Want an Easygoing Quiet Pet That's Great with Kids? Consider This
These affectionate, social, and quiet pets won't add to the noise volume of a busy home. Yet they'll stick close by your side, play fetch, and follow you around the house. Best of all, they're great with kids, and when they do 'talk,' it tends to be in a soft, quiet tone.
Reviewed by Dr. Becker
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STORY AT-A-GLANCE
- Scottish Folds are affectionate, social and quiet cats that enjoy spending time with their owners
- While they’re known for their owl-like appearance and folded ears, some Scottish Folds’ ears are straight
- Scottish Folds enjoy sitting with their hind legs outstretched in front of them and their paws resting on their stomach
- A Scottish Fold will stick close by you at home, play fetch and follow you from room to room
- They also adore children, making them wonderful cats for families
Editor's Note: This article is a reprint. It was originally published April 10, 2015.
If you're looking for a kitty that will follow you from room to room and lie by your side or in your lap, a Scottish Fold may be for you. These round, big-eyed lap cats can all be traced back to Susie, a barn cat and the first Scottish Fold, who was raised by shepherd William Ross in Scotland in 1961.1
Of course, aside from their warm temperaments, the Scottish Fold is known for its "folded" ears. According to the International Cat Association:2
"The unique folded ears of the Scottish Fold give it a look reminiscent of an owl. The tightly folded ears fit closely to the skull resulting in a cap-like appearance. Big, round shoe-button eyes open up the face in the rounded head.
A sturdy body is covered with padding resulting in a solid feel to this medium-sized cat. The folded ear is a spontaneous mutation and comes from an incompletely dominant gene that results in both folded and straight-eared cats."
Yet, not all Scottish Folds have folded ears. All are born with straight ears and only some of them "fold" (usually around three to four weeks of age). What else is there to know about this unique cat breed? Paw Nation compiled 10 top facts.3
10 Interesting Facts About Scottish Folds
- Purebreds all come from the same cat
It can be difficult to pinpoint the origin of many cat breeds — but not Scottish Folds. As mentioned, they can all be traced back to Susie, a white barn cat with folded ears that gave birth to a litter of folded-ear kittens. Shepherd William Ross raised one of the kittens, breeding it with other barn cats and British Shorthairs to create the Scottish Fold. - Some Scottish Folds have straight ears
A Scottish Folds ears will fold around three to four weeks of age, if they are going to fold. Some remain straight (these are known as "straights"). Scottish Folds can also have short or long hair. - They're quiet
Scottish Folds are known for rarely making noise. Even when they do "talk," it will tend to be in a soft, quiet tone. - They love to sit in the "Buddha position"
Scottish Folds enjoy sitting with their hind legs outstretched in front of them and their paws resting on their stomach. This "Buddha pose" is a favorite among the breed, although they also enjoying sleeping on their backs. - Maru is a Scottish Fold
Have you seen Maru the cat online? This "famous" kitty is a Scottish Fold with straight ears. - Scottish Folds are social
These kitties love other cats, people and even dogs. A Scottish Fold will stick close by you at home, play fetch and follow you from room to room. They also adore children, making them wonderful cats for families. - They're easygoing
Scottish Folds are laidback and go with the flow. A busy household or multiple pets won't faze them. They also adapt well to moves or other big changes, like a new baby or a new pet in the home. - Lots of nicknames
Because Scottish Folds resemble owls, they're sometimes called "owls in cat suits." They were first named "lop-eared" cats and are also sometimes called simply "Folds." Long-haired Scottish Folds are sometimes called "Highland Folds." - Taylor Swift owns two Scottish Folds
Singer Taylor Swift added a gray and white Scottish Fold, Meredith Grey, to her family in 2011. And she added a second white Scottish Fold, Olivia Benson, to the mix. - Scottish Folds are not recognized in Europe
Despite heralding from a European country, Scottish Folds are not a recognized breed by the European Cat Fanciers' Association. The Association banned the breed in the 1960s amid concerns of ear health and deafness, which later were disproved.
Are You Thinking of Adding a New Cat to Your Family?
If you're bringing a new cat into your home, regardless of whether there are other pets or children in your family, separate the new addition in a room of her own for at least a week. This will help her get acclimated on her own terms, which is the way cats prefer things.
Kitties are very sensitive to new environments, sounds, tastes, smells, and so forth — and some may be very easily stressed by any change in their lives. Put her litter box, food and toys in her private room and keep noise, confusion and other animals (including humans) in her space to a minimum.
Introduce other members of the household to the new kitty one at a time. Ideally, this takes place in, say, the living room, and the new cat has ventured out on her own to investigate. However you arrange these meet-and-greets, they should be done in a calm, quiet, low-stress environment so as not to scare or further stress the new kitty.
It's very important that the new pet not have free rein in your home before you're completely confident she is safe in the new environment, and that both she and your other pets are safe in terms of interacting with each other in your absence.
As for where to find your new pet, if you're in love with the Scottish Fold breed keep in mind that a breeder is not your only option. There are purebred cat rescues located across the U.S. where you can find the perfect Scottish Fold for your family, at a reduced price from what you'll pay a breeder.
