🐱 Cat · size Medium
Scottish fold & Highland Fold
cat breed
Photo · Wikipedia FR (CC BY-SA)
Weight
5–30 kg
Size
Medium
Lifespan
12–18 ans
Energy
Moyen
Coat
Toutes couleurs admises
Maintenance
Moyen
Training
Moyen
The Scottish Fold and Highland Fold are two cat breeds originating from Scotland, which are characterized by ears folded forward (fold meaning "fold" in English). The name Highland Fold is given to the long-haired variety while the short-haired variety is called Scottish Fold.
Profile
At a glance
Energy
Modéré
Trainability
Modéré
Maintenance
Modéré
Indicative profile — every animal is an individual.
⚡ Key facts in 30 seconds
L'essentiel
- 1Medium size (5–30 kg) — balance between presence and practicality.
- 2Life expectancy: 12 to 18 years on average, depending on hygiene and diet.
- 3Moderate energy — 30 to 60 minutes of exercise per day sufficient.
- 4Moderate maintenance — weekly brushing sufficient.
Chapter 1
Getting to know the Scottish fold & Highland Fold
Our selection
Dry food suited to the Scottish fold & Highland Fold
Origins & history
A story told
The first known specimen of a cat with folded ears is Susie, a cat living on a farm north of Dundee in Scotland. She is discovered in 1961 by William and Mary Ross. The couple later acquires Snook, a female kitten of Susie also carrying folded ears. Snook is crossed with a red tabby domestic cat and gives birth to kittens with folded ears that are registered in 1966 at the Governing Council of the Cat Fancy (GCCF) by the Ross, helped by geneticist Pat Turner.
Character
Daily temperament
Character traits are not described in the standards and constitute temperaments generally observed in the breed. The Scottish Fold is said to have a calm and rather quiet temperament, but it is nonetheless very playful and would very much appreciate being able to play with its owner. It is also said that it enjoys the company of its own kind. In Canada, the Scottish Fold is the 7th most popular cat breed between 2016 and 2019, according to the AFC.
Physical
Breed standard
The Scottish Fold is a medium to large-sized cat, with a body that is broad, muscular, and massive but still rounded. The legs, medium to short in size, are robust and muscular; at the end the feet are round. The tail is moderately long and thicker at the base with a rounded tip. The head is large and very rounded. It conveys an expression of sweetness, accentuated by the fact that the curve of the mouth can give the impression of a permanent smile. The eyes are round and in a color matching the coat; the nose is short and wide, which makes people compare the Scottish Fold's head to an "owl's head." The main characteristic of the Scottish Fold is the folded shape of its ears. There are several degrees of fold:
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the single fold (formerly loose fold) has ears that fold from the middle. the double fold, more appreciated in competitions, has the ears completely flattened on the head.
The fur is dense with a thick undercoat, short in the Scottish Fold and semi-long in the Highland Fold. All colors are accepted, bicolor being very popular in the United States. Crosses allowed in France marry Scottish Fold and Highland Fold with British Shorthair and Longhair.
Chapter 2
Daily life
What if you adopted your future companion?
The Scottish fold & Highland Fold of your dreams may already be waiting in a shelter. Hundreds of scottish fold & highland fold (and equally wonderful crossbreeds) are looking for a family in France — every adoption starts a new story.
Editorial recommendation — no affiliate links.
Âge
What human age for a scottish fold & highland fold ?
The calculator is already set to the breed's adult size (espérance de vie 12–18 ans). Drag the slider to see the equivalence and corresponding life stage.
Equivalent human age
28years
Adulte
Most stable period. Monthly weigh-in, annual vet visit, dental care — this determines quality of life in later years.
Method: AAFP/AAHA table: 15 human years in year one, +9 in year two, then +4 per year.
These equivalences are statistical benchmarks drawn from published veterinary tables. Every animal ages at its own pace, depending on genetics, diet and care. This calculator is neither a diagnosis nor veterinary advice.
Health
Health watch
The gene causing the ear fold of the Scottish Fold is named the Fold gene (Fd). It causes the development of a constitutional disease of bones and cartilage called osteochondrodysplasia. For a long time, it was thought that only homozygous cats (Fd/Fd) were affected by osteochondrodysplasia, which led to the prohibition of crossing two Scottish Folds together.
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Many recent studies have shown that heterozygotes (with ear folds) also develop this pathology but to various degrees due to the mode of expression of the gene, which is called autosomal dominant with incomplete penetrance. Osteochondrodysplasia leads to debilitating and extremely painful arthritis, affecting Scottish Folds at a much younger age than other cat breeds. The first symptoms can appear as early as seven weeks of age. Affected cats can be enormously deformed, with short and wide limbs, as well as with a short, stiff tail. They present limping, swollen wrist and ankle joints, abnormal gait, and are reluctant to move and jump. Severely affected individuals become paralyzed and unable to walk. Many affected cats are euthanized because of the profound effects of the disease. In 2003, Lorraine Shelton, a specialist in genetic diseases, proposed to pay for 300 radiographs of healthy Scottish Folds to prove that the disease is not present in certain heterozygous cats. Not a single breeder accepted this offer. In 2008, the Journal of Small Animal Practice published an article on diseases and disorders associated with certain cat breeds. In this article, the author mentions the Scottish Fold, whose genetic mutation causing ear folds results in the appearance of more or less severe bone and joint abnormalities. The author protests that although two breeding federations refused to recognize this breed (FIFé and GCCF), the Scottish Fold continues to be bred as a pet, admittedly cute, but probably destined to suffer from arthritis sooner or later.
Alert
To avoid for cat
Our database lists toxic ingredients and problematic additives by species.
- cocoa pasteModerate
- onion piecesModerate
- low-fat cocoa powderModerate
- chilliModerate
Calculator · daily ration
How much to give a scottish fold & highland fold ?
Estimate based on the veterinary formula RER × DER, adjusted for cat. Adjust according to package recommendations.
Result
158 g
per day · 599 kcal
79 g / repas (2 par jour)
Calculation for food of 380 kcal/100g.
Appears in
Scottish fold & Highland Fold in our rankings
Cats with the longest lifespans
Maximum documented lifespan — 18 years for Scottish Fold
See the rankingBest cats for apartment living
23 compact breeds suited to urban life
See the rankingCats most comfortable with children
30 breeds recommended for families with children
See the rankingFAQ
Frequently asked questions about Scottish fold & Highland Fold
Does the Scottish Fold & Highland Fold adapt well to apartment living?+
How long does a Scottish Fold & Highland Fold live?+
Does the Scottish Fold & Highland Fold shed much?+
Does the Scottish Fold & Highland Fold tolerate solitude?+
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For more information
Sources & official links
Supplementary documentation on reference sites — breed clubs, encyclopedias, veterinarians.
The right score for your Scottish fold & Highland Fold.
SokoScan calculates a personalized PawScore based on breed, age, weight and your pet's sensitivities. Free, instant.