Highland Straight cats are true Scots

Scottish cats are the origin of the unusual breed known as Highland Straight cats. With their soft, long fur and sweet, rounded faces, these fluffy cats really stand out. They are the ideal companions for both individuals and families because of their calm and kind disposition.

Highland Straights are different from the more popular Scottish Fold, despite having ears that are erect. They have a unique appearance thanks to this characteristic, yet they still have the endearing nature that many people find endearing.

Highland Straights are recognized for their loving disposition in addition to their remarkable appearance. They are fantastic pets for anyone searching for a devoted and caring companion because they love spending time with their owners.

Feature	Description
Origin	Highland Straight cats come from Scotland, a breed closely related to the Scottish Fold.
Appearance	These cats have straight ears, a round face, and a fluffy, soft coat.
Temperament	They are calm, friendly, and affectionate, making them great companions.
Maintenance	Regular grooming is needed to keep their long fur smooth and tangle-free.
Health	Generally healthy but may inherit joint issues from their Fold relatives.

History of the breed

The history of this breed is extensive and fascinating, going all the way back to the eighteenth century. The ancestral line of Scottish cats comes from a mountainous wild cat. Breeders crossed domestic cats with wild animal blood during the breeding process in an effort to create a livestock that was robust and bright. Scottish cats have at various stages of selection been crossed with Persian and British bloodlines to increase the variety of colors and wool quality.

Cats with unusually curved ears have a unique charm that makes them stand out as an exclusive characteristic of the Scottish breed. The Scots gained notoriety and attention right away; references to them date back more than two centuries. However, there are cats with regular, straight ears (straights) and lop-eared individuals (folds) within the breed, which in no way lessens the value of these animals or the interest in them.

Straights and folds are siblings.

A distinct breed of Scots known as Highland Straight is still relatively uncommon; they are distinguished by their straight ears and exquisite, flowing fur. This breed is relatively new, having only been given official recognition in 1970.

Description of Highland Straight cats

There are four cat breeds in the Scottish breed. Scots can have straight or short ears, as well as short or semi-long hair. All of them share the same breed standards and traits; the shape and location of the ears are the only variations. The straight-eared Scots and the British have certain similarities, but a closer look reveals that they are two entirely different breeds with many behavioral and physical differences.

Highland Straight is a cat world aristocrat.

Even so, Highland Straights are a little different from other large and well-known Scottish breeds. These cats are highly intriguing, and it’s no accident that the people who own them end up being lifelong enthusiasts.

Their noble Scottish heritage is evident in every movement and subtlety of appearance. Highland Straights are extraordinarily refined and aristocratic, but they’re also really pleasant, gregarious, and good-natured men—not snobs or conceited in the slightest.

External data

These cats are medium-sized; an adult can weigh up to six kilograms and stand thirty centimeters tall at the withers. The body has a prominent top line, a broad bone structure, and strength and power. The tail is long, fluffy, and flexible; the cat won’t feel uncomfortable if it is wrapped around a finger multiple times, if that’s what it wants to do. The round head and small, erect ears with a slight rounding at the top should be covered in hair that is the same length all over.

Highland Straight is a powerful and peaceful feline.

The standard states that while the breed permits an enormous range of colors, the animal’s eyes must match the color of its fur. Silver and gold hues are thought to go well with emerald green eyes. In fact, the standard lists "sweet expression of the eyes" as a necessary characteristic of the breed.

The breed standard highlights these cats’ endearing eye expression.

The undeniable benefit of Highland Straights is their opulent fur; they have an abundance of it, which is both lovely and pleasing to the touch. However, in contrast to Persians, their fur does not become lost or tangled to the point where it is easier to shave than to comb.

Video: Scottish cats with straight ears

Character and behavior

It is impossible not to like the Scots character. The breed is completely independent and non-aggressive. When the owner is gone, these cats won’t experience loneliness, go into depression, or, on the other hand, demolish the house out of melancholy and sadness. They have a great deal of interest in and affection for their owner at the same time. In general, straits behave fairly well; they are friendly and gregarious, get along well with kids, get along with other pets, and don’t get scared of strangers.

The balanced nervous system of Highland Straight cats is well-known, but these curious and energetic felines would never be described as phlegmatic. Although they take great interest in everything their owner does, they will never "stick" with him or make demands for affection or love. In the same way that they won’t utter a sound unless absolutely necessary. Generally speaking, they don’t say much; it seems like their motto in life is to meow only when it’s finally time for dinner.

They willingly embark on independent explorations and adjust surprisingly easily to new environments. Self-reliance and self-worth are the "family" characteristics associated with heterosexuality. Don’t even try to use pressure or force to break this aristocratic cat’s independent nature; he won’t be able to comprehend such cruelty and will lose all respect for the owner. They may be touchy, but they are not vindictive; if they are disappointed in someone, they won’t piss in his slippers—instead, they will choose to ignore them.

