Jules Verne, the classic adventure writer, is credited with saying that cats are spirits come to earth, and that a cat could walk on a cloud without falling through. Anyone who has ever seen a Highland Fold is sure the French writer had this very cat in mind: a cat so light and beautiful it could stroll across the clouds.
History of the Breed
The story of the Highland Fold has no dramatic twists or adventurous turns. The breed’s history is more a timeline of deliberate breeding.
The breed’s homeland is Scotland, and the story began in 1961. On a farm near Coupar Angus, a cat had a litter that included a white kitten with unusual ears. That was the first Highland Fold kitten, a female named Susie. In time, Susie was paired with a male with the same special ear structure, and within about 5 years the breed was officially registered.
The breed’s name is geographic: the Highlands are the mountainous regions of Scotland. But these folded-ear cats aren’t called Highland Folds everywhere. In Britain, some insist on the name “Coupari” (after the place where Susie appeared), while in North America they’re known as the Scottish Fold Longhair. But whatever you call it, this cat is beautiful, fluffy and definitely fold-eared.
Its closest relatives are the Scottish Straight and the Scottish Fold.
Highland Fold Breed Description
This little cat with an especially touching expression has won over many human hearts. The invisible magic is hard to explain, but the visible features are captured in the breed standard.
- These kittens have a round head with well-developed cheeks and rounded whisker pads. There’s a slight but noticeable dip where the short nose meets the domed forehead. The muzzle is short, with a strong chin.
The breed’s main feature is its two adorable ears, folded in a special way. They should be small, the smaller the better, set wide apart, sitting low visually and folded forward and down.
IMPORTANT! Only when a kitten is two to three weeks old does it become clear whether it’s a Fold or not. At first, a kitten’s ears may lie flat and then stand up. The reverse happens often too: ears that weren’t folded fold down over time.
Just look at it: practically every feature of the longhaired Scottish Fold looks like a picture-perfect cloud, round everywhere. Even the eyes are round and set wide apart. They’re most often gold or another light shade. What matters is harmony between eye color and coat color.
- The body is usually medium-sized. These cats look chubby, but this is a case of “big-boned” rather than overweight. The hips are as wide as the shoulders.
The legs are strong and of medium length, and the paws are large.
The tail is two-thirds the length of the body. It should be flexible and taper toward the tip. A short tail or one with thickened or stiff spots is considered a fault by the standard. The longhaired Scottish Fold weighs about 6.5–18 lb.
- As the breed’s name suggests, these folded-ear cats boast a gorgeous coat. It’s medium-long and noticeably shorter on the face and legs than on the body, and a bit shorter on the shoulders too. The “britches” and ruff are luxurious! Pretty tufts of fur also grow between the toes. And the tail is magnificent.
The longhaired Scottish Fold’s coat isn’t cottony to the touch; it’s silky, very light and springy. There’s plenty of undercoat, and it isn’t coarse but very soft, like a cloud.
- The Highland Fold can come in almost any color. Solid black, white, red and gray are just as fitting as marbled, mackerel, ticked, spotted and other patterns. But the standard doesn’t allow non-specific white spots, and the CFA doesn’t accept lilac, chocolate or colorpoint in this breed.
Personality
The longhaired Scottish Fold is a lovely cat, and being friends with it is pure pleasure. It’s refined, gentle, calm and cheerful. The Highland Fold gets along comfortably with every member of the family. And it’ll do just fine without them if it’s left home alone for a while. This cat doesn’t suffer from loneliness and is a great fit for people who are rarely home.
It values order in life, so a schedule set up for the cat should stay the same. Travelers give the breed good reviews too: Highland Folds handle stress well and easily cope with moves, departures and arrivals.
Who’s the calmest cat at a show? The Highland Fold! Who’s always first to greet invited and uninvited guests? The Highland Fold! And who loves to sit in the middle of the hallway with its paws folded on its belly, calmly watching everyone trip over it? The Highland Fold!
In short, if you have a loud, passionate family that argues at top volume over which sauce goes with the spaghetti, the cat will be the only family member who keeps its cool, and instead of spaghetti it’ll demand chicken!
Health
Surprisingly few genetic diseases are linked to the longhaired Scottish Fold. Most of those that exist involve the musculoskeletal system. Experts say the same gene that folds the ears also affects cartilage and joints.
But you can spot a kitten at risk when you’re choosing one. How can you tell a predisposition to joint disease? First, the kitten’s tail shouldn’t be short and thick; kittens with such tails are most often prone to joint problems. Run your hand along the kitten’s back and tail. Lumps or bumps are a sign the cat will most likely have problems as an adult.
The longhaired Scottish Fold has no other specific problems, and if you keep up with vaccinations and monitor your pet’s health, it will be with you for a long time. These folded-ear cats live about 15 years on average.
Care and Living Conditions
Highland Folds are surprisingly easy to care for. Their rich coat doesn’t need special attention; weekly brushing is enough. But these folded-ear cats don’t like frequent baths, which make the coat dull and rob it of its “cloud-like” quality. A bath every six months is recommended.
The ears and eyes, however, need cleaning as often as possible. Because of their structure, dirt builds up in them, which can lead to infections. Good hygiene and a well-ventilated home at around 68°F will keep problems at bay.
Feeding
Commercial food is certainly an option, but most breeders and owners of Highland Folds prefer a homemade diet. Never feed your pet food from your own table. Homemade meals should be prepared separately, without salt or sugar, and never fried.
Favor cooked ocean fish, lean meat, organ meats, grains, fermented dairy (if your cat tolerates it) and vegetables, and make sure the overall diet is complete and balanced. A little vegetable oil helps vitamins absorb better, so it’s often added to meals when you feed your cat.
Photos
A Buddha pose when relaxed or a hunting dog’s pose when on high alert: owners find these adorable, and that’s how Highland Folds most often appear in home photos.
Where to Buy
Only from a cattery, because that’s your guarantee of a healthy animal. Highland Folds are very hard to breed, and an unscrupulous breeder couldn’t handle all the nuances. Litters are also small, and only some of the kittens will have the right ear shape and a long coat.
In the US, look for the breed under the name Scottish Fold Longhair; both the CFA and TICA recognize it:
- CFA (Cat Fanciers’ Association) Find a Breeder – https://find-a-breeder.cfa.org/;
- TICA (The International Cat Association) breeder listings – https://tica.org/find-a-cat/find-a-cat-breeder-listings/;
Ask the breeder how the kitten’s joints and tail have been checked, and make sure the parents are a fold and a straight-eared cat, never two folds.
How Much Does It Cost?
In the US, a pet-quality Scottish Fold Longhair kitten from a registered breeder typically costs about $1,000–2,500, while show and breeding cats cost $2,500–3,500 or more. The price depends on the ear set, vaccinations, papers and pedigree. You may find cheaper kittens without papers, but you’ll be taking a risk on their health.
The Highland Fold: a cloud that lives in your home!
