the scottish fold, reviewed

The Scottish Fold is the round-faced, folded-ear cat that broke the internet, sweet-natured and undeniably adorable. It also carries a genuine welfare problem that an honest review cannot leave out, because the very trait that makes it famous comes from a harmful genetic condition. So this profile scores the cat and tells you the hard truth. Read the health section carefully.

what is a scottish fold

The Scottish Fold traces back to a single farm cat in Scotland in the 1960s with naturally folded ears, caused by a spontaneous genetic mutation. Breeders liked the look and developed it into a breed. The folded ears, which give the cat its round, owl-like, endlessly photogenic face, are the whole basis of the breed. That is exactly where the problem lies, and we will get to it, because it matters more than anything else on this page.

the look and the temperament

There is no denying the appeal. The folded ears, round head, big round eyes, and compact body give the Scottish Fold a soft, cartoonish cuteness that scores highly on my card, and its habit of sitting in odd, splayed positions only adds to the effect. Temperament-wise it is a lovely cat, sweet, calm, affectionate, and quiet, forming close bonds with its people and generally getting on well with children and other pets. It is placid rather than mischievous, which keeps the gremlin score low, and an excellent loafer. On charm and character alone, it would score very well.

the health problem you must understand

Here is why this review turns serious. The same gene that folds the ears affects cartilage throughout the cat's whole body, not just the ears, and it causes a painful, progressive degenerative joint and bone disease called osteochondrodysplasia. To some degree this affects every Scottish Fold with folded ears, because the folded ear is itself a visible sign of the cartilage defect. It can cause stiffness, pain, lameness, fused joints, and reduced quality of life, sometimes from a young age.

This is not a rare risk in a few badly bred lines. It is bound up with the defining trait of the breed. For that reason, breeding Scottish Folds is controversial, and the practice is banned or officially discouraged in a number of countries and by several cat welfare and veterinary organisations. Any honest account of this cat has to say plainly that its signature feature comes at a real cost to the animal.

is a scottish fold right for you

I am not going to pretend this is a normal breed recommendation, because it is not. If you love the look, the kindest thing I can tell you is to think very hard before supporting the breeding of folded-ear cats, to read up on the welfare debate from vets and cat charities, and to consider adopting a Scottish Fold in need of a home rather than buying one, or choosing a different breed with a similar sweet temperament and none of the built-in joint disease. If you do share your life with a Scottish Fold, work closely with a vet who understands the condition, watch closely for signs of joint pain, and give it the comfort and care it will need.

the chairman's verdict

Eighty, and it is the most conflicted score on my card. On looks and temperament the Scottish Fold is delightful, and I understand exactly why people fall for it. But I cannot in good conscience celebrate a breed whose famous feature is a genetic disorder that hurts the cat, and I will not. So take the cuteness score as real and the whole verdict as a caution. A lovely animal dealt a hard hand by the people who make more of it. Choose kindly.

Related reading from my desk: more breeds in the cat breeds guide, and signs your cat is in pain, which every Scottish Fold owner should know well.

Scores are the Chairman's opinion, offered in good fun, but the Scottish Fold's joint disease is not a joke. Please read up on the welfare issues and talk to a vet before considering this breed. I am a cat with opinions, not a veterinarian.