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Scottish Fold at a glance
| Trait | Detail |
|---|---|
| Origin | Scotland (Tayside region), from a folded-ear farm cat found in 1961 [1] |
| Breed group | Recognized by the CFA in four divisions (folded or straight ears, short or long hair) [1]; not among the breeds recognized by FIFe [2] |
| Build | Medium size, round head, short neck, well-padded body with strong legs; the tail should be flexible [1] |
| Life expectancy | No breed figure in the 2019 UK life tables, which reported breeds with at least 15 recorded deaths [3] |
| Coat | Short or long; the folded ears appear at 3 to 4 weeks of age [1] |
Origin
In 1961, a shepherd named William Ross noticed a white female cat with folded ears, Susie, on a farm in the Tayside region of Scotland. Her daughter Snooks became the foundation queen, bred to a domestic male and then to a British Shorthair. The folded ears come from a dominant gene considered a spontaneous mutation [1].
The CFA granted championship status to shorthaired Folds in 1978 and to longhaired Folds in 1992, and accepted straight-eared cats in 2022 [1].
Common health problems
- Osteochondrodysplasia: the folded ears and the bone and joint disease of the breed are associated with one dominant variant of the TRPV4 gene (c.1024G>T). It malforms the distal fore and hind limbs and the tail and causes progressive joint destruction; the variant was not found in 648 unaffected cats [4]. Reported signs include lameness, reluctance to jump, a stiff stilted gait, short misshapen distal limbs, swelling at the back of the hind feet and a short, thick, inflexible tail [5].
- How many Folds are affected: an early Australian study concluded that all Scottish Folds had osteochondrodysplasia to some degree [5], and cats with two copies of the variant develop severe X-ray changes [6]. In a blinded X-ray study of genotyped cats, heterozygous Folds scored worse than straight-eared cats but had much milder signs than previously published [6]. In Australian clinic records, osteochondrodysplasia was diagnosed in 12 of 1,131 Scottish Folds and suspected in 64 more, usually before 30 months of age [7]. In an Italian group, all 12 Folds carried one copy and 1 showed clinical signs [8].
- The welfare debate: the authors of the Australian study advised against breeding fold-eared cats and recommended using straight-eared Scottish cats instead [5]. Others describe a complicated debate about whether cats with the TRPV4 variant should be bred for folded ears [6]. CFA breeders mate fold-eared cats only with straight-eared cats to limit bone and joint problems [1].
- Polycystic kidney disease (PKD): in 1,281 cats tested in Japan, the odds of carrying the PKD1 variant were significantly higher in Persians, Scottish Folds and Exotic Shorthairs, although numbers per breed were small [9]. See kidney disease in cats.
- Blood type: in a US survey, 15% of 27 Scottish Folds had blood type B [11]. See anemia in cats.
Tests and screening in Scottish Folds
- No blood test for the joint disease: osteochondrodysplasia is diagnosed from characteristic X-ray findings in the feet, joints and tail [5]. Regular, gentle checks of tail flexibility are advised, as stiffness can be an early sign [1].
- DNA test for TRPV4: genotyping shows whether a cat carries one or two copies of the variant [6, 8], and breeders use DNA testing to check that each pairing is appropriate [1].
- PKD1 DNA test and kidney values: among cats sent for PKD1 testing in Japan (not a random sample), 54% of Scottish Folds carried the variant. In carriers, a creatinine of 1.6 mg/dL (about 140 µmol/L) or more was more frequent from 3 years of age [10]. See creatinine and BUN in cats.
- Blood typing: type B occurs in the breed [11], so the blood type is worth knowing for breeding. See cat blood work explained.
Related articles
En français : Scottish fold.
Questions to ask your veterinarian
- Does my cat show any sign of osteochondrodysplasia, and should its feet, joints or tail be X-rayed?
- Is my cat’s tail flexible and its gait normal for its age?
- Has my cat been tested for the PKD1 variant, and should its kidneys be checked by ultrasound?
- Are my cat’s kidney values normal, and how have they changed over time?
- How can we keep my cat comfortable if it develops joint pain?
Get your Scottish Fold’s blood work explained.
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Frequently asked questions
Why are Scottish Folds’ ears folded?
Because of a dominant variant of the TRPV4 gene that affects cartilage. The same variant causes osteochondrodysplasia, a bone and joint disease [4].
Do all Scottish Folds have joint problems?
Studies differ. An early study found osteochondrodysplasia to some degree in all Folds [5]; more recent work found milder X-ray signs in cats with one copy and fewer clinical cases, while cats with two copies are severely affected [6, 7, 8].
What are the signs of osteochondrodysplasia?
Lameness, reluctance to jump, a stiff gait, short misshapen lower limbs and a short, thick, inflexible tail [5].
Sources
- The Cat Fanciers’ Association. Scottish Fold: breed profile. cfa.org/breed/scottish-fold
- Fédération Internationale Féline. Breeds and standards. fifeweb.org/cats/breeds
- Teng KT et al. Life tables of annual life expectancy and risk factors for mortality in cats in the UK. J Feline Med Surg. 2024;26(5):1098612X241234556. doi.org/10.1177/1098612X241234556
- Gandolfi B et al. A dominant TRPV4 variant underlies osteochondrodysplasia in Scottish fold cats. Osteoarthritis Cartilage. 2016;24(8):1441-1450. doi.org/10.1016/j.joca.2016.03.019
- Malik R et al. Osteochondrodysplasia in Scottish Fold cats. Aust Vet J. 1999;77(2):85-92. doi.org/10.1111/j.1751-0813.1999.tb11672.x
- Rorden C et al. Radiographical survey of osteochondrodysplasia in Scottish Fold cats caused by the TRPV4 gene variant. Hum Genet. 2021;140(11):1525-1534. doi.org/10.1007/s00439-021-02337-5
- Velie BD et al. An estimation of osteochondrodysplasia prevalence in Australian Scottish Fold cats: a retrospective study using VetCompass data. BMC Vet Res. 2023;19(1):252. doi.org/10.1186/s12917-023-03811-0
- Sartore S et al. Osteochondrodysplasia and the c.1024G>T variant of TRPV4 gene in Scottish Fold cats: genetic and radiographic evaluation. J Feline Med Surg. 2023;25(12):1098612X231211763. doi.org/10.1177/1098612X231211763
- Shitamori F et al. Large-scale epidemiological study on feline autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease and identification of novel PKD1 gene variants. J Feline Med Surg. 2023;25(7):1098612X231185393. doi.org/10.1177/1098612X231185393
- Sato R et al. Epidemiological evaluation of cats associated with feline polycystic kidney disease caused by the feline PKD1 genetic mutation in Japan. J Vet Med Sci. 2019;81(7):1006-1011. doi.org/10.1292/jvms.18-0309
- Gavazza A et al. Feline blood groups: a systematic review of phylogenetic and geographical origin. Animals (Basel). 2021;11(12):3339. doi.org/10.3390/ani11123339
Laboratory methods and reference intervals vary. This article explains; it does not diagnose. For a decision about your pet, use the original report and talk to your veterinarian. Our editorial policy.