Scottish Fold cats are cats which have a permanent fold in their ears. This is the result of a genetic mutation. These cats were earlier called lop-eared, after rabbits with identical ears. They were officially re-named Scottish Fold in 1966.
As you could probably say by the breed's name, Scottish Fold cats came from Scotland. A pregnant female was seen with folded ears. She delivered kittens who also had the mutation. All Scottish Folds have come from this lineage.
However, the initial Scottish Fold cats had various health problems. They had deformities of the spinal column and tail and had ear mites. Many were even deaf. Some people believed that the cats should not be allowed to reproduce. However, the Scottish Fold's were then cross bred with American and British shorthairs. This allowed them to get the desirable trait of the folded ears, but be much healthier cats.
Many people love these cats simply due to the fact they are very cute. Moreover, they also have amazing personalities. They are pretty loving and adorable. These things make them very popular and also expensive. They are a little bit more work than other cats, as their ears are likely to buildup wax much quicker. The owner has to help the cat by clearing this out regularly. They are also more prone to become obese than other cat breeds. They have a longevity of approximately 15 years.
These cats do not exhibit that they have folded ears until they are approximately 3 weeks old. This is because all cats' ears are folded until they are about three weeks of age. The Scottish Fold's ears will stay folded and the other cats' ears will unfold. This, certainly, indicates that there is a little chance while breeding Scottish Fold cats.