Foldex

It was born in Quebec, Canada, from crossing Scottish Folds with Exotic Shorthairs. The breeder Betty-Ann Yaxley first presented it in 1995 and Jeanne Barrette later promoted it. The Canadian CCA accepted it as an experimental breed in November 1998, as a new breed in 2006 and granted championship status in 2010. It has the round face and compact body of the Exotic, and only about half of Foldex kittens are born with folded ears. It needs saying plainly: the folded-ear gene affects bone and cartilage throughout the body, which is why FIFe and the GCCF do not recognise fold-eared breeds and several countries and regions ban breeding them: Germany (2005), the Netherlands (2014), Scotland (2018), Austria and the Australian state of Victoria (2020) and Flanders (2021). In character it is calm, sweet and very affectionate.

The shorthair is brushed once or twice a week; the semi-longhair, two or three times. Clean the ears carefully, because the fold traps wax. Clean the tear ducts if it has a flat face. Watch how it moves: if it struggles to jump, limps, walks stiffly or will not let you touch its tail, see your vet, as these can be signs of joint pain.

All fold-eared cats have osteochondrodysplasia, a cartilage disorder that can cause early arthritis and pain, especially in the legs and tail; with two copies of the gene it is severe. From the Exotic it inherits the risk of polycystic kidney disease (PKD, DNA test available) and, in the flatter-faced lines, breathing problems and watery eyes. Many vets advise against breeding it; if you like its look, an Exotic has the same temperament without the ear problem.