The Best Cat Food for Scottish Folds & Their Eating Habbits

Scottish Folds are difficult to breed and as a result are quite rare, so owners of this cat breed are often especially keen to know about the best cat food for Scottish Folds to ensure that they stay happy, healthy, and have a high quality of life.

Quick Look at The 4 Best Cat Foods for Scottish Folds​

A Unique Breed

Anyone who has known a Scottish Fold is familiar with their sweet demeanor and affectionate personality. They are loyal, quick to bond with their owners, laid back and easy to get along with.

Their charming character is probably the main reason they are one of the most sought after cats in the world, but their unique, unmistakable appearance certainly doesn’t hurt their popularity with many cat lovers either. All modern day Scottish Folds trace their lineage back to a single ancestor in Perthshire, Scotland, a white barn cat by the name of Suzie. As a result, there is remarkable consistency not only in the behavior and appearance of Suzie’s descendants, but also in their needs and preferences.

The gentle nature of Scottish Folds has endeared them in the hearts of countless people, but it has a flip side that Scottish Fold owners should be aware of. Their gentle and sweet nature also mean that they are often less active than other cats, so owners have to take care of overfeeding, because they can be more prone to becoming overweight than other breeds. If they do end up getting overweight, it can be quite difficult for them to get back to a healthy weight.

As the saying goes, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, so it is important to prevent excessive weight gain with a combination of exercise and a healthy, balanced diet.

How to Feed Scottish Folds

Here are the important things you will need to know when it comes time to provide nutrition for your Scottish Fold.

Scottish Folds Need Protein

The best cat food for Scottish Folds will consist primarily of meat. Like their wildcat ancestors, they are very much hunters, and their physiology is adapted to this fact. Their natural diet would include raw meat. Beef, mutton, turkey, chicken, and of course fish, are all excellent choices.

It’s not only better for their nutritional needs to give them raw meat, it’s also safer- giving cats cooked bones can carry a small risk of choking, as bones are more likely to splinter once cooked.

Meat is the best base for the Scottish Folds diet, for many reasons, but in particular because they require a lot of protein and fat in their diet. As is the case with more laid back cats like Scottish Folds, they require a diet lighter in carbohydrates than a more active breed.

Try and avoid the urge to feed them human food like bread or cereal, or foods with a high percentage of high carbohydrate grains like rice, wheat, corn, or barley. Not only can a high carbohydrate diet lead to Scottish Folds becoming overweight or obese- it can even put them at risk for feline diabetes.

What do Scottish Fold Kittens Eat? What do they need as they get older?

Ideally, Scottish fold kittens should stay with the mother and eat primarily cat milk until they are at least 4 to 8 weeks old. By 10 weeks, they should be entirely on a meat based food, preferably wet. With their small stomachs, at this age they will need to eat more frequent meals- 4 times per day.

Kittens are growing fast, so they require more food by weight than adults. The amount can vary based on the type of food, so it is best to get a kitten formula and follow the guidelines listed on the label. Male kittens have higher body weight than females, so may require more food.

As a general guideline, a young kitten might need 1 to 2 ounces (28 to 46 g) of food per day, with this amount gradually increasing up to 4 to 6 ounces (115 to 170g) at adulthood. Treats should not exceed more than 10% of the diet.

Senior cats (older than 7 years) are usually less active and may require slightly less food than adults. Seniors are more likely to need supplements, but it is generally better not to give supplements to kittens unless your vet tells you otherwise.

Scottish fold eating habits are variable, so it’s best to pay attention and adjust the amount of food if you see weight gain happening, and if in doubt you can always ask your vet.

Avoid Giving Scottish Folds Only Dry Food!

For whatever reasons, recent studies have linked exclusively dry food diets to a whole host of health problems in pets.

Most dry foods have high carbohydrate content, which is one reason why wet food is preferred. Aside from this, dry food is more difficult to digest. If you feel it is too expensive to feed your Scottish Fold exclusively wet food, you could always consider making your own food from scratch if you have the time. It’s better though to invest in quality food and have a happy, healthy cat, than to buy cheap food and end up with big vet bills later on.

