Ethics Statement

Aurelian Folds operates under a public, written ethical breeding policy. These commitments are non-negotiable and govern every decision we make — which cats to keep, which pairings to plan, how many litters a queen produces in a year, when a cat is retired, and what happens to a kitten across the entirety of its life. We publish this statement in full because families who invite a Scottish Fold into their home deserve to know exactly what the animal's origin story is, and because responsible breeding only exists where it can be openly examined.

The Scottish Fold breed sits at the center of an ongoing welfare conversation. We take that conversation seriously. We do not dismiss critics, and we do not pretend the breed is free of the genetic considerations that come with the Fd cartilage mutation. Instead, we work — every day, in every decision — to make sure that the cats in our care live comfortable, sound, socially rich lives, and that the kittens we place enter households that are prepared to do the same.

Genetic responsibility

  • Fold-to-Straight pairings only. Every planned litter has exactly one parent carrying the Fd gene and one parent with normal ear cartilage. We do not, under any circumstance, pair two folded-ear cats together.
  • Annual orthopedic radiographs and cardiac echocardiograms on every breeding cat, reviewed by board-certified specialists.
  • DNA testing of every breeding cat for PKD1, HCM (Ragdoll and Maine Coon variants where relevant), and genetic blood type through a validated laboratory.
  • Public disclosure of all test results to applicants on request, in the original laboratory report form.
  • Retirement of any breeding cat that shows early orthopedic or cardiac change, regardless of value to the breeding program.

Welfare commitments

  • A maximum of two litters per queen per year, with at least a six-month interval between litters, and a lifetime maximum of five litters per queen.
  • Retirement of every breeding queen and stud by age five, into vetted family homes we have personally chosen — never to a shelter, never to another breeder we do not know, and never abandoned.
  • No sale of kittens to brokers, pet stores, resellers, or any household intending to declaw.
  • Kittens remain with their mother and littermates through a minimum of twelve weeks of age, so that behavioral development, weaning, and social learning complete naturally.
  • A lifetime contractual right of return. If a family we placed with is ever unable to keep the cat, at any age and for any reason, the cat comes back to us.
  • Environmental enrichment is treated as basic care, not luxury: climbing furniture, puzzle feeders, daily interactive play, and rotating novel objects for every cat in the cattery.

Placement decisions

We interview every applicant, sometimes across multiple conversations, before matching a kitten to a household. This is not about gatekeeping — it is about the simple, well-documented reality that the household environment is the single largest determinant of a cat's welfare across its life. We ask about other pets, children, work patterns, prior cat-keeping experience, and long-term housing stability. We say no when we need to, and we refund deposits in full when we do.

Transparency

We publish every pairing structure, our pricing, our health protocols, and the credentials of the veterinary specialists we work with. We answer every difficult question — about genetics, about the breed's history, about welfare debates in the fancy — without evasion. If a question here goes unanswered, please ask us directly and we will address it in writing.

Continuing accountability

Ethics is not a one-time declaration. We participate in TICA and CFA continuing education, we attend annual specialty conferences, and we review our own policy each year with our veterinary partners. When better evidence, better tests, or better standards emerge, we adopt them and update this page. The revision date below reflects the last full review.

This ethics statement was last reviewed on January 1, 2026. Send corrections, criticism, or questions to hello@aurelianfolds.com.