This entry was posted on 2014-09-11 by Schalk.

The names of this breed include the Highland Fold and Longhair whilst British breeders named the longhaired variant of the Scottish Fold, Coupari. Its most distinctive characteristics are its folded ears and very large eyes making this loving cat a delightful pet for the whole family.

Traits

·       Other names: Highland Fold, Longhair, Scottish fold

·       Weight: 3.5-5.5kg

·       Height: 25-30cm

·       Coat: Shorthaired or medium-longhaired

·       Colour: Patterns and colours: tabby, solid, bicolor, tabby and white and particolor.

·       Litter size: About 4 kittens

·       Life span: 12-15 years.

Physical Characteristics

Compared to a wise old owl the appearance of this breed consists of big round eyes, full cheeks, pleasant expression, and a petite nose. Its most extraordinary attribute is its folded ears, which only fold forward once the cat has reached three months of age. Its single coat that is soft, flexible and long comes in a variation of different patterns and colours.

Personality and Temperament

This breed is incredibly affectionate and obedient. Relies heavily on human interaction and will get sad if left alone. Actually on occasion this breed will become vocal in demanding attention, even rubbing its self against you for a quick love.

Generally the Coupari will stick to one person in the family. Nevertheless it is a sweet and gentle cat that will show kindness to others and gets on well with other pets and children. Remarkably intelligent this cat can be trained to play fetch and even walk on a leash.

Care

As the Coupari has long hair he needs quite a lot of grooming, at least three times a week or even everyday which would be better. Hence creating a grooming routine early in your cat’s life will benefit you greatly. You will need to un-tangle its fur using a wide-toothed comb and remove all the unwanted wax from its ears using a damp cloth (once a month).

Health

The average lifespan of the Coupari is twelve to fifteen years. You should take your cat for routine check-ups and vaccinations twice a year. The Coupari is susceptible to polycystic and cardiomyopathy kidney disease, which is a disorder that generally, leads to kidney failure. This cat is also inclined to be affected by diseases of the joints. Not all of them are curable but most of them are treatable.

History and Background

The history of the Coupari can be dated back to 1961 where a white stable cat named Susie was found with uncommon ears in the small town of Coupar Angus a few kilometers northeast of Perth, Scotland. Her offspring had the same ears but some had short hair while the others had long hair. Yet once they established a breed standard for the Scottish Fold, they only considered the shorthaired version. Many criticized the longhaired version because it had an earless appearance.

Hazel Swadberg an American exhibitor in the 1980’s began arranging longhaired Scottish folds in cat shows and exhibitions. This helped the longhair gain recognition and fame amongst the community.

The TICA (The International Cat Association) in 1986 officially acknowledged it as a separate breed and it received the name Scottish Fold