Should you’ve noticed a cat with a particular trait earlier than, you might need puzzled what number of different breeds share it. Folded ears are some of the recognizable uncommon traits present in trendy cat breeds, and superstar endorsements of some folded-ear breeds have made them extra widespread nonetheless.
Regardless of the recognition of folded ears, solely 5 breeds characteristic them! Regardless of how they appear, folded ears can include a number of issues. On this article, we’ll take a more in-depth take a look at the 5 breeds with folded ears and uncover what it means for the well being of the cats.
The 5 Cat Breeds With Folded Ears
1. Scottish Fold
| Common Weight: | As much as 13lbs |
| Lifespan: | 11-15 years |
Scottish Folds are amongst among the most recognizable breeds on the planet because of their signature ear folds, rounded faces, and big eyes. The Scottish Fold originated in Scotland in 1961 when a barn cat named Susie gave beginning to a litter of kittens who developed the identical folded ears as their mom.
Celebrities have fallen head over heels for these owl-like cats, with stars like Taylor Swift and Ed Sheeran proudly owning one (if no more!). Scottish Folds are available many colours and patterns, together with blue, grey, lilac, and tortoiseshell.
2. Scottish Kilt (Scottish Fold Munchkin Cat)
| Common Weight: | 4–9lbs |
| Lifespan: | 11-15 years |
The Scottish Kilt is a comparatively new crossbreed created by merging two distinctive breeds of cat: the Scottish Fold and the Munchkin. Munchkin cats are recognized for his or her quick, bent legs; the stocky limbs give the cat a “sausage-dog” look.
The Scottish Kilt combines the folded ears of the Scottish Fold with the shortened legs of the Munchkin to create a singular feline. Nonetheless, as a result of the 2 traits contain mutations to the bone and cartilage, the Scottish Kilt usually suffers from debilitating and painful musculoskeletal circumstances.
3. Longhaired Scottish Fold
| Common Weight: | As much as 13lbs |
| Lifespan: | 11-15 years |
The Longhaired Scottish Fold is classed as a separate breed of the Scottish Fold, regardless of being the identical besides for his or her lengthy hair! Longhaired Scottish Folds have fluffy furnishings and bushy tails. These lovely cats have been created when the gene for lengthy hair was expressed in a litter of short-haired Scottish Fold kittens, ensuing within the semi-longhair variant.
The Longhaired Scottish Fold shares all of the temperament traits as their short-haired siblings do, however they’ve fluffy ruffs round their necks and silky britches adorning their hind legs, making them a extremely fascinating breed!
4. Foldex
| Common Weight: | 6–14lbs |
| Lifespan: | 12–15 years |
The Foldex is a brand new breed of folded-ear cat developed in 1993. As a cross between the flat-muzzled Persian and the folded-eared Scottish Fold, Foldex cats have been bred to look as very similar to teddy bears as potential!
Betty-Ann Yaxley first introduced the breed in a Canadian cat present and gained a lot consideration that the Canadian Cat Affiliation accepted the breed into its ranks. They have been accepted within the experimental class of breeds in November 1998 and as a brand new breed in 2006. The Foldex rapidly gained reputation as a fairly cat with a muzzle that’s not too quick.
5. Ukrainian Levkoy
| Common Weight: | 8–12lbs |
| Lifespan: | 12–15 years |
The distinctive Ukrainian Levkoy is a hairless cat created within the 2000s by Elena Biriukova of Ukraine by breeding the hairless Donskoy with the folded-eared Scottish Fold. These lovely cats are usually solely coated in a really quick, downy “peach fuzz” that reveals off their wrinkled our bodies and lengthy faces, although some could be born with longer fur.
They share the identical folded ears because the Scottish Fold, however that, sadly, implies that the Ukrainian Levkoy usually suffers from debilitating well being issues.
What Causes Folded Ears in Cats?
The folded ears are brought on by a genetic mutation. This mutation impacts the bone and cartilage across the physique, together with the cartilage forming the ear pinna (the outer ear that’s seen in cats). This causes the attribute crumpling and folding of the outer ears, ensuing within the rounded look folks appear to adore.
The gene in query is called the Transient Receptor Potential Vanilloid member of the family 4 gene (TRPV4), which causes the folded ears and an entire host of different well being issues, too.
Do Cats With Folded Ears Have Well being Issues?
Sadly, all cats with folded ears will endure from a illness often known as osteochondrodysplasia (additionally generally often known as Scottish Fold Illness) to various levels. Osteochondrodysplasia is a situation brought on by a change within the TRPV4 gene, which causes the malformation and degradation of the cartilage all through the physique.
This ends in arthritis, ache, and a diminished high quality of life for severely affected felines. It’s unhappy that every one cats, regardless of the breed or pedigree, will endure from this debilitating situation if they’ve folded ears.
This situation can hinder mobility and trigger day by day (typically extreme) ache. Because of this, many veterinary and animal welfare organizations disagree with breeding cats with folded ears.
Are All Folded Ears the Similar?
Folded ears in cats aren’t all the identical! There are various levels of folding, starting from only a tiny quantity to the complete ear virtually flattened to the pinnacle. This may be seen most readily in Scottish Folds, because the breed requirements of many feline fancying teams name for ears folded down tight to the pinnacle “like a cap.”
Kittens born to those breeds don’t have their ears folded at beginning, both! The folding happens naturally over 5 weeks, and never all kittens born to a litter with folded ear mother and father may have folded ears themselves.
Conclusion
Cats with folded ears are among the most recognizable breeds as a consequence of their candy seems and ensuing reputation. The 5 breeds we talked about are bred to have folded ears. Nonetheless, ear folding is brought on by a genetic mutation, and any breed of cat could be born with folded ears in idea.
Regardless of their cute seems, folded ears current a bunch of different well being circumstances, together with osteochondrodysplasia, which causes the folding of the ear pinna within the first place.
Featured Picture Credit score: dien, Shutterstock
