Where was the Scottish breed of cat bred? - briefly
The Scottish breed of cat, including the Scottish Fold and Scottish Straight, originated in Scotland during the mid-20th century.
Where was the Scottish breed of cat bred? - in detail
The Scottish breed of cat, particularly the Scottish Fold, originated in Scotland in the early 1960s. The breed’s history began with a white barn cat named Susie, who was discovered on a farm near Coupar Angus in Perthshire, Scotland. Susie had a unique genetic mutation that caused her ears to fold forward and downward, giving her an distinctive appearance. This trait was later identified as a result of a natural dominant gene affecting cartilage development. William Ross, a local shepherd and cat enthusiast, noticed Susie and, along with his wife Mary, began breeding her descendants to establish the breed. The first breeding program focused on crossing Susie’s offspring with British Shorthairs and other domestic cats to preserve the folded ear trait while maintaining genetic diversity. Despite their Scottish origins, Scottish Folds gained significant popularity internationally, particularly in the United States, where further breeding programs were established to refine the breed’s characteristics. However, the breed’s development has also raised ethical concerns due to the health issues associated with the gene responsible for the folded ears, such as osteochondrodysplasia, a condition affecting cartilage and bone development. Today, responsible breeding practices aim to mitigate these health risks while preserving the breed’s unique appearance and temperament.