The long sloping profile and loosely curled tail give a striking profile to the Highlander. This cat will entertain you with its crazy antics just to be the centre of attention. This is a big cat and comes in long and short coats.
Physical Traits
Area of Origin: United States
Used for: Companion
Average Life Span: 12-15 years
Color: Spotted patterns in a range of color
Coat: Long and short
Average Height: Medium to large
Average Weight: 20- 25 pounds
History and Domestication
The relatively new breed began to be domesticated in 2004 with the intention of creating a powerful and big domestic cat. The characteristics of the breed and the name ‘Highlander’ was settled for in 2005 in order to get it a status in TICA. In order to create this breed, cats were used from genetic pool and not from the recognized breeds. This breed was recognized by TICA for competing in the Preliminary New Breed in 2008.
Standard Physical Characteristics
The Highlander is known for its unusual looks. The cat has a long and sloping forehead and long and oval-shaped eyes that are full of intensity. The large nose, muzzle and a deep and strong chin provide a boxy look to the cat. Because of these features, the head appears longer than it is wide. The ears are unique and unusually long. They are set on top of the head and stand tall. The ears are wider at the base and open upwards and have a loose curl. The substantial body is powerful and muscular and moves with elegant movements. As the cat moves, flexible long legs and rippling muscles give the torso an active appearance. The big and powerful cats have a gentle disposition. The feet are large with powerful knuckles. The tail is thick and short and often has curls and kinks in it. A fat pad at the end is also present. The tail is another unique feature of the cat as it wags like a dog’s tail from joy and playfulness.
Care, Grooming and Health
Both short and long coat varieties are available in this breed. They need to be brushed or combed regularly to remove dead hair and distribute skin oils. Bathe only when necessary.
These are powerful and active cats and need to be exercised to develop their characteristic muscles. As this a fairly new breed, not much is known about their health problems.
Living Conditions
The friendly and playful cats are suited for homes with kids and other cats. They can be trained easily and want to play with other cats, whether other cats want to or not.
Temperament
In spite of their big and powerful look and a ‘big cat’ persona, they are active and playful cats. They are clowns of the family and are always up to some crazy antic. They are not very vocal but are physically very active. They love human companionship and will follow you around the house or get you at the door.
