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Wide-toothed comb and gray rubber grooming mitten lying on a folded cream towel on the seat of a green velvet armchair
October 14, 2026 Aaron

Long-Haired Scottish Fold Care: Coat, Shedding, Joints

Long-haired Scottish Folds are not hypoallergenic, they shed all year, and they need brushing several times a week or daily, depending on which source you read. They can also have a joint condition that comes from the same gene as the folded ears, and that condition shapes how a Fold is cared for and how a kitten is chosen. This guide gives the answer from each registry, welfare charity, vet publisher and study, and shows where they disagree.

For prospective owners drawn to the long-haired Scottish Fold cats, that research matters more than with most breeds. The signature folded ears and plush coat come with specific grooming demands, genuine health considerations, and owner responsibilities that most breed overview pages understate. Whether you are exploring Scottish Fold adoption for the first time or already have a kitten, this guide covers what actually matters.

Read more about the American Pet Products Association's National Pet Owners Survey, 2025.

Are Scottish Fold Cats Hypoallergenic

No. Cats Protection says: “Despite popular belief, hypoallergenic cats don’t exist. All cats produce allergens, no matter their breed, age or sex.” International Cat Care agrees that “All cat breeds produce allergens, but some may produce more than others.”

The trigger is not the coat itself. International Cat Care says “The allergy is not to cat hairs themselves.” The main triggers are proteins in saliva (Fel d 4) and in the skin’s sebaceous glands (Fel d 1). The same charity adds that “many people seem to react more to long-haired cats,” and suggests more allergen may build up on the fur or more hair may be shed around the house. Neither charity names a breed that is safe for a person with a cat allergy.

International Cat Care lists steps that help: keep the cat out of the bedroom and off the bed, vacuum often with a HEPA filter cleaner, and wash your hands after handling the cat. It also says only a doctor can tell whether you are allergic to cats. Read more in hypoallergenic cat breeds and which is your favorite.

Do Scottish Fold Cats Shed

Yes. The Cat Fanciers’ Association (CFA) says: “Scottish Folds shed year-round, with heavier shedding periods during the spring and fall.” The International Cat Association (TICA) describes its Scottish Fold Longhair as having “dense, plush coats” that “lightly shed year round with heavier shedding periods during the spring and fall.” International Cat Care says cats in general usually moult all year round, to varying degrees, so grooming helps remove the loose hair.

How Much Grooming Does A Long-Haired Scottish Fold Need

More than a short-haired Fold, and the sources give different amounts, listed in the table. CFA says the longer coat needs the extra attention to prevent tangles and matting, and TICA says cats with less undercoat may need less.

How often to groom a long-haired Scottish Fold, by source. International Cat Care and Cats Protection write about long-haired cats in general. VCA, TICA and CFA write about the Scottish Fold.
Source What it says
International Cat Care At least daily, for only as long as the cat is comfortable
Cats Protection Daily brushing
VCA Animal Hospitals Three to four times a week
TICA Several times a week for a comb through, and “a weekly combing” on its breed summary
CFA A weekly combing for Folds, with more frequent attention for the longer coat

Tools And Technique

International Cat Care lists a wide-toothed comb and a rubber grooming pad or mitten for long-haired cats. Its method is to comb from head to tail to remove dead hair, with extra care under the “armpits” and between the hind legs, where the skin is thin and knots are common. Mats also form between the toes and pads. Watch for signs the cat has had enough: skin rippling or twitching, tail swishing, or growling and hissing. If you see them, stop and try again another day.

Mats

Both charities warn against scissors. International Cat Care says: “Don’t be tempted to use scissors” because it is extremely difficult to see where the skin ends and the hair starts in a badly matted coat. Severe mats are shaved off by the vet team, which often needs sedation or a general anaesthetic. Cats Protection adds that groomers who cannot sedate a cat are a poor choice for a badly matted coat.

Baths And Ears

Sources disagree on baths. International Cat Care says that if a cat is healthy there is no reason to bathe it, and that most cats do not tolerate it well. TICA says monthly bathing helps remove loose hair and keep the coat clean. Read more about cleaning Scottish Fold ears.

What A Long-Haired Scottish Fold Is

CFA traces the breed to 1961, when a shepherd named William Ross spotted the first Scottish Fold, a white female named Susie. It says the folded ears come from “a dominant gene that is considered a spontaneous mutation.” Kittens are born with straight ears, and CFA says the ears begin to fold at three or four weeks. TICA puts the folds at about three weeks and says about half a litter has folded ears. CFA says the folded ears have no effect on hearing.

The registries name the coat variety in their own way. TICA calls it the Scottish Fold Longhair and says the longhair has the same standard as the shorthair, apart from a coat that is semi-long and stands away from the body. CFA gave longhaired Folds championship status in 1992, when it split the breed into Shorthair and Longhair divisions, and in 2022 it also accepted straight-eared cats, so the breed now has four divisions. The Governing Council of the Cat Fancy (GCCF) in the UK does not recognise the breed at all.

