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Scottish Fold cats

Cats with folded ears, such as the Scottish Fold, sadly have serious health problems that can cause pain and a poor quality of life.

Scottish Fold cats

Cats with folded ears, such as the Scottish Fold, sadly have serious health problems that can cause pain and a poor quality of life.

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Scottish Folds are a breed of cat generally known for their folded ears and ‘round’ appearance. The first Scottish Fold cat was born in Scotland in 1961 with a genetic mutation which caused her to have folded ears. This was then selectively bred for by people to make it more likely to occur in future generations. 

Due to this mutation, Scottish Folds have serious health problems that cause pain and poor welfare. We believe that all cats deserve a good quality of life, which is why we recommend getting a cat without folded ears or other extreme traits. 

Other extreme traits that can lead to health issues in cats include hairlessness, flat faces and dwarfism. Find out more about cats with extreme traits.

If you’re still thinking about buying a folded-ear cat, or already have one, it’s important to learn about their health needs. Find out more about how to care for your cat below.  

Scottish Fold brown tabby cat with folded ears sitting indoors, looking to one side.

Folded-ear cat breeds 

Scottish Folds are the most well-known folded-ear cat breed. Other folded-ear cat breeds include the American Curl and Highlander breeds. The same health issues have not yet been reported in these breeds, but further investigation is needed. 

Scottish Fold health problems

Unfortunately, all Scottish Folds have certain health problems to do with their breed.

Osteochondrodysplasia (Scottish Fold disease) 

Osteochondrodysplasia (os-tee-oh-kon-droh-dis-play-zhah) is a disease caused by a genetic mutation that gives cats their folded ears. It changes the way their cartilage forms, and affects all cats bred from Scottish Folds. Signs of osteochondrodysplasia can be seen on x-rays of cats as young as seven weeks old, with signs such as limping beginning from as young as four to six months old. Cats typically become more unwell with age. Osteochondrodysplasia cannot be cured.  

Osteochondrodysplasia causes:

  • abnormal bone growth and skeletal deformities
  • arthritis, a painful joint disease. Cats are very good at hiding their pain, so often owners don’t realise their cat has arthritis until much later
  • severe pain, usually from the arthritis caused by osteochondrodysplasia
  • bone swellings in the feet and short, misshapen limbs and tails are sometimes seen 
  • restrictions in movement, including lameness and a reluctance to perform normal behaviours like climbing and jumping 

Even cats bred from Scottish Folds who do not have folded ears are still at risk of earlier-onset and faster-progressing arthritis and abnormal bone growth.  

If you already have a Scottish Fold, it’s important to monitor them closely and make sure you have regular check-ups with your vet.  

Other health problems in Scottish Folds

Other health problems Scottish Fold cats may get include:

  • an increased risk of ear disease
  • polycystic kidney disease (PKD). Scottish Folds are more at risk of this inherited kidney disease which causes cysts (fluid filled sacs) to form in the kidney. Over time the cysts expand and normal kidney tissue is lost, resulting in kidney disease. Testing is available to identify the abnormal gene which can cause this condition
  • brachycephalic airway obstruction syndrome (BAOS). Some Scottish Folds are classed as brachycephalic, which means they have shorter noses which can lead to severe breathing problems. Brachycephalic cats are also more likely to have dental problems as well as issues with their eyes, such as ulcers
  • from a behaviour perspective, they might have problems using their ears to communicate with other cats
Recognising the signs of pain in cats

Scottish Fold characteristics

Scottish Folds are often thought to have ‘calm’ and ‘laid back’ personalities and are praised for their mild temperament. Sadly, these behaviours may actually be caused by the pain they are experiencing, and a reluctance to move, jump and play.

grey-and-white Scottish Fold cat with folded ears lying on their side

Are Scottish Fold cats banned?

The commercial breeding of cats in Scotland is licensed, and breeding Scottish Fold cats likely breaches conditions for licensed breeders. This is because the mutation that gives them their folded ears causes a disease which leads to severe pain, even though they may hide it well from their owners.  

In the rest of the UK, Scottish Folds are not recognised by the Governing Council of the Cat Fancy (GCCF) for pedigree registration due to these welfare concerns. While the breeding of Scottish Folds is not banned in the rest of the UK, we are campaigning to educate people about the breed and are calling for the breeding of these cats to be banned.  

Many people are unaware of the extent of the health and welfare issues associated with these cats before they purchase a kitten. It’s important to raise awareness about extreme traits in cats so that we do not contribute to the harmful breeding of cats, cats do not have to have a poor quality of life, and owners do not have to deal with the pain and anguish suffered by a beloved pet. 

Sign our petition to end unethical cat breeding

Caring for a Scottish Fold cat

If you currently have a Scottish Fold cat, it’s very important to keep an eye on their health.  

  • Take them to regular vet checks, even if you think they don’t need it 
  • Consider pain relief trials, which involve putting your cat on pain relief medication to see if they become more active 
  • Make sure they are neutered so their genetic mutation is not passed to more cats 
  • Ensure you understand your cat’s body language. Cats are notorious for hiding when they’re in pain 
  • Check their ears regularly for debris, odour, irritation, or signs of infection. If needed, gently clean the ears with a vet-approved solution 
  • Regularly brush them to prevent matting and hairballs 
  • Seek advice from your vet about a specialist diet or any supplements that might help their joints 
  • Make environmental adjustments around the house so they can still access high places. Ramps, cat walks and cat trees will help them perform natural cat behaviours 

Do Scottish Fold cats make good pets?

All Scottish Fold cats are affected by osteochondrodysplasia. This disorder cannot be bred out of the breed, and so we would not recommend getting a Scottish Fold. Scottish Fold cats can often be in a lot of pain, which prevents them from doing a lot of normal cat things like playing and jumping. This has a big impact on their welfare. They are also more expensive to care for and insure than moggies or other breeds with fewer health concerns. 

If you’re looking for a cat with a particular temperament, check your local Cats Protection as we have plenty of wonderful cats looking for homes. Our rehoming teams will do their very best to find the perfect cat to match your family and lifestyle. 

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