Like its name, the Scottish Fold originated in Scotland with a man named William Ross. He initially found a cat named Susie with folded ears on his farm, who then gave birth to kittens with the same mutation. One of Susie’s kittens, Snooks, was adopted by Ross’s neighbor, Pat Turner.

Turner was super interested in Snooks and her folded ears, so much so that he crossed the breed with American and British Shorthairs, creating the origins of the Scottish Fold. The developed breed became a popular cat breed across the world. At the same time, this also caused a buzz about responsible pet breeding and the cat’s health issues. 

As a result, breeders shifted to breeding the cat with straight-eared cats. This helps preserve the Scottish Fold while keeping its most iconic feature. Today, Highland Folds continue to become a favorite of families and owners worldwide.