Highland Fold: cats and kittens

Highland Fold – these are beautiful, fluffy, cute cats that are able to give their love, charm and devotion to their owners.

History of the breed's origin

Their origin story has many similarities with the history of Scottie Fold breedA curious and beautiful cat with small, folded ears appeared on a Swiss farm, greatly intriguing the local staff. When she produced a small offspring, they decided to breed this unusual breed, regularly consulting with local geneticists and cat show judges.

The breeding program for lop-eared rabbits served as the basis. Geneticists were intrigued by a female cat's litter, which clearly included cats with both long and short hair, indicating the presence of a gene for long hair.

Although breeders tried to crossbreed them with shorthaired American and British Shorthairs, longhaired kittens were being born every hour. The decision was then made to spay all longhaired Folds. In the early 1980s, the cats began participating in shows and various exhibitions, and by 1986 they were allowed to compete in championships.

General characteristics of the breed

Representatives of the Highland Fold breed look very impressive.

Appearance

Their head is rounded, large, and massive. Their full cheeks and strong chin are beautiful, and their whiskers are well-placed on round pads, making them particularly attractive. Small ears, pressed tightly against the skull and slightly curved forward, perfectly accentuate the round shape of their head. Their noses are short and straight, and their eyes are wide-set and round, the color of their fur matches their color. Their bodies are stocky and range from large to medium-sized. Folds have strong, short necks, and their legs, although not tall, are muscular.

Their tail is considered particularly beautiful—thick, rounded, and medium-length. Highland Folds possess an innate grace and charm. They are very cat-like in appearance. Persian breeds - the eyes are set in the same way, the muzzle is also slightly downturned.

Character

Highland Folds are very active cats with a gentle and peaceful nature, they have a well-developed intelligence, and they get along well with their owners.

Folds These cats are very tidy, quickly learning all the rules of the house and trying to follow them unquestioningly. To feel happy, they require plenty of food, a clean environment, and the love of their owners. These cats are not prone to stupid aggression.

Representatives of this breed are caring and loving parents, getting along well with other household members, be it rats, rabbits, hamsters, or even dogs. They also love children and play happily with them. They speak softly and purr softly when interacting. These cats clearly display their breed and high intelligence. They always exhibit an intelligent demeanor. Highland Folds have one rare characteristic: they sit in a soft toy position, with their paws folded on their stomachs.

Rules of care and feeding

Despite the fact that Highland Fold cats have fairly long hair, they do not require much care from their owners.

Care

It is enough to brush cats once a week and bathe them once a month.

Before bathing, be sure to clean their ears with special cotton swabs, comb their fur lengthwise, and then apply a special degreasing paste. Massage it in for 5 minutes and rinse thoroughly with warm water. Then, massage a super-cleansing shampoo into the fur and rinse again.

To enhance the beauty of their coat, it's recommended to apply a texturizing shampoo and rinse thoroughly with warm water. Finally, apply a texturizer to the coat to prevent clumping and add beautiful volume.

Dry the coat with an air dryer, using only a warm stream of air.

Feeding

The beauty of their fur, as well as their overall condition, depends on proper feeding. First, you need to decide what type of food you prefer. If you choose commercially produced food, the manufacturers have already taken care of its quality for you – it's calorie-wise and always balanced.

You can also choose food for animals of different ages, but it must be premium. Water should always be available near the food bowl, and it should be changed at least four times a day. Most owners of this uniquely beautiful breed prefer natural foods. A Highland Fold's diet should include:

• boiled sea fish
• lean meats
• offal
• porridges, fermented milk products, with the exception of cream and sour cream
• Boiled or raw vegetables with the addition of vegetable oil, which promotes better absorption of vitamins.

Health

The main predispositions to diseases in Highland Fold cats are related to improper breeding and care. Therefore, when choosing a cat of this breed, pay attention to the tail and paws. The tail should be long, not stiff, and mobile, with a pointed tip.

Purebred Highland Folds are generally very healthy and are not prone to serious illnesses, with an average lifespan of 15 years.

If the illness kittens are suffering from is related to improper care, the owner can fix the situation themselves. Therefore, provide them with everything they need, and most importantly, love!

Video review of the Highland Fold cat breed