Video: Highland Straight – a cat with whom it is cozy

Acquiring a kitten

Purchasing a Highland Straight kitten is a great option for large families as well as single people. These cats are excellent companions—pretty much problem-free. A non-specialist may find it challenging to discern between a really purebred little straight and a fluffy baby, which is how con artists frequently use their victims.

Avoid purchasing a kitten from the "bird" market as you run the danger of getting both a sick animal and a mongrel. Trust one of Highland Straights’ breeding nurseries with your selection; reputable breeders cherish their reputation. Choose your future companion not based on a picture, seize the chance to go pet shopping, or, better yet, enlist the assistance of a breeder.

Request that the breeder show you the kitten’s parents, siblings, and sisters in addition to the one you have already chosen. The first indication that you are getting a truly purebred longhaired Scotsman is that the litter should contain both lop-eared and straight-eared puppies.

There is a great range of colors in this breed.

Selection criteria

It is best to purchase a kitten at three months of age, not before, as the breeder will have completed the required vaccinations and ascertained the animal’s fundamental breed characteristics by then. A small show-class Highland Straight will cost an order of magnitude more than a pet, so be prepared for that. The baby’s health and behavior should be the primary deciding factors; take note of the following outside factors:

• eyes – clear, not sour;
• ears – clean, not inflamed;
• fur – shiny and well-groomed;
• tummy – well-fed, but not bloated.

The baby’s behavior during the first meeting can also reveal a lot; he should be happy, outgoing, and energetic, and he shouldn’t be afraid of strangers. It is worthwhile to look more closely at the parents of the pet you intend to get—their looks, personalities, and living circumstances.

Video: kittens who love to play

Highland Straights do not present their owner with any unique keeping challenges. The breed is quite unpretentious, but it is obviously necessary to follow the fundamental guidelines for taking care of the animal.

Feeding

For members of this breed to be healthy and live long lives, they must eat the right food. Highland Straights are not fussy eaters with a voracious appetite, but they can overindulge. This characteristic can cause obesity in animals when combined with poorly planned feeding and insufficient exercise.

Highland Straights enjoy heavy meals.

Feeding your pet should be balanced and fractional, occurring two to four times a day. Use premium, high-quality food and avoid overfeeding it at all. Speak with the kitten’s breeder about the menu if you prefer natural food; it’s critical that the kitten get the right amount of vitamins and minerals, particularly during the growing season.

Quick physical activity won’t harm either; leash walks are a favorite pastime of Highland Straights. If your pet engages in outdoor games at home in addition to regular exercise, they won’t be at risk of obesity.

Appearance care

Pay special attention to your pet’s fur during the shedding season if you don’t want your clothes and every surface in the house covered in a layer of weightless cat fluff. Naturally, this first pertains to cats with semi-long hair. Brushing should become a required daily hygiene practice during this time. Possibly, a single slicker brush won’t be sufficient – a furminator works wonders in eliminating delicate dying undercoat.

A cat will tolerate combing calmly and patiently if it has been accustomed to it from a young age. However, it is the responsibility of the owner to prevent the fur from shedding to the point where the cat has "felt boots"; in this unfortunate scenario, the process will become uncomfortable, if not painful, and the cat will make every effort to avoid it. The Straight breed has very soft, silky fur that hardly tangles, so you have to work very hard to get it very matted.

When the shedding season arrives, a skilled furminator is quite useful.

In regular mode, your pet will look fairly presentable with just one weekly combing. The areas with longer and thicker fur, such as bellies, pants, and exquisite collars, require extra care. You will not need more than thirty minutes to complete the process.

This breed does not benefit from frequent bathing either; thorough washings with shampoo and other cosmetics are only necessary a few times a year, as well as in cases of unforeseen contamination, which have happened to this breed before. The neat cat takes excellent care of itself the rest of the time, and the owner’s assistance is of no use to it.

To fail to keep such a coat in impeccable condition would be a sin.

It makes sense to use specialized conditioners with healing oils in the winter or after an extremely hot summer to restore the elasticity of a coat that has become dehydrated. Just avoid doing this the night before an exhibition, as the coat will temporarily lose its ceremonial appearance following such an obviously beneficial occasion.

However, it won’t hurt to examine the teeth, claws, ears, and eyes at least once a week. That’s all there is to caring for this breed: perform routine cleanings, clip overgrown claws as needed.

Breed defects

Due to the breed’s youth and rarity, there is a limited gene pool. Hereditary health issues as well as some phenotypic deviations from the norm may arise in the event that tribal work regulations are broken.

