The Highlander (also known as the Highlander Shorthair, and originally as the Highland Lynx) is a new
breed of cat. The unique appearance of the Highlander comes from the deliberate cross between the
Desert Lynx and the
Jungle Curl breeds, also recently developed.
Description
The Highlander originated as a
crossbreed
A crossbreed is an organism with purebred parents of two different breeds, varieties, or populations. A domestic animal of unknown ancestry, where the breed status of only one parent or grandparent is known, may also be called a crossbreed though ...
of the experimental
Desert Lynx breed and the
Jungle Curl, to add the latter's curled ears to the former.
They are
bobtailed or short-tailed, have spotted or classic bullseye markings, mackerel and resemble the
bobcat
The bobcat (''Lynx rufus''), also known as the wildcat, bay lynx, or red lynx, is one of the four extant species within the medium-sized wild cat genus '' Lynx''. Native to North America, it ranges from southern Canada through most of the c ...
.
The Highlander has a long sloping forehead and blunt muzzle with a very wide nose.
The eyes are wide-set and the ears are upright with a slight curl and a slight turn in the backward direction.
The body is substantial and very muscular.
Females can grow to between , and the males between .
Despite the "big-cat look", the Highlander is a human-oriented, friendly and playful cat, and very active and confident.
The Highlander displays
tabby
A tabby cat, or simply tabby, is any domestic cat (''Felis catus'') with a coat pattern distinguished by an M-shaped marking on its forehead, stripes by its eyes and across its cheeks, along its back, around its legs and tail, and characteris ...
/
lynx point or solid
point coloration
Points are specific areas of an animal coat that are colored differently from the main body colorations. Point coloration may be represented by a pale body color and relatively darker extremities, such as face, ears, feet, tail, and external sex ...
in various colors. Bicolored cats are not allowed in the breed standard. Although some cats are
polydactyl
Polydactyly is a birth defect that results in supernumerary body part, extra fingers or toes. The hands are more commonly involved than the feet. Extra fingers may be painful, affect self-esteem, or result in clumsiness.
It is associated with ...
, it is not part of the standard and it is a disqualification in the show ring.
History
The Highlander breed refinement began in 2004, to distinguish the breed better from its foundation stock, and to seek competition status in major
breed registries
A breed registry, also known as a herdbook, studbook or register, in animal husbandry, the hobby of animal fancy, is an official list of animals within a specific breed whose parents are known. Animals are usually registered by their breeders w ...
.
The name Highlander was adopted in late 2005.
Starting May 1, 2008, the breed was recognized by
The International Cat Association
The International Cat Association (TICA) is considered the world's largest genetic cat registry. Originally a North American organization, it now has a worldwide presence. The organization has a genetic registry for pedigreed and household pet ca ...
(TICA) for competition in the Preliminary New Breed class,
and in 2016 was moved up to Advanced New Breed. TICA divides Highlanders into two varieties, under the names Highlander Shorthair (HGS) and simply Highlander (HG) for the longer-haired variation.
In 2022, the Highlander was accepted as a championship breed in the American Cat Fanciers Association (ACFA).
References
{{Mammal hybrids
Cat breeds
Cat breeds and types with bent ears
Cat breeds originating in the United States
Cat breeds and types with suppressed tails
Domestic–wild hybrid cats
Experimental cat breeds