Anyone else on the Site have a Highland Lynx? Best suggestions for Exercise?

[catmom88]

Hi All,

We seem to have people from all over on this site.  I'm wondering if anyone else has a Highland Lynx breed cat?  I LOVE this cat.  It's such a unique breed. She has a lot of characteristics like a dog (fetching, sleeping by my feet, running to the window to get the scoop on any possible intruders, has her own pet stuffed animal, somewhat fearless of strangers) and some other interesting traits like she will NOT back down when playing (she will run after me and tackle my legs if I walk away from engaging her) or when she wants something, and she must dominate my other cat when she feels like it, even if it is just getting the best spot on the bed.

Anyway, my real question is, if anyone else has this breed, is she loves to exercise and has LOTS of stamina.  Does anyone have any clever play activities they use?  My cat LOVES chasing the red laser dot, to the point of addiction.  As soon as she hears the noise of the chain on the laser pointer jingling, she comes running and demands the dot.  So funny.  She will run full gallop from one end of the apartment to the other until she gets winded.  So, that's one solution, but I'm looking for any other good suggestions. 

This is a picture of Bigfoot (She's polydactyl) with her 'pet' stuffed doggie she cuddles with.  She was trying to keep me from going on a trip by invading my suitcase.  LOL!

Thanks in advance for any suggestions on exercise!

Bigfoot & Buddy.jpg

• catmom88
• Aug 31, 2012

 

[riccadawn]

I've actually never heard of this breed (we just got our first cat less than a year ago) but I just wanted to comment and say she's absolutely beautiful! I cheated and looked at the picture before reading your post, and when I saw her feet, I thought "wow, either she's HUGE or she's got extra toes in there somewhere!" Sure enough! We just adopted a polydactyl kitten - I never knew it was such a common thing until we met him and started doing some research.

 

[-_aj_-]

Hi, Bigfoot is absolutely gorgeous!!! 

Have you tried wand toys to? like Da bird? they are great....gets cats jumping round to great fun watching them  

And actually one my two love is a toilet roll ive stopped money buying cat toys because they would rather play with one of them or scrunched up paper

 

[catspaw66]

  I have never seen that breed.  She is so gorgeous with the ear hair tufts, long fluffy coat, and the huge paws. Is that the common color or are there different ones?

 

[bigperm20]

Man! I am absolutely in love. I had never heard of one before earlier today either.I spent the better part of an hour looking at them on the internet. I wonder why they aren't more well known?

They come in many different colors. This one would be considered lynx point coloration I believe. I saw several different pointed colors, as well as some tabbies, and even some beautiful torbies.

 

[missymotus]

 I wonder why they aren't more well known?
 

Perhaps because they are a new breed, not yet accepted for Championship. TICA has them as Highlander and a preliminary new breed.

I'm sure you're breeder would have lots of tips on how best to play with her. My cats love teasers, DaBird and other cats to chase around. 

 

[catmom88]

Hi RiccaDawn, yes, it is actually a newer breed.  I got her as a gift from a friend that is a breeder.  She's got 6 toes in the front and 7 toes in the rear.  Hence her name!

Good luck with your new kitty!  I've had one other polydactyl cat that was a short hair mix. Love my kitties! 

 

 

[catmom88]

Hi -aj-,  You know I have tried wand toys and she's destroyed them in short order.  I'll have to see if I can find some stronger ones.  She rips the feathers off in no time.

Thanks, missymotus - I'll have to check out DaBird - haven;t heard of that one before.

Hi Catspaw66 and Bigperm20 - She is called a Snow Highland Lynx by the breeder since she was totally white at birth then the coloring grew in.  all the coloring is rather pale and her ears are white. Yes, there are many different colors.  Beautiful cats!

 

[bigperm20]

Hi RiccaDawn, yes, it is actually a newer breed.  I got her as a gift from a friend that is a breeder.  She's got 6 toes in the front and 7 toes in the rear.  Hence her name!



Good luck with your new kitty!  I've had one other polydactyl cat that was a short hair mix. Love my kitties! 

 

Don't u mean 7 on the front and 5 in the rear? If it's as you say, it's no wonder her feet are so big and beautiful.

Most Poly cats have 6 extra toes in total, unless I'm an idiot...

 

[catmom88]

Hi Bigperm20,  Oops, sorry, it IS 5 in the front, but her rear feet do actually have 7 toes each.  They are MASSIVE. crazy looking, really.  I'll see if I can find a good pic of them to post.
 

 

[catmom88]

Here you go, bigperm20, this is a funny pic showing her back feet.  Yup, 7 toes. I call them 'launching pads' because they are so big. 

Bigfoot feet.jpg

• catmom88
• Sep 1, 2012

 

[bigperm20]

Cool! Bigfoot is quite fitting then. Does she ever walk upright? She may be responsible for all of those Yetti sightings

 

[catmom88]

Hahaha!  Funny!  She only walks upright when in search of bacon in the kitchen. Her bacon senses are very keen.  LOL!
 

 

[holly snow]

Hi CatMom, I saw your post and wanted to tell you that your Bigfoot is a totally gorgeous Highland Lynx (and she would be considered a seal point Snow Leopard). Snow leopards are my favorite of all! ! I am a very small hobby breeder of the Highland and Desert Lynx located in Virginia, and if you see my male, Snow Storm, you will think they could be related to each other. I am nearly 50 and have had cats all my life but never had any that were like these! I am completely in love and sold on them!

As far as toys, go to Amazon (or a local store if in a big town), and look for Cat Springs. I give them to all my kitten buyers because cats go nuts over chasing them and they are inexpensive and sturdy. Also look for cat dancer, another cheap, sturdy toy that our cats love. Two of the best toys ever! 

Hope that helps. By the way who is your breeder friend? I may know her. That was a pretty awesome gift she gave you!

 

[bigperm20]

She does have a pretty tail. Why do breeders dock the tails? Are some of them tailless, so therefore they want them all uniform?

 

[jennyr]

I did not know that anyone, anywhere, docked cats' tails. I cannot imagine any reason to do such a thing. Cats need their tails for balance, and although a cat who loses its tail through a medical emergency or accident can function as well as a cat who loses a leg, it has lost an integral part of its equipment for being a cat. Does anyone else know of such practices?

 

[missymotus]

According to the TICA website their tails are naturally short from 2 inches to hock length

 

[bigperm20]

I looked at several different breeders websites the other day and many of these kittens were listed with "docked tails". I had never heard of such a practice myself but that's what was being done.

 

[jennyr]

I looked at several different breeders websites the other day and many of these kittens were listed with "docked tails". I had never heard of such a practice myself but that's what was being done.

Maybe they meant 'naturally' docked or short tails?

 

[holly snow]

Unfortunately most breeders dock the tails of this breed (and other cat breeds), although they are often born with natural bobtails too. We do NOT dock tails of our Highland Lynx/Highlanders, as we like them however they come and do not believe in removing parts of their body. People who show their cats also dock because in certain breeds of cat (just like dogs) a certain length of tail is desirable.

Also when you see the word dock, it always means the tail was cut off at a very young age......if it is a naturally short tail (nst) they often cost more.