I'll admit – as a dog person, I don't know much about cats. I grew up always having one or two, but they were never a fancy breed. I remember reading somewhere that cats are an exercise in control, and that pretty much summed up my affinity for dogs. I'm way too needy for a pet's affection to get it only when they want to offer it.

However, there is something magically adorable about some cats. Scrolling through lists like these sometimes has me thinking: "Maybe let's try getting a cat?" After all, who in their right mind wouldn't want to have a real, living plushie they can cuddle, dote on, and put on the Internet to make strangers say "aww" and feel jealous?

What makes Scottish Folds so adorably cute is undoubtedly their big eyes and tiny, folded ears. Professional cat breeder Ginger Pains of the Wunderfolds Scottish Fold Cattery tells Bored Panda that the main characteristic this breed is known for is being round.

"When our cats go to cat shows, the word that is repeated by judges is ROUND! Eyes should be very large and round, head round like a ball, with ears tightly capped to the head. Ears should not be lifted and [look] like airplane wings, but they should fold over onto the curve of the head to form a perfect ball shape."

"Even the paws and chubby belly should be round!" Pains goes on. "The body of a Scottish cat should be a medium and padded build. We like to call them Squishy! The expression should be very open and sweet." Also, their coats are usually very dense and can be either short- or long-haired. Sounds like the perfect recipe for cute!

It's not just the Internet that's crazy for Scottish Folds. Pet buyers all around the world are clamoring to get one of their own big-eyed beauties. "Of course, what makes them irresistible to pet buyers is they are absolutely cute and adorable," Ginger Pains says. "The sweet look of a Scottish Fold is normally the first thing people will fall in love with, but they also have amazing temperaments."

The owner of the Wunderfolds Scottish Fold Cattery tells us that these cats are very calm and quiet. "They also love to be around their owners," Ginger adds. "You don't need to worry that they are the type to be wild around the house climbing curtains, as they are a lazy and chill breed. They can be trained to leash walk, and we have some that have learned to ring bells for treats or use a human toilet, so they are smart and trainable."

The Wunderfolds Scottish Fold Cattery takes breeding very responsibly. They do their very best to ensure their cats have the best looks, temperament, and, most importantly, health. Their kittens come from breed-winning lines. In fact, in the 2023-2024 season, their Scottish Fold long-hair kitten, Wunderfolds Cake, was TICA's best Scottish Fold kitten of the year.

However, the cattery runs into some challenges to make sure their kittens and cats are up to the highest standards. "A big challenge we have is finding suitable cats for breeding," Ginger Pains tells us. "Scottish Folds are one of the toughest breeds to work with. Many breeders have cats with ears not folded tight [and] small eyes, and the biggest issue of all to threaten [the] health of a Scottish Fold is cartilage issues."

What Scottish Fold cat breeders most often have trouble with is the cat's tail. "We have to be sure the tail is absolutely flexible, or it is not suitable for breeding. Many breeders cannot recognize a tail fault, and we've seen many cats disqualified at cat shows for this issue, and yet, [we] see the breeders still having litters with them."

"If you are looking for a Scottish Fold breeder, it's important to make sure the Fold parent has been handled at a cat show and is highly titled (QGC or better with TICA) to prove the cat is of sound structure," the owner of Wunderfolds tells Bored Panda.

Wunderfolds takes the health of their cats very seriously. "We do a lot of other testing, such as HCM scans to check for heart disease, which is a very costly yearly exam, on top of genetic panels and routine PCR tests to check for other illnesses."

"We recommend only working with breeders who do HCM scans and have titled cats, and [we] always ask for PROOF of these things because many unscrupulous breeders say they do these things, knowing most people do not ask for the documentation to verify."

When someone adopts their kittens, Wunderfolds do their best to prepare the new owners. "We send home a giant email that includes answers to all the questions anyone has had in our 10 years of breeding," Ginger Pains says.

"It includes feeding information, litter used, toy and cat furniture recommendations, health information, and much more. People normally don't have any questions once they have read our preparation email, but if they do, I'm always available, just a few clicks away and happy to help at any time!"