Meet Gimo, The Cat With The Biggest Eyes Ever

Cats that have one copy of the gene are said to be heterozygous. These should display the folded ear characteristic. They may develop arthritis but usually will do so at an older age. There is controversy as to whether these cats have a good quality of life or whether they are prone to pain and disability. These cats with folded ears are bred to cats that do not display the folded ear trait to ensure none of the litter receive two copies of the gene. It is best not to breed a heterozygous Scottish fold with a Scottish fold that had straight ears, but instead to outbreed with a British shorthair. The concern is that Scottish folds that have straight ears may still have the gene but not express it.