Of course, a wet food diet is more expensive and less convenient than dry food, but if you feed your Scottish Fold dry food, it is best to mix it with wet food if possible or at least moisten it with water.

Top 4 Recommended Foods for Scottish Folds

Best Wet Foods

Wet food should be your first choice if budget is no factor. Let's take a closer look at the 2 best west food choices for Scottish Folds.

I and Love and You

A meat based, grain free cat food with no artificial preservatives, “I and Love and You” cat food contains natural sources of vitamins and minerals. Cranberries and sweet potato are also included in the recipe, both great sources of antioxidants, which are important for optimal immune system health. Also included are flax seed and carrots, which provide dietary fiber to promote healthy digestion.

Some cat owners notice that their cats react to food with carrageennan, a seaweed based thickener that according to some studies is linked to cancer and digestive issues in cats. This is used in many brands of cat food to add texture, and “I and Love and You” is carageenan free.

Fancy Feast Grain Free

Cat’s seem to love Fancy Feast food, and these grain-free, high protein 2 ounce pouches may be a better option for house cats that like to spend most of their time relaxing, or for cats that seem to be gaining weight with larger portion sizes.

Best Dry Food

As mentioned earlier, if you can try and stick to mostly wet foods. However, if you must go with dry food, or are planning to mix the two together then check out these two options.

Taste of the Wild

Taste of the Wild is a meat based food that includes other healthy stuff like peas, smoked salmon, raspberries, and venison. It also includes probiotics which can help optimize digestion, and is free from artificial additives. This may be the best dry food for Scottish Fold for the price.

Purina MUSE

Purina Muse is a popular option that contains no grain, no artificial additives, and is made with a high protein formula. It comes in two flavors, Chicken, and Salmon, and also includes pumpkin and spinach to add dietary fiber, vitamins and minerals. Like all of the options listed here, it also contains a range of added vitamins and minerals.

Genetic Issues Particular to Scottish Folds

Controlling portion size, freshness and protein content is important, but there are also other considerations particular to Scottish Folds.

For example, for genetic reasons Scottish Folds can be more prone to arthritis than other cats, so they can benefit from some supplements like glucosamine or chondroitin. Joint issues are yet another reason to take care not to let them get overweight- carrying around that extra weight puts additional pressure on their joints.

In some cases Scottish Folds can suffer from other degenerative diseases. Turmeric has been shown to be effective in protecting against some of these conditions, including arthritis. Simply mix ¼ teaspoon with water and add to food, although you may want to check with a vet first before using turmeric as a supplement. Turmeric can have some reactions with other medications your cat may be taking. You can also try this supplement:

Nature’s Pure Edge - Hip & Joint

Nature’s Pure Edge produces a supplement for pets that combines glucosamine, chondroitin, and turmeric, as well as other ingredients that support joint health.

Customizing Diet For Individual Needs

Keep in mind, however, the individual qualities of your cat. While there are a lot of commonalities between Scottish Folds, each Scottish Fold is unique, and depending on their lifestyle, they may have different needs in order to optimize their diet. Although most Scottish Folds are happy to accept a quiet, indoor life, many like to roam outside and hunt like their barn cat forebears.

Again, an important general guideline is to make sure that all food you give your Scottish Fold is as fresh as possible, but if you keep your food in the refrigerator you may find your Scottish Fold prefers to have the food warmed up, or at least left out to adjust to room temperature before giving it to them. Warm, but not hot, food is both more enjoyable and easier to digest than cold food.

You don’t want to spoil your Scottish Fold- they are just like humans, and if they get used to eating junk food they might not want the healthy stuff anymore! The best cat food for Scottish Folds may not necessarily be the tastiest to them.

There are no hard and fast rules. Pay attention to your cat, and if you get the feeling something is wrong, don’t hesitate to ask your vet. With awareness, sensitivity, and lots of love, you can help make sure that your Scottish Fold will be healthy.