 11 Surprising Facts About Scottish Fold Cats. Scottish fold cats are known for their trademark folded ears that make for an adorable look. They have round faces and big round eyes, and their folded ears make them appear even rounder. In fact, they're often compared to teddy bears or owls. Because of their cute appearance and sweet temperament, they're very sought after and beloved by many. Their ears are their signature feature, and they're completely fascinating. But there are other interesting facts to know about these kitties. How much do you know about Scottish Fold Cats? 1. They all have one common ancestor, named Susie. While cats with folded ears date back to the 1700s, Scottish Fold Cats first came about in the 1960s. In 1961 in Perthshire, Scotland, a kitten with folded ears was discovered in a litter of non-folded cats. This kitten was named Susie. Scottish Folds were first imported into the United States in 1971. By the mid-1970s, they had been recognized by most cat associations in North America. They can be outcrossed to American short hairs and British short hairs. She was bred with other cats to develop the breed, and subsequently, all Scottish Fold Cats have her as a common ancestor. 2. The Fold is due to a mutation. According to the International Cat Association, the folded ear is a spontaneous mutation and comes from an incompletely dominant gene that results in both folded and straight-eared cats. This trait is caused by an incomplete dominant gene that resulted from a spontaneous mutation. It affects the cartilage in the kitty's body. While the Scottish Fold's ears are the most visible sign of this abnormality, the rest of its body is also impacted. In particular, Scottish Fold cats may have cartilage abnormalities. The Scottish Fold breed of cat is a very popular pet in the USA, due to its affectionate and gentle nature and distinctive appearance. 3. They're born with straight ears. Scottish Folds are born with normal, pointy ears. They don't develop their trademark look until they're around two to four weeks old and the ears begin to fold. A cat's ears might also stay straight. These kitties are sometimes called Scottish short hairs. However, this CFA and other cat fanciers associations only allow cats with complete ear folds to compete in shows. The Scottish Fold's ears once weren't as dramatically creased as they are now. Their ears folded from about halfway up, tilting forward and down. Decades of selective breeding are responsible for the double or triple ear folds of modern Scottish Folds, which cause their ears to lie completely flat. 4. Scottish Folds are never bred together. Scottish Fold cats are never bred together for ethical concerns, as offspring may be born with degenerative issues. Scottish Fold cats are usually bred with either American short hairs or British short hairs. Since they're always bred with other breeds, not all kittens in their litters will have folded ears. Subsequently, Scottish Fold cats remain rather rare. 5. There are three degrees of folds. Their ear folds are categorized into three types, single, double, and triple. According to MIT, today's folds have your folds ranging from the loose single fold to the very tight triple fold which is seen in the show quality cats. A single fold is just a slight fold that only involves the tips of the ears. A double fold ear has a more prominent bend than a single fold ear, with about half of the ear bending downward. A triple fold ear lies flat against the head, making the head appear rounder. Scottish Fold cats didn't always have sharply folded ears, they have become a fixture in these cats through years of selective breeding, with breeders choosing only cats with double and triple folds. 6. They sit like humans. Scottish Folds are known for their sweet personalities and fun quirks. Oftentimes, they'll sit up prairie dog style in order to improve their vantage point when they hear a noise. They also famously sit like humans, which Scottish Fold owners have lovingly dubbed the Buddha Sit. Scottish Folds are known for sitting, standing, or laying in a variety of cute and comical human-like positions. They'll sit on their haunches in a Buddha position, they'll stand on their hind legs, and they'll flop, stretch, and twist themselves into other unusual poses. Hello! This video is sponsored by Beemix Pets. Are you looking for high quality cat collars at an affordable cost? Check out, BeemixPets.com. Use coupon code KittenLife, to get 20% off. 7. They need a gentle touch. While Scottish Fold cats aren't necessarily delicate, they do require gentle handling, particularly in regard to the tail, which can sometimes be stiff. When purchasing a Scottish Fold cat, it is wise to test the flexibility of their tail, but it's imperative to be gentle. If they're handled too rough, it can cause serious pain. There are plenty of ways to connect with a Scottish Fold that won't cause it any discomfort. When in doubt, always be gentle with them. 8. They're the only Folded-Ear cats that can show. While Scottish Fold cats aren't the only known cats with Folded Ears, they are the most established breed with Folds. A number of Folded-Ear cats of Chinese origin have been recorded, but unlike Scottish Fold cats, they have not been developed as a breed. Presently, only Folded-Ear cats of Scottish lineage are permitted in the show ring, says the Cat Fanciers Association, CFA. More specifically, only Scottish Fold cats with triple Folds are deemed show quality. 9. They're T-Swift approved. Pop star Taylor Swift isn't the only famous one in her household, her two Scottish Fold cats have become fan favorites too. Named after primetime drama characters, Meredith Gray and Olivia Benson are always by Swift's side. They've even been featured in photo shoots and commercials. Early in 2019, Swift adopted a third cat named Benjamin Button. He's not a Scottish Fold, he's a ragdoll, but he seems to be fitting into the crew just fine. 10. Scottish Folds aren't popular in Europe. The GCCF, the UK's largest registration body for cats, originally accepted Scottish Folds for show in 1966. However, by 1971 the organisation had stopped letting pet owners register the kitties because they were worried about physical deformities, ear mites and infection, and deafness. These concerns ended up being unfounded, but to this day the cat still isn't shown in Europe. In 1977, Scottish Folds were given provisional status in the CFA, over the decades they've become a highly sought after kitty in America. Today, cat lovers who want to own a Scottish Fold might have to be put on a waiting list, and pay several hundred dollars for a kitten. 11. Scottish Folds once had a different name. Since they look a bit like lop-eared rabbits, Scottish Folds were once called lop-eared or lops, until the breed was registered and its official name became the Scottish Fold. If you enjoyed this video, kindly press the like button. Also don't forget to subscribe with notifications on, so that you don't miss out on videos like this. Thank you for watching.