The Scottish Fold Straight should not exist. It only exists as a by-product of the need to avoid creating horribly unhealthy Scottish Fold cats which have both copies (Fd/Fd) of the gene (Fd) which causes the ear flaps to fold down because of weak cartilage.
You’ve probably heard of the Scottish Fold purebred cat. Taylor Swift helped to make the breed famous as she adopted one. She has an enormous Instagram following and some of the pictures feature her Scottish Fold, Olivia Benson. You may also have heard of the Scottish Fold Straight cat breed. If not, it deserves to be discussed because the reason for its existence is the same reason why the Scottish Fold (‘Fold’) should NOT exist. There is a nice symmetry to that statement.
It’s all to do with genetics which can be mind-bogglingly confusing. But I believe I have a handle on this and can explain this in straightforward terms.
The Fold’s flat ears are due to a defect in the cartilage. A dominant genetic mutation (Fd) causes the ear cartilage to be weak and the ears to fold. The cartilage in other parts of the cat’s body can also be affected causing severe health issues.
The breeders have to breed from what is called ‘heterozygous’ cats (those with one copy of this genetic mutation – Fd/fd) mated with straight eared cats to create the following mix of kittens: 50% chance of straight eared cats, 50% chance of heterozygous Folds. This is to avoid homozygous cats (Fd/Fd) which can be very ill with cartilage defects in other parts of the body to the ears.
In short, the breeders have to create Fold litters which are half folded ears and half straight ears in order to avoid creating very unhealthy cats i.e. homozygous Folds.
It is a necessity. Straight eared Folds are a by-product of a failed concept and breeding program. The Fold should not have been created and accepted by the cat associations in the first place because it is very difficult to create healthy Folds. The only acceptable way is to constantly outcross as I see it to avoid a Fold having both copies of this genetic mutation which is so damaging to the health of the cat.
As I understand it homozygous Folds suffer from bone abnormalities and crippling lameness. But even the ‘healthy’ heterozygous Folds can have serious cartilage health problems.
There is only one conclusion. The cat associations should bite the bullet and accept that they made a mistake in accepting the breed and discontinue acceptance and registration to let the breed fade away and disappear from the cat fancy.
The breed is banned in Belgium and Germany I believe where they call it ‘torture breeding’. One last point: the Scottish Fold Straight looks like a moggie to me. Because the ears are normal the distinguishing characteristic of the breed is removed leaving us with a ‘normal cat’ despite being purebred. It is a pointless breed.
