The Foldex is an affectionate, calm breed prized for its folded ears, round face, and sweet, sociable companionship.
How the Foldex coat is built, and what that means when you groom it.
Critical: A Foldex should not be shaved.
The undercoat keeps heat out as well as in, and the outer coat shields the skin from sun and insect bites. Clipping the whole coat off removes both. It often grows back patchy, soft or a different colour, and in some animals the guard hairs never return properly. Brush the undercoat out instead of cutting it off.
The Foldex is a medium-sized Canadian cat with folded ears, a round face, and a calm, affectionate nature that makes it a settled indoor companion.
The Foldex is a medium-sized domestic cat developed in Canada. It came about by crossing the Scottish Fold with the Exotic Shorthair, so it carries the folded ears of the Fold alongside the rounded, cobby build of the Exotic. Some owners and breeders also know it as the Exfold.
The look is distinctly round. A typical Foldex has a round head, large round eyes, full cheeks, and small ears that fold forward and down against the skull. A compact, muscular body sits on short to medium legs, and the coat turns up in both short and medium-long lengths. Soft curves rather than sharp angles define the whole cat.
Where temperament is concerned, the Foldex is affectionate, gentle, calm, good-natured, and sociable. It attaches closely to the people it lives with, takes handling in its stride, and stays on the quiet side rather than vocal. Families, couples, and single owners after a placid indoor cat tend to find it an easy fit.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Origin | Canada |
| Size | Medium |
| Lifespan | 13 to 18 years |
| Role | Companion / lap cat |
| Good with | Families, children, other calm pets |
The Foldex suits owners who want an even-tempered indoor cat that enjoys company. It settles just as well into a flat or unit as it does a house, gets on with respectful children and other animals, and copes far better with regular human contact than with long stretches on its own. Households that are out all day should line up a second pet or arrange company.
Breeding of the Foldex began in Quebec, Canada, in the 1990s by crossing the Scottish Fold with the Exotic Shorthair, and the Canadian Cat Association recognised it.
The Foldex traces back to the province of Quebec in Canada. Breeding work started in the 1990s, with the aim of pairing the folded ears of the Scottish Fold with the round face and dense, plush coat of the Exotic Shorthair.
Both parent breeds left a clear stamp on the result. The Scottish Fold, which turned up in Scotland during the 1960s, supplies the forward-folded ears produced by a natural cartilage mutation. The Exotic Shorthair, a shorthaired version of the Persian, brings the cobby body, short muzzle, and large round eyes.
The Canadian Cat Association recognised the Foldex, and the breed stays most established in Canada, where it was created. Numbers beyond its home country remain limited, and Australian cat fanciers will find it far scarcer than either parent breed. Where registration is a consideration, prospective owners here would generally look to bodies such as the Co-ordinating Cat Council of Australia or TICA.
Because the folded-ear trait comes from a gene that also affects cartilage, careful breeders pair folded-ear cats with straight-eared partners. The practice is meant to lower the risk of skeletal problems that follow when a kitten inherits the trait from both parents.
The Foldex is a compact, rounded medium cat with small forward-folded ears, large round eyes, and a short or medium-long plush coat in many colours.
The Foldex has a balanced, rounded outline. The head is broad and round with full cheeks, a short nose, and a firm chin. The ears are small and fold forward and downward, sitting close against the head. The eyes are large, round, and set well apart. The body runs medium in size, muscular and cobby, carried on short to medium legs that finish in rounded paws.
| Trait | Standard |
|---|---|
| Height | About 23 to 28 cm at the shoulder |
| Weight | 3 to 6 kg |
| Coat | Short or medium-long, dense and plush |
| Colours | Most colours and patterns, including solid, tabby, bicolour, and pointed |
| Eyes | Large and round, colour matched to coat |
The Foldex comes in two coat lengths. The shorthair has a dense, soft coat that stands slightly off the body, while the longer type carries a medium plush coat with light feathering. Both feel soft under the hand. A broad palette is accepted, taking in solid shades such as black, white, blue, and cream, along with tabby, tortoiseshell, bicolour, and colourpoint patterns. The ear fold ranges from a single loose fold to a tighter triple fold.
The Foldex is affectionate, calm, and sociable. It bonds closely with its household, gets on with children and other pets, and stays quiet rather than demanding.
The Foldex has a gentle, easygoing personality. It is affectionate without being clingy and tends to trail family members from room to room, then settle nearby or on a lap. With strangers it usually holds back at first, warming up once it has had a chance to watch and weigh things up.
The breed is sociable and slots neatly into homes with children who handle it kindly, and it generally tolerates other cats and calm dogs. Play is moderate rather than frantic, and the cat is happy to nap through much of the day. Its voice stays soft, favouring quiet sounds over loud or frequent calls. Because it forms strong attachments, it prefers steady company and can turn withdrawn when left alone for long stretches.
| Trait | Rating |
|---|---|
| Affection | 5 |
| Energy | 2 |
| Trainability | 3 |
| Vocalness | 2 |
| Shedding | 3 |
The Foldex needs routine brushing, gentle ear checks because of the fold, modest daily play, and a settled indoor home with its people close by.
The Foldex is a low-maintenance cat on the whole, though the folded ears and dense coat call for a few regular habits.
The Foldex is built for indoor life and adapts well to a flat or unit. It values calm, routine, and the company of its household. Provide soft resting spots, a quiet litter area, and a window perch to watch the world go by. Bring in any major change gradually, since the breed leans on stability.
