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 cat from Canada with folded ears, a round face, and a calm, affectionate temperament that suits a quiet indoor home.
The Foldex is a medium-sized domestic cat developed in Canada. It is the product of crossing the Scottish Fold with the Exotic Shorthair, which gives it the folded ears of the Fold together with the rounded, cobby frame of the Exotic. The breed is sometimes called the Exfold.
Roundness runs through the whole appearance. A typical Foldex shows a round head, large round eyes, full cheeks, and small ears that fold forward and down against the skull. The body is compact and muscular on short to medium legs, and the coat is found in both short and medium-long lengths. Soft curves, not sharp angles, shape the outline.
In temperament the Foldex is affectionate, gentle, calm, good-natured, and sociable. It bonds firmly with the people around it, handles being picked up with ease, and keeps to the quiet end rather than the vocal one. That mix makes it a comfortable match for families, couples, and single owners who want a placid indoor cat.
| 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 after an even-tempered indoor cat that likes company. Flats and houses both work for it, it gets along with respectful children and other animals, and it does far better with regular human contact than with long spells on its own. Where the household is out all day, a second pet or arranged company helps.
The Foldex was developed in Quebec, Canada, from the 1990s by crossing the Scottish Fold with the Exotic Shorthair, and the Canadian Cat Association recognised it.
The Foldex began in the province of Quebec in Canada. Breeding work got under way in the 1990s, aimed at joining the folded ears of the Scottish Fold to the round face and dense, plush coat of the Exotic Shorthair.
Each parent breed shaped the outcome in a plain way. The Scottish Fold, first seen in Scotland in the 1960s, gives the forward-folded ears that trace to a natural cartilage mutation. The Exotic Shorthair, a shorthaired form of the Persian, gives the cobby body, short muzzle, and large round eyes.
The Canadian Cat Association recognised the Foldex, and the breed remains most established in Canada, where it started. Beyond its home country the numbers stay small, and here in New Zealand it is much rarer than either parent breed. Owners thinking about registration would usually turn to the New Zealand Cat Fancy or TICA.
Since the folded-ear trait comes from a gene that also affects cartilage, careful breeders pair folded-ear cats with straight-eared partners. That approach is meant to reduce the risk of skeletal problems that arise when a kitten inherits the trait from both sides.
The Foldex is a compact, rounded medium cat with small forward-folded ears, large round eyes, and a short or medium-long plush coat across many colours.
The Foldex carries a balanced, rounded shape. Its head is broad and round with full cheeks, a short nose, and a firm chin. The ears are small and fold forward and downward, resting close to the head. The eyes are large, round, and set well apart. The body is medium, muscular, and cobby, standing on short to medium legs with 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 is found in two coat lengths. The shorthair wears a dense, soft coat that stands slightly off the body, while the longer version has a medium plush coat with light feathering. Both are soft to the touch. A wide palette is accepted, from solid shades such as black, white, blue, and cream through to tabby, tortoiseshell, bicolour, and colourpoint patterns. The ear fold varies from a single loose fold to a tighter triple fold.
The Foldex is affectionate, calm, and sociable, bonding closely with its household, getting on with children and other pets, and staying quiet rather than demanding.
The Foldex has a gentle, easygoing nature. It is affectionate without being clingy and likes to follow family members from room to room before settling nearby or on a lap. Around strangers it usually stays reserved to begin with, then relaxes once it has had time to take things in.
The breed is sociable and fits well into homes with children who treat it kindly, and it generally tolerates other cats and calm dogs. Its play is moderate rather than frantic, and it is happy to nap for a good part of the day. The Foldex keeps its voice soft, using quiet sounds over loud or frequent calls. Because it forms strong attachments, it wants steady company and may grow withdrawn if left alone for long.
| 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 nearby.
The Foldex is a low-maintenance cat overall, but the folded ears and dense coat ask for a few regular habits.
The Foldex suits indoor life and takes to flats without trouble. It values calm, routine, and the company of its household. Set out soft resting spots, a quiet litter area, and a window perch. Introduce any big change slowly, since the breed relies on stability.
The Foldex needs a complete, protein-rich cat diet with measured portions to keep weight off its compact, low-energy build.
Feed the Foldex a complete and balanced diet made for cats, with animal protein as the first ingredient. Since the breed is calm and not very active, portion control counts if you want to avoid extra weight. Fresh water should always be on hand, and wet food can help with 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 slowly over several days.
The Foldex generally 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 typical lifespan of 13 to 18 years. Its main health concern connects to the same gene that gives the folded ears, which affects cartilage right through the body. This can lead to a skeletal condition that reaches the joints and tail. Reputable breeders pair folded-ear cats only with straight-eared partners to lower that risk.
| 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, learning litter habits, basic cues, and routines well thanks to its calm nature.
The Foldex is calm and people-oriented, which helps at training time. It is not as driven as some active breeds, so short, consistent sessions work 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 simple.
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 turns on the folded-ear gene. Two folded-ear cats must never be paired, because kittens that inherit the trait from both parents carry a high risk of serious skeletal disease. Responsible breeders put one folded-ear cat with a straight-eared cat, so a litter holds both folded and straight-eared kittens.
Cats reach breeding maturity by roughly 9 to 12 months, though many breeders wait until the cat is older and fully assessed. Pregnancy lasts about 63 to 67 days. Litters usually hold three to five kittens. Newborns come with straight ears, and any fold begins to appear at around 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 track 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 |
Cats sit outside the National Dog Database, so a free United Pet Club record is what stands behind your Foldex's chip.
With no national database covering cats, the record behind your Foldex's chip is entirely yours to provide. A free United Pet Club profile does it: your number, her photo, her details, one scan away. Registering your cat is free for life and done in minutes.
Pop the fifteen digit number from the vet paperwork into your free United Pet Club account, check your phone number is current, and your Foldex's chip finally points somewhere. Every brand is accepted, every update free, and the record answers scans at any hour. Microchip registration is the link in the middle.
It's a matter of creating a free United Pet Club account, adding her name, colouring, and a photo, and saving. The record is free for her whole life, indoors or out.
Adding the fifteen digit number to your free account with your current details is the whole job. The lifetime plan never charges for the record or its updates, whatever the chip brand.
There's no national requirement the way the dog database works, though some councils encourage it and shelters chip on rehoming. Requirement or not, a registered chip is what turns a found Foldex into a phone call.
Nothing at all. Profile, chip registration, and every later update are free under the lifetime plan.
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 typically 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 takes to flat living well. It prefers steady company over long periods 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 is reduced when breeders pair folded-ear cats only with straight-eared partners, and owners should watch for stiffness or a thickened tail.
