Adorable, fluffy, and innocent in appearance, long-haired Scottish Fold cats have a unique look that makes them stand out. Their adorable, folded ears give them a sweet look that melts the heart of most onlookers. As the name implies, this breed hails from Scotland and can be traced back to 1961. Let’s take a closer look at these cute little bundles of joy.
The Scottish Fold is a medium-sized cat with a rounded, short-haired, thick coat. The long hair Scottish Fold looks similar, but with a long, fluffy coat instead of a short coat. It can be any color or pattern but is most commonly brown or black. The ears are the most distinctive feature of the cat. They are large, wide with round heats and flat faces. The cats have large eyes and medium-sized, muscular bodies.
The Earliest Records of Long Hair Scottish Folds in History
The Scottish Fold has a unique lineage. In 1961, a Scottish shepherd discovered a kitten with folded ears on his neighbor’s farm. He named the kitten Susie, and interestingly enough, the mother had normal ears. But it was unclear what type of cat the father was. He began to breed a kitten from Susie’s litter with British Shorthair cats to create more kittens with folded ears.
In the late 1970s, it was discovered that when breeding two cats that both have folded ears, 1/3 of the kittens would develop skeletal lesions, which brought the breeding of these cats to a halt in Europe. However, a cat with folded ears can still be bred with a cat with normal ears, and the folded ear trait is a dominant mutation which means that some of the kittens will express the folded ears. However, it’s not guaranteed that all of the kittens will.
The genetics of the folded-ear trait aren’t fully understood, but it is now known that the gene for folded ears is carried on the same chromosome as the gene for short legs.
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How Long Hair Scottish Folds Gained Popularity
The breed as we know it today was developed in America. Breeders in the US have worked to breed out the gene that causes skeletal lesions and the breed is generally regarded as healthy today. But it’s still a rare but very popular breed. Although Scottish Folds were originally bred with shorthair cats, they are now bred with other cats as well, which can lead to them developing long hair instead of short hair. So, the long hair Scottish Fold isn’t a breed in itself, but just a coat variation of the Scottish Fold.
There are also two types of long-haired Scottish Fold: “folded” and “straight”. Folded means the cat’s ears that fold slightly, while stiffs refer to cats with ears that stand upright. However, both types are exceedingly adorable. The breed has a strong instinct to hunt small rodents and insects, so it’s important to keep them indoors. These cats can be very social and affectionate, but they can also be quite reserved.
Although the cats are relatively easily bred with one another, they are not very successful at breeding with other breeds. This is because the folded-ear trait is a dominant trait, meaning that it is more easily expressed in offspring. Therefore, Scottish Fold cats will likely always remain a rare breed – which makes them pretty expensive to purchase.
Formal Recognition of Long Hair Scottish Folds
The breed gained championship status by the Cat Fanciers Association in 1978 and by the International Cat Association in 1981. The Scottish Fold is known for its folded ears, rounded head, and sweet temperament. It has not been accepted by Great Britain’s Governing Council of the Cat Fancy or the European Cat Fanciers Association due to the folded ears being the result of a mutation.
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Top 3 Unique Facts About Long Hair Scottish Folds
1. Breeding Scottish Fold cats with other breeds can result in kittens with short legs
Since the gene for folded ears is on the same chromosome as the gene for folded legs, this means that breeding Scottish Fold cats with other breeds is likely to result in kittens with short legs.
2. They love to cuddle
They tend to be close to their owners and are known to be very good with kids and other pets. Scottish Folds don’t shed a lot and are very low maintenance.
3. They sit like we do
Scottish folds will often sit prairie-dog style to increase their view and pick out noises they hear.
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Do Long Hair Scottish Folds Make Good Pets?
If you’re looking for a cat that is very easy to handle and very low maintenance, the long hair Scottish Fold might be the right choice for you. These cats are very friendly, great with kids, and extremely affectionate. They love to cuddle and be close to their owners. They also don’t shed as much as other cat breeds and are generally considered a low-maintenance pet.
These cats are very easy to handle and are very low maintenance. It’s important, however, to keep their ears clean and healthy. If you notice any unusual odor coming from their ears, you should take them to the vet immediately. This is a sign that their ears are infected and need medical attention.
You also want to invest in a good high-quality brush for these cats. While they don’t shed often, their fur can easily become matted if it isn’t brushed regularly.
Lastly, be sure to buy toys such as scratching posts, toys, and other items to keep your Scottish Fold busy. Though they usually have a mild temperament in general, they can cause destruction if left home alone for extended periods of time. If you’re planning on bringing home a Scottish Fold, make sure you do your research and find out how to take care of them properly.
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Conclusion
The long hair Scottish Fold is an adorable, low-maintenance cat that has a lot of personality. These cats are affectionate and very easy to love. They make great pets for people who want a cat that doesn’t shed much, but still loves to play and interact with their family. These cats are also good for families with children. They can be very gentle and patient with little ones, since they tend not to hiss or scratch much.
Christian is the Editor-in-Chief of Excited Cats and one of its original and primary contributors. A lifelong cat lover, now based in South East Asia, Christian and his wife are the proud parents of an 11-year-old son and four rescue cats: Trixie, Chloe, Sparky, and Chopper.