Tendency to diseases

Scottish Straight-eared cats are known for their exceptional health and can live up to twenty years without any issues in ideal circumstances. The primary issues may be a variety of bone and joint abnormalities brought on by poor breeding practices as well as poor heredity.

The majority of these illnesses are frequently caused by genetic pathologies that were discovered during careless or dishonest breeding practices. Regretfully, there is rarely a full recovery from these illnesses. However, the likelihood of keeping the animal in normal physical condition increases with prompt diagnosis.

Low spinal joint mobility is a common breed issue. When a cat is moving, show experts focus especially on its top line, which needs to be steady and even. If a cat exhibits signs of joint crunching or creaking, it may be disqualified from the show. This is because such defects are thought to be indicative of poor genetics and should not be bred.

One of the Straights’ breed diseases is even hip and elbow dysplasia, a condition that is incredibly uncommon in cats overall. Accurate X-rays of an animal that has reached one year of age provide a solid diagnosis of the illness. The degree of dysplasia will determine whether the veterinarian prescribes supportive therapy or treatment. Surgery may be necessary in certain complicated cases.

Obesity typical of the breed and related cardiovascular diseases are the result of an unbalanced, overly abundant, and high-calorie diet.

Appearance flaws

The Straights’ ears are particularly important to the breed standard; they shouldn’t be big or even slightly drooping. These defects automatically prevent the animal from being shown and, consequently, from being bred. A significant disadvantage is also "cotton wool," or fur that is matted, tangled, and/or grows in long tufts on the head, eyebrows, or other areas. Cats of the heavy breed will not be given high expert assessments if they have abnormalities in their skeleton or joints.

A hook on the tip of the tail, an excessively short and stiff tail, and an unusually high number of toes on the paws are all considered disqualifying defects. The animal needs to be in good health and move smoothly and in unison.

Video: Highland Straight kitten at an exhibition

A distinctive Scottish breed, Highland Straight cats are renowned for their soft coats, placid dispositions, and cute round faces. These Scottish Highland-bred cats, named for their straight ears, are descended from the same stock as their more well-known cousins, the Scottish Fold. They are ideal companions because of their loving and lively personalities, which perfectly encapsulate the essence of Scottish charm.

Breeding work with Highland Straights

Two Scottish Fold cats cannot be mated due to strict breeding regulations. Since a parent pair of Scottish cats always consists of a straight and a fold, both straights and folds must be born in the same litter. There is a mythical belief held by some unprofessional people that Scots are still descended from the British breed.

Breeding nuances

Under no circumstances should folds mate with other folds, as this can lead to genetic anomalies that cause major issues with the musculoskeletal system and internal organ pathologies. Mixed pairs of "Fold+Strate" are the only methodical approach to tribal intra-breeding.

This breed’s representatives have a heavy skeleton, take a long time to mature, and reach full puberty relatively late. As a result, it is advised against knitting for the first time on animals younger than two years old; DO NOT ON THE CAT ONLY ONE TIME A YEAR.

Highland Straights are castrated or sterilized for a variety of reasons, including medical concerns and breeders’ requests to ensure the animal will not be used for breeding. After eight months of age, both cats and kittens typically undergo surgery.

There will undoubtedly be folds and an airsite in one litter.

It’s interesting to note that, if the latter has the long-earnest gene, the union of a long-haired strategic strategic strategic produces the most magnificent fur coats.

It is undoubtedly impossible to determine which kitten in the litter has straight ears and which has hanging ears until the babies are at least three weeks old, or one month old. The ears of every newborn kitten are straight, and they stay that way for a while.

Table: pros and cons of the breed

Advantages of the breed	Disadvantages of the breed
Endowed with a beautiful appearance and a balanced character	Do not tolerate pressure from the owner, are touchy and vulnerable
Smart, trainable, clean	Genetically prone to pathologies of the musculoskeletal system
Get along well with children and pets	Improper diet can lead to obesity
Good health and strong immunity	Do not tolerate heat and excessive dry air
Easy maintenance and grooming	The breed is difficult to breed

Scottish cats’ gentle disposition is embodied by the endearing and distinctive breed known as Highland Straight cats. Their calm demeanor, fluffy coats, and close relationships with their families make them wonderful companions for anyone who values a laid-back and affectionate pet.

Not only are these cats gorgeous to look at, but they also have a laid-back, amiable disposition that works well in most homes. Whether you have a family or are single, a Highland Straight will win your heart over right away.

A Highland Straight cat might be the ideal addition to your home if you’re thinking about getting a new pet. Their sweet nature and Scottish heritage make them a delightful and devoted member of any family.

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