The Scottish Fold is a breed of domestic cat characterised by a naturally occurring autosomal dominant mutation associated with feline osteochondrodysplasia (FOCD). This genetic health condition affects cartilage development throughout the body and produces the breed's defining feature: ears that "fold" forward and down towards the front of the head, contributing to its often described “owl-like” appearance.
Research has revealed that all Scottish Fold cats are affected by FOCD, a developmental abnormality that affects cartilage and bone formation throughout the body. This systemic disorder causes the ear fold as well as skeletal abnormalities that may lead to painful, progressive degenerative joint disease, sometimes manifesting at a young age. In certain individuals, the disorder may progress to a severity that requires euthanasia, even at a relatively young age. The breeding programme produced 76 kittens in the first three years – 42 with folded ears and 34 with straight ears. The conclusion from this was that the ear mutation is due to a simple dominant gene. Ross registered the breed with the Governing Council of the Cat Fancy (GCCF) in the United Kingdom in 1966 and started to breed Scottish Fold kittens with the help of geneticist Pat Turner. However, by the early 1970s the GCCF stopped registering the cat due to concerns about potential health issues such as ear infections and deafness.
In 1970 the first Scottish Fold kittens were introduced to the USA via Neil Todd of Massachusetts who was researching the mutation. Further cats were brought over and the Scottish Fold breeding program continued with American Shorthairs and British Shorthairs being introduced.
Breed recognition
In 1978 the Cat Fanciers' Association (CFA) granted the breed championship status. In the mid-1980s the long-haired version started to gain recognition.