Scottish fold vs American Curl Cats – Differences and Similarities

Everything you need to know about Scottish fold and American curl breeds

You probably can differentiate the American Curl from the Scottish Fold cats because of their different and unusual ear shapes caused by mutations, but have you have wondered what are all the differences

between them? I know I did. That’s why in this article I’m going to present to you some of the major differences between those two.

Differences in health

In terms of health, I will talk about some of the specific diseases for these types of cats. The American Curl breed doesn’t have any known specific genetic health condition that might affect them. On the other hand, the cats from the Scottish Fold breed can develop a disease called Osteochondrodysplasia, usually named by the vets OCD.

This is an abnormality that affects cartilage and bone development throughout the body. It can cause a lot of pain or even paralysis for the kitties. That is why the Fold cats with straight ears are so useful for reproduction. Scottish folds are also susceptible to polycystic kidney disease (PKD) and cardiomyopathy. [Wikipedia]

Differences in personality

From this point of view, both of these breeds have a lot in common. The Scottish fold and the American curl love both humans and even other animals. Funny fact, they usually get along with dogs as well. The Scottish fold breed can be really entertaining to watch because sometimes they like to fool around and stand in really interesting positions. They also like to follow their humans around the house, and even bring them some of their toys. This means that they are in the mood for some playing.

The American curl breed has some funny behavior as well.  Although they are considered very intelligent cats, they usually keep acting like little kitties even when they grow up. Like the Scottish fold breed, they also love company from any kind of animal or kid. They will be near you each time they see you do something interesting for them.

Differences in appearance

When it comes to appearance, they both are really easy to differentiate because of their standard aspect features. The Scottish fold cats have a round head, big eyes, and special ears. They are rolled forward, that is why cats from this breed look like very cute owls with fur. They can have a variety of colors and patterns on their fur, but the most appreciated by the people are the grey ones.

The most intriguing characteristic of an American curl cat is also the ears. They are curled back, although they are not born like that. At birth, the cats have straight ears, but after 3-4 days they start to curl back. The final form will be achieved only after 4 months. Their fur is silky, can be short or long and any color including some very extravagant ones.

Difference in size

In terms of size, they are hard to differentiate. The American Curl is a medium-sized cat that weights between 2.3 and 4.5 kg and does not reach maturity until 2 or 3 years of age. Optimal weight for females is between 2.3 and 3.6 kg and between 3.2 and 4.5 kg for males.

Another medium-sized breed is the Scottish Fold cat. The males usually reach 4 to 6 kg, though female can’t reach more than 4kg.

Can you breed a Scottish Fold with an American Curl?

Short answer: You can, but please DON’T!

Doing some research and some common sense, I strongly suggest you don’t do it. I can’t clearly see which direction can the mix go as both cats have some abnormal ear form. Moreover, I see no point in doing this. What you need to know is that the Scottish Fold breed carries a bad gene which causes Osteochondrodysplasia in some cats.

From what I know, Scottish Fold should be breed only with British Shorthair cats in order to be safe. Doing a mix like this is not safe. You can’t predict what genes and mutations can happen.

Anyway, without proper knowledge of breeding techniques and genetics, I don’t suggest trying any breeding at all. The results can be pretty sad. Always ask for professional advice from a professional breeder before trying something like this.

Conclusion

Overall, they are very loyal and unique cats, that will return a lot of love if you treat them well. I can’t tell you which one is more cute and fluffy because it all comes down to preferences. Which one do you prefer and why? Are you willing to give up your own cat for one of those breeds?