On a small farm near Coupar Angus in the Tayside Region of Scotland Northwest of Dundee, a shepherd named William Ross discovered the first known Scottish Fold cat. The year was 1961. That year was the beginning of a wonderful era for the cat fancy as a whole. That is the year the Fold started on its journey to the wonderful cat we know and love today.

The cat Mr. Ross had spotted was unique because her ears folded forward and downward on her head. Mr. Ross knew he had discovered something wonderful and different and asked the owners if he could have one of the kittens. He proceeded to develop the Scottish Fold from the original cat: a white barn cat named Susie. Since that time we have all been in love with and intrigued by the wonderful "owl" look of these cats. When the Scottish Fold was granted Championship status in the Cat Fanciers’ Association (CFA) in 1978, many Americans were already completely taken with these wonderful cats.

The folded ear is a spontaneous mutation and is produced by an incomplete dominant gene (meaning neither straight nor folded ears is dominant over the other). Therefore, Scottish Folds are born with "normal" ears and will fold within the first 4 weeks of life. Many Scottish Folds do not fold and are called "straight-ears" or "perk-ears." The straight ears are valued highly in Scottish Fold breeding programs as reputable breeders pair straight-ears with folded ears to preserve the integrity of the gene and the breed.

Folds are healthy, hardy cats. Not generally known as lap cats, Folds are "people" cats. They develop strong, loving relationships with their owners and must know what "their person" is doing at all times. They have sweet dispositions and soft voices, when they speak, which isn’t often. Most Scottish Folds seem to view life as something wonderful and enjoy new experiences. They are neither overly shy nor rambunctious cats.

Scottish Folds have two allowable outcrosses: the American Shorthair and the British Shorthair. Outcrossing to any other breed is not allowable in CFA. The Fold should be medium in stature, with a rounded, well-padded body and a dense, resilient coat. The eyes should be large, perfectly round and spaced in proportion to the head; the expression should be one of awe and sweetness. The nose should be short and with a gentle curve. A nose break or brow ridge is not preferred as this bone structure tends to "close down the face."

Folds are available in both longhair and shorthair varieties. Most breeders work with both coat lengths, but some work with only longhair or shorthair. All colors are possible except for those colors that show evidence of hybridization such as chocolate, lavender, the Himalayan or Siamese pattern, or a combination of both.

When you contact a breeder for a Fold, remember that currently only the folded kittens are allowed in the show ring. Because many Fold kittens do not fold, the supply of available folded kittens is not great; therefore, the supply is far below the demand. Ask the breeder about straight-ear kittens as well. The straight ear is invaluable to a reputable breeding program, but often straight-eared kittens are available. Straight ear kittens can be registered and have the same wonderful, distinct "pixie" look as the folded kittens.

Most breeders will not sell their kittens until they are at least 16 weeks of age to ensure they have had the appropriate shots. In addition, many breeders sell their kittens already spayed or neutered. If you find a breeder that you think is reputable, but no kittens are available, ask to be placed on that breeder’s waiting list or ask if they can refer you to another breeder. If the breeder offers you an older pet or perhaps a retired breeder, do not hesitate to ask for more information. Older cats make wonderful pets and lifelong companions.

When you find a kitten, be sure to determine the flexibility of the tail and check the feet and legs. There should be no hint of thickness or lack of mobility due to short, coarse legs or splayed toes. Determine the flexibility of the tail be moving your hand down the tail in a very gentle, slightly upward-arching movement. Ask the breeder about tail flexibility; if the breeder is not open and honest about this, it is best to look elsewhere.

Pricing for kittens depends on the individual kitten, breeder and area of the country. Most breeders will require that you sign a contract, which usually states, among other things, that you agree not to allow the kitten outdoors or that you will not declaw the kitten.