sweet, wide-eyed expression, which is achieved by its large, rounded eyes. But these cats are best known for their distinctive ears, which from a quick glance might appear not to be there at all. Scottish Fold cats have ears that are folded forward and down, something you might easily expect in a dog but not necessarily in a cat. They come in a variety of pattern combinations and colors and can be gotten in both short haired and longhaired versions. The longhaired ones are occasionally referred as a "Highland Fold."

Scottish Fold Cats are basically quiet cats with soft, chirpy voices that aren't heard very often, and because their ears are folded, people find their ears to be much more expressive than the typical cats' normal straight up ears. These fine beauties also have a variety of interesting positions in which you might find them lying or sitting. For example, they can flatten themselves out to look much like a bearskin rug. They also like to lie on their backs or remarkably, can be found sitting up in a "Buddha" position.

Amazingly enough, Scottish Fold cats also can have straight ears, and the ones with folded ears can come with different degrees of folding. The cats with ears that have a single fold have ears that are loosely folded over, but these cats are never considered show quality cats, which is strange considering that the Scottish Fold Cats with straight ears are sought after in breeding programs, but there is a very good reason for that. Then there is the double fold and the triple fold ears with the triple fold being the most desired quality should you plan to enter your cat in shows. Because the folds can hold the cat's ears tightly to their heads, it is necessary for their owners to frequently check their cat's ears for dirt, which can become a common problem over time.

Another problem you should be aware of is that these cats tend to have problems with hardening cartilage and before investing in one of these wonderful animals, you should know what to ask a breeder to insure against this. A stiffening of the tail is a clear indication of the problem. Most reputable breeders of Scottish Fold cats will only breed a straight-ear to a fold-ear to prevent this problem from occurring. You should be very wary of a breeder that breeds a fold-ear to a fold-ear. If you are planning to show your cat, he or she will be taught to allow the judge to handle the tail, as he or she will be checking for signs of this condition.