Health & ethics
The science and care behind every Highland Folds kitten.
Scottish Folds deserve breeders who understand them. Here is exactly how we screen, breed, and care for our cats — with nothing hidden.
Health screening program
What every kitten and parent goes through.
Veterinary examinations
Full pediatric exams at 8 and 12 weeks. Annual screenings for breeding cats including cardiac auscultation and bloodwork.
Genetic testing
PKD, HCM markers, and breed-relevant panels through Wisdom Panel and Optimal Selection Feline.
Vaccinations
FVRCP series following AAFP guidelines. Rabies administered after the kitten leaves us, per state law.
Parasite prevention
Routine deworming on the AAFP pediatric schedule and external parasite prevention as needed.
Routine monitoring
Daily weight tracking for kittens, behavior journaling, and full medical records handed to every adopter.
Scottish Fold health considerations
Honest education about the breed.
The folded ear in Scottish Folds is caused by a heritable cartilage condition. When two folded cats are bred together, kittens are at higher risk of severe osteochondrodysplasia (OCD). For this reason — and as a hard ethical line — we only ever pair a fold-eared cat with a straight-eared cat.
This significantly reduces the risk of skeletal disease while preserving the breed's gentle temperament and beloved appearance. We also screen all breeding cats for cardiac and renal conditions, and we maintain lifetime tracking on every kitten to detect any health trends in our lines.
We are happy to discuss the genetics of the breed in depth with anyone considering a Scottish Fold. If a breeder isn't willing to have that conversation, that is a serious warning sign.
Veterinary partnership
Working with feline specialists.
All of our cats are seen at Glen Veterinary Specialists, a feline-focused practice led by Dr. Amelia Reed, DVM, who reviews every breeding decision and pediatric examination. Reference letters available upon request from serious adopters.
Documentation
Every kitten goes home with paperwork.
- Veterinary health certificate
- Complete vaccination records
- Microchip registration
- Genetic test reports for parents
- Pedigree (TICA)
- Written health guarantee & adoption contract