Scottish Fold Joint Disease

The gene that folds the ear also affects cartilage elsewhere. International Cat Care says the mutation “also causes painful joint problems,” leads to severe and painful arthritis, and that how severe it is “will vary between one cat and another.” It lists these signs: reluctance to move, stiff walking, limping, difficulty jumping up or down from furniture, and short, misshapen limbs. A cat in pain may also hide, eat less, groom less, or have accidents outside the litter tray.

The Merck Veterinary Manual links the condition mainly to a mutation in the TRPV4 gene and says: “The prognosis is generally poor, due to the progressive nature of the disease.” Cats Protection says signs can show on x-rays in kittens as young as seven weeks and that limping can start at four to six months. It also warns that even cats bred from Scottish Folds without folded ears “are still at risk of earlier-onset and faster-progressing arthritis.” The GCCF breeding policy says cats with one or two copies of the Fd gene “can suffer from clinical disease.”

What The Studies Found

Researchers have described the gene change and tested how far it reaches. In 2016, in Osteoarthritis and Cartilage, Gandolfi and colleagues studied 44 Scottish Fold cats, linked the folded ear and the bone and joint disease to a TRPV4 change, and did not find the change in 648 unaffected cats.

Later papers describe milder findings in the small groups they looked at. In 2021, Rorden and colleagues in Human Genetics examined 22 Scottish Fold cats. All ten folded-ear cats carried one copy of the variant, and their images showed “much milder radiological signs than previously published.” In 2023, Sartore and colleagues in the Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery followed 12 Scottish Fold and 5 Scottish Straight cats in Italy. Only one of the 12 showed clinical signs, and none in the 1.5-year follow-up showed skeletal changes. Also in 2023, Velie and colleagues in BMC Veterinary Research went through Australian clinic records from 1992 to 2018. A clinical diagnosis was made in 12 of 1,131 Scottish Fold cats, usually under 30 months of age, and another 64 Scottish Fold cats were recorded as suspected cases. The authors wrote that further evidence is required to judge how much the condition matters across the population.

Put side by side, the charities and the Merck manual describe a serious, progressive disease, and International Cat Care adds that some cats show no signs of pain. The three studies describe a mild or uncommon one in the cats they sampled. A Fold of any age that limps, jumps less or sits stiffly is worth a vet visit.

Tail And Ears

CFA says tail flexibility should be checked gently and often, because stiffness can be an early sign of other health problems. TICA tells parents to take a Fold to the vet right away if the cat seems stiff or hurts when the tail is moved, and says Folds should also be checked for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and polycystic kidney disease.

On ear disease the sources split. TICA says the ears do not make a Fold more prone to ear infections than other breeds. Cats Protection lists an increased risk of ear disease and advises checking the ears regularly for debris, odour, irritation or signs of infection.

Home Care For A Fold With Sore Joints

International Cat Care says there is no treatment for the disease itself, but a vet can manage the cat’s pain with medication and suggest changes at home. Its list: comfortable beds in low-level spots or with steps up to them, raised food and water bowls, a litter tray with low sides, and ramps to favourite sleeping spots, with rugs on slippery floors. Cats Protection adds regular vet checks, pain relief trials, and a question for the vet about a specialist diet or joint supplements. Ramps, cat walks and cat trees also let the cat climb and perch.

Weight

VCA Animal Hospitals says Scottish Folds are prone to being overweight, so measure food portions and control calories. TICA also says to take care to prevent a Fold from becoming overweight.

Choosing A Kitten

CFA says responsible breeders only pair fold-eared cats with straight-eared cats to reduce arthritic and bone conditions, and that DNA testing is of paramount importance to confirm each pairing. It says a well-bred Fold has a flexible tail and no problems with its gait. International Cat Care takes a firmer view: it believes it is unethical to keep breeding cats with a mutation known to cause significant painful disease, and it has joined the British Veterinary Association to raise awareness.

The GCCF welfare page says “There is no intention to recognise this breed” and that “we strongly advise members of the public not to try to acquire cats of this breed.” Cats Protection recommends a cat without folded ears instead, and says it would not recommend getting a Scottish Fold. Read the sources side by side before deciding, ask any breeder what testing and vet records exist for both parents, and plan for the care above.

CFA says Folds do not do well left alone for long periods, so plan for company. For supplies, see new kitten checklist: 10 must-haves and other essentials, which includes grooming tools. Read more from the Universities Federation for Animal Welfare (UFAW) on this condition.

Long-Haired Scottish Fold FAQ

Do all long-haired Scottish Folds have folded ears?

No. Kittens are born with straight ears, and CFA says the breed standard allows cats shown folded or straight, long-haired or short-haired. TICA says about half a litter has folded ears.

Can a straight-eared Scottish Fold still get arthritis?

Yes. Cats Protection warns that cats bred from Scottish Folds can develop arthritis sooner, and see it worsen faster, even when their ears stand straight.

Does the fold affect a cat’s hearing?

No. CFA says the folded ears have no effect on the cat’s hearing.

Can a long-haired Scottish Fold stay home alone?

It depends on the hours. CFA says Folds do not do well when left alone for long periods, and VCA says the breed does not enjoy being home alone.

Sources

Filed in: cat grooming, cat health, cats, long-haired cats, Scottish Fold
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