Scottish cat how was the breed created? - briefly
The Scottish Fold breed originated in 1961 when a farmer in Scotland discovered a cat with unique folded ears, which became the foundation for selective breeding to establish the distinct characteristics of the breed.
Scottish cat how was the breed created? - in detail
The Scottish Fold, a distinctive breed known for its unique folded ears, originated in Scotland in the early 1960s. The breed's history began with a white barn cat named Susie, discovered on a farm near Coupar Angus in Perthshire. Susie possessed a natural mutation that caused her ears to fold forward, giving her an owl-like appearance. This genetic trait, which affects the cartilage in the ears, became the foundation of the breed. Susie’s owner, William Ross, recognized the uniqueness of her ears and, with the help of geneticist Pat Turner, began a selective breeding program to establish the breed. Susie was bred with domestic cats and British Shorthairs, and her offspring inherited the folded ear trait, confirming it was a dominant gene. The breed was initially called the "Lops" due to the ear shape but was later renamed the Scottish Fold. Early breeding efforts revealed that the gene responsible for the folded ears could also lead to skeletal abnormalities if two folded-ear cats were bred together. To mitigate this, breeders adopted a strategy of crossing Scottish Folds with straight-eared cats, ensuring healthier offspring while maintaining the breed’s defining characteristic. The breed gained recognition in the 1970s, with the Cat Fanciers' Association (CFA) granting it championship status in 1978. Today, the Scottish Fold is celebrated for its sweet temperament, round face, and distinctive ears, though ethical breeding practices remain crucial to avoid health issues associated with the gene mutation.