Orange Scottish Fold: Pictures, Facts, Origin, & History
By Jessica Kim
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While orange Scottish Folds are known for their uniquely shaped ears, there’s more to these cats than just their adorable appearance. They have sweet and patient personalities and make loving pets that often love human companionship.
Breed Overview
| Height: | 8–10 inches |
| Weight: | 6–13 pounds |
| Lifespan: | 11–15 years |
| Colors: | White, black, blue, red, and cream |
| Suitable for: | Families with children and other pets, single pet owners, people who work from home |
| Temperament: | Sweet, patient, loving, calm, easy to train, intelligent |
Orange Scottish Folds are registered with the Cat Fanciers’ Association1 (CFA), but they’re still a pretty rare sight to see. Here’s what we know so far about this wonderful cat breed.
Orange Scottish Fold Characteristics
The Earliest Records of Orange Scottish Folds in History
The first Scottish Fold was discovered unintentionally in 1961 by a shepherd named William Ross. The cat was found at a farm located in the Tayside Region of Scotland. It happened to be pregnant and gave birth to a litter of kittens. Ross took care of one of the kittens and began to develop the breed into what it is today.
The cat’s ears were unique because they folded downward and forward, which had never been seen before. The fold was caused by a gene mutation, and Ross worked to breed more litters with the folded ear gene mutation.
It’s unclear when the orange Scottish Fold first appeared. It’s not the most common coat color found in cats, but it’s not the rarest either. The orange coat gene is sex-linked, and most orange cats are male. So, you’re more likely to find male orange Scottish Folds than female ones.
How Orange Scottish Folds Gained Popularity
The orange Scottish Fold’s unique appearance quickly attracted the attention of cat lovers everywhere. Despite the creation of more breeding programs, Scottish Folds are still relatively rare because not all cats with the gene mutation will develop the folded ear, and the mutation is random.
So, the demand for Scottish Folds is high, but it’s challenging to produce litters with kittens with folded ears consistently. This only makes the breed more popular and sought after as pets and show cats.
Along with the challenges with breeding Scottish Folds, this cat breed is also known to have friendly and social personalities. They’re not known to be demanding or fussy, and their easy going temperament makes them desirable pets for many people.
Formal Recognition of Orange Scottish Folds
The Scottish Fold received recognition from the CFA in 1973 and was given championship status just a few years later in 1978.
The first orange Scottish Folds had short hair, and long-haired versions started appearing as breeding programs expanded. The long-haired Scottish Fold received recognition from the CFA in the mid-1980s. Its name varies depending on the cat association. Some associations call the long-haired Scottish Fold the Highland Fold, Scottish Fold Longhair, or Longhair Fold. Some Canadian breeders call them Couparis.
Top 4 Unique Facts About Orange Scottish Folds
1. Orange Scottish Folds Aren’t Born with Folded Ears.
All orange Scottish Fold kittens are born with straight ears. Their ears don’t start to curl until they’re about 3 to 4 weeks old. Some orange Scottish Folds will have folded ears, while others will keep their straight ears. Orange Scottish Folds with straight ears can still be included in breeding programs and produce kittens with folded ears.
2. Orange Scottish Folds All Have One Common Ancestor.
The first Scottish Fold that was discovered by William Ross was named Susie. She was a barnyard cat with the folded ear gene mutation, and Ross raised a kitten from her litter to produce more Scottish Folds.
3. Orange Scottish Folds Are Never Bred Together.
Orange Scottish Folds are never bred together due to concerns for health risks. They can be bred with either American Shorthairs or British Shorthairs. Orange Scottish Folds still maintain a distinct appearance despite being bred with other cat breeds.
4. There Are Three Categories of Ear Folds.
Orange Scottish Folds can have one of three different types of ear folds: single, double, or triple. Cats with a single fold will have ears with just the tips folded over. The double fold refers to ears that fold from the halfway point of the ear. Cats with a triple fold have ears that fold forward from their base.
Do Orange Scottish Folds Make Good Pets?
Orange Scottish Folds typically make wonderful pets. When bred ethically by responsible breeders, these cats can live healthy and happy lives. They’re suitable for first-time cat owners and can do well with families with young children and other pets.
Orange cats may also have friendlier and more affectionate personalities. So, orange Scottish Folds may be even more docile, gentle, and devoted companions than other types of Scottish Folds.
Since orange Scottish Folds value human companionship, they don’t do well being home alone for long hours. They would much prefer living with people who work from home or in families where at least one person is usually home.
Conclusion
Orange Scottish Folds are rare and unique cats. Breeding them is challenging, so it’s difficult to find them. So, if you come across one, consider yourself lucky to be able to meet a very special cat. Since they have such wonderful temperaments, we hope to see more orange Scottish Folds appear as breeders continue to breed and develop these wonderful cats.
Featured Image Credit: hannadarzy, Shutterstock
