What should you think of when deciding if a pet breed is right for you? Health, needs, care, temperament, oh my!! In this blog post we’ll talk about what make's a highland cat, a good pet and whether or not it's the right pet for you.
Where to Start?
Consider your lifestyle, your family's lifestyle. How many pets do you have currently? How much "free time" do you have. Do you travel a lot? What is the financial cost to adding a kitten to your family? There's so much to consider so here's a breakdown for you.
Highland Lynx Temperament & Disposition
Highland Lynx are known for their active lifestyle, companionship, and spirited personality. These cats are intelligent, excitable, and have a lot of energy for a cat. They love human and creature interaction! Finding what your cat loves will be a fun and exciting adventure for you and your family. Often times you will find your cat following you around the house from room to room, wondering what you're doing, digging in the pantry for treats, or doing zoomies up and down the hallway when in play mode. From cat toys, to climbing up cat trees, enjoying a bubble bath or learning to fetch; these are activities your cat might enjoy! They're known for their dog like "big" personality and thrive on social interaction. Highland Lynx cats might even be up for the task of going outside on leash or for hikes if you're the outdoor/adventuring kind. They're an agile, quick breed with taller hind legs so they certainly like to roam about as the please and need ample amount of space for exercising. While they're an active and confident breed, they're not an 'overly' vocal breed. Though, that doesn't necessarily mean they will not wake up you at 2AM scratching at your door. Just be sure to set bedroom/bedtime expectations with your cat early on and you'll be okay!
If you're looking for a cat who is a couch potato 100% of the time, well, Highland Lynx may not be your cat; however, they do like to get cozy, sit back and relax, too. Just as hyper as they can be, they too can be lovable, calm, and snuggly. From a kitten, if you include them in your life as any other family member, they will adapt to your schedule just perfectly. It is important to discuss with your selected Highland Lynx breeder that your kitten has been well socialized, picked up frequently, engaged with, loved, fed and healthy to ensure the success in your home!
Transitioning A New Fur Addition & Cat Proofing the House
Bringing a new kitten or cat home can be exciting for you and your family but it can be stressful as well, not just to you but to the kitten and existing pets. While it certainly takes time for any animal to warm up to a newcomer or a new home, it is important that existing residents are able to 'slowly' acclimate to ensure a smooth transition.
Introduce your Kitten to One Room at a Time
Moreover, as silly as it sounds, you may need to 'pet proof' your house! Kittens boast a lot of energy and with the combination of being a little nervous, they may seek shelter in your basement, under a bed or in hidden corner of your home so it's important to make sure you're bringing your kitten to a clean, tidy home. It is also suggested introducing the kitten to one room of the house, particularly if there are other resident animals, to acclimate.
Protect Your Home from "Non-Designated" Scratching Posts (aka Furniture)
As your newcomer gets adjusted, keep in mind that with Highland Lynx, they likely will have extra toes. With extra toes, comes extra scratching posts so if you have fabric, upholstered furniture or faux leather, or carpeting from hallways to bedrooms, you may want to consider alternatives to protecting areas that are prone to tampering with. You can purchase extra scratching posts and get creative with cat trees as well as furniture coverings and plastic mats to cover under your door thresholds to prevent any pet damage.
Health & Maintenance of Highland Lynx
Preventive Veterinary Costs
As with any animal, it is always suggested to regularly bring your kitten or cat into the vet minimally once a year for a traditional wellness check. Initially, vet costs likely will be more for kittens. Depending on which route you choose, you can expect a $30-40 office visit fee, exam fee, added standard vaccinations such as Rabies, Distemper, Dewormer, FeLV, and more and lastly, spay/neuter for your cat once they become of age. These vet costs can add up so be sure to consult your local veterinary clinic to get a better sense of what is needed and when.
Annual Vet Check-Up for Cats
It's important not to skip the annual vet visit. Cats are very independent creatures and all too often hold in any serious pain that could be going on. Instinctively, they hide pain as they do not want to show any weakness to predators who may be lurking. Unfortunately, this can result in owner's not knowing when something is wrong with their beloved before it's too late. There are affordable vet options out there depending on your area, such as Vetco Clinic (sponsored by Petco) or Tractor Supply company. There are pros and cons to this approach though compared to working with a local vet.
Consider Pet Insurance for your Cat
Additionally, there are many pet insurance options available, and although you may not think it's necessary right now, there are instances that it proves to be super helpful. A few of the most common issues a cat owner deals with is ingesting a foreign object, ear infections, UTI's or leg fractures. Another cost to consider. I use Healthy Paws and I've been pleased so far.
Ears & Nail Trimming Care for Highland Lynx
With majority of Highland Lynx cats, because of the formation and smaller size of their curled ears, they're prone to wax build up. You will need to clean your kitten's ears weekly by gently swabbing with a q-tip or taking a cotton ball to squeeze a few drops of special ear cleaner (I use Mal Acetic) and gently massaging the base of their ear to work the cleaner in. Starting your kitten off by doing this will get them acclimated to you doing it frequently and is an essential part of your routine.
As with most cats occasionally need their nails trimmed; however, Highland Lynx cats have long, sharp and many digits so trimming nails, especially if you have young kids around, is an important thing to keep an eye on.
Best Food Options for your Highland Lynx Cat
There are no particular diets that Highland Lynx have to be on, but certainly it is important to feed your kitten or cat with the best ingredients possible. Speak with your vet about recommended brands. At Love Lynx Cattery, our suggestion is to find a good, grain-free, limited ingredient diet with a combination of both dry and canned food. Dry food helps promote good dental health and canned food is tasty, nutritious and provides a healthy hydration component, too.
All in all, if you've done your research on what's involved with a Highland Lynx, you'll be in good shape. With the breed's temperament, character, and if given enough love, you'll be sure to create a bond of a lifetime.
For more information or questions, please visit our website or contact us.
You have described them perfectly. I have my first & it's been surprising &fun!
First thing I noticed, was our male was super observant & viewed everything w/ wide-eyed curiosity. It's as if he is waiting to see what I will do before he does anything. (At first I thought he was afraid, but it's just that he is so cool, calm, & collected.) When he is waking, he takes his sweet time getting going, even at one year old. What a surprise one day, when he jumped from point "a" to point "b" (from a standstill) instead of just stepping over! He did the same thing into my lap one day even though I was floor level. He…