The Foldex needs a complete, protein-rich cat diet with measured portions to keep weight off its compact, low-energy frame.
Feed the Foldex a complete and balanced diet made for cats, with animal protein as the leading ingredient. Because the breed is calm and not especially active, portion control matters if you want to head off extra weight. Fresh water should always be within reach, and wet food can help top up hydration.
| Life stage | Amount per day | Meals |
|---|---|---|
| Kitten (2 to 12 months) | Per pack, fed to appetite | 3 to 4 |
| Adult (1 to 7 years) | 55 to 75 g dry or equivalent wet | 2 |
| Senior (7 years and older) | Adjusted for activity and weight | 2 |
Keep treats to no more than 10 percent of daily kilojoules. A healthy cat on a complete diet usually needs no extra supplements, though a vet may suggest omega-3 fatty acids or joint support for older cats. Bring in any new food gradually across several days.
The Foldex usually lives 13 to 18 years, but the folded-ear gene carries a risk of cartilage and joint problems, so careful breeding and routine vet care matter.
The Foldex is generally a hardy cat with a lifespan around 13 to 18 years. Its main health concern ties back to the same gene that produces the folded ears, which affects cartilage throughout the body. This can bring on a skeletal condition that touches the joints and tail. Reputable breeders pair folded-ear cats only with straight-eared partners to keep that risk down.
| Condition | Signs | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Osteochondrodysplasia | Stiff gait, reluctance to jump, thickened tail | Linked to the folded-ear gene |
| Ear issues | Wax buildup, odour, head shaking | Folded ears need regular checks |
| Dental disease | Bad breath, drooling, reduced eating | Common in many cats; prevent with dental care |
| Weight gain | Excess body fat, low activity | Manage with portion control |
The Foldex is moderately trainable through patient, reward-based sessions, picking up litter habits, basic cues, and routines well thanks to its calm nature.
The Foldex is calm and people-oriented, which works in your favour during training. It is not as driven as some active breeds, so short, consistent sessions suit it best. The cat responds to gentle, reward-based methods and can learn its name, come when called, accept handling, and use a scratching post. Litter training is usually straightforward.
Foldex breeding pairs a folded-ear cat with a straight-eared partner to protect kitten health, with litters of three to five after a pregnancy of about two months.
Breeding the Foldex hinges on the folded-ear gene. Two folded-ear cats must never be paired, because kittens that inherit the trait from both parents face a high risk of serious skeletal disease. Responsible breeders match one folded-ear cat with a straight-eared cat, so a litter holds both folded and straight-eared kittens.
Cats reach breeding maturity by around 9 to 12 months, though many breeders hold off until the cat is older and fully assessed. Pregnancy runs roughly 63 to 67 days. Litters usually hold three to five kittens. Newborns arrive with straight ears, and any fold starts to show at about three to four weeks of age.
Kittens should stay with the mother until at least 12 weeks, by which point they are weaned, litter trained, and well socialised. Breeders keep an eye on ear development, joint health, and growth before placing kittens in new homes.
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Breeding maturity | About 9 to 12 months |
| Gestation | 63 to 67 days |
| Litter size | 3 to 5 kittens |
| Ear fold appears | About 3 to 4 weeks |
| Weaning / rehoming | From 12 weeks |
| Required pairing | Folded-ear x straight-ear only |
Free lifetime registration for your Foldex, chip record included, searchable wherever in the country she wanders.
Torn flyscreens and doors left ajar send indoor cats to the pound every week, and a fair few states expect pet cats chipped and on the register anyway. A free United Pet Club profile means the scan pulls up your number wherever your Foldex turns up. Register your cat in a couple of minutes, free for her whole life.
Scanners find chips in seconds; the question is what the number points at. Point your Foldex's chip at a live record: free with the lifetime plan, open to all brands, kept current through every move without charges. Microchip registration plus a free account, and she's covered.
Free with United Pet Club: set up an account, add her name, colouring, and a photo, and the profile's live for her whole life. A chip isn't required to start.
Enter the 15-digit number into your free account with your current details. Registration and updates never cost anything, whatever brand of chip your vet used.
Several states and territories require it, and shelters chip before rehoming as standard. Requirement or not, the register entry with your current number is what actually brings a Foldex home.
Nothing at all. United Pet Club's lifetime plan covers her profile, the chip record, and every update, with no annual renewal.
Common questions about the Foldex cover its size, temperament, care needs, lifespan, suitability for families, and how easy it is to find.
The Foldex is a medium-sized cat. Most adults weigh between 3 and 6 kg and stand about 23 to 28 cm at the shoulder, with a compact, muscular build.
The Foldex is affectionate, calm, gentle, and sociable. It bonds closely with its household, gets on with children and other calm pets, and stays quiet rather than vocal.
No. It needs weekly to twice-weekly brushing depending on coat length, regular ear checks because of the fold, modest daily play, and routine vet care. It is otherwise low-maintenance.
A Foldex usually lives 13 to 18 years with good nutrition, a healthy weight, and regular veterinary care.
Yes. Its calm, tolerant nature suits families with respectful children, couples, and single owners, and it settles well into a flat or unit. It prefers steady company over long stints alone.
They are uncommon. The breed is most established in Canada, where it was developed, and numbers elsewhere are limited, so buyers may face waiting lists with reputable breeders.
The folded-ear gene can affect cartilage and joints. The risk drops when breeders pair folded-ear cats only with straight-eared partners, and owners should watch for stiffness or a thickened tail.
