Musculoskeletal conditions

Osteochondrodysplasia (*)

The Scottish Fold has a mutation that affects its cartilage, most obviously making the ear cartilage fold so the ears bend forward and down towards the front of its head. The mutation results from a simple dominant gene. If one parent provides the gene for straight ears, and one parent provides the gene for folded ears, the kittens will be Folds. Unfortunately, all Fold cats suffer from variable degrees of painful degenerative joint disease, which results in fusing of the tail, ankles and knees, and can be seen clinically as lameness, reluctance to jump, a stiff stilted gait, short misshapen distal limbs, swelling of plantar tarsometatarsal regions and short thick inflexible tails. While kittens with only one Fold parent have a milder form of the condition, kittens with two Fold parents are severely affected. This is the reason that the breed is not accepted by the Governing Council of the Cat Fancy (in UK) and the Fédération Internationale Féline.

Mathews KG et al Journal of the Americal Animal Hospital Association 31, 280
Hubler, M et al (2004) Palliative irradiation of Scottish Fold osteochondrodysplasia.,Vet Radiol Ultrasound 45:582-5
Malik, R et al (1999) Osteochondrodysplasia in Scottish Fold cats, Australian Veterinary Journal 77:85-92

Urological conditions

Lower urinary tract problems e.g. bladder stones – see general section click here...

Cardiovascular Conditions

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM)

An increased incidence of HCM has been reported in the Scottish Fold. This may be due to an inherited gene defect.  However, to date such defects have not been identified in this breed. 

See Screening scheme info on www.fabcats.org/hcm
Kittleson MD Feline Myocardial Disease, Textbook of Veterinary Internal Medicine. Editor:  Ettinger S.J, Feldman S.E., St Louis, Elsevier, 2000, pp 1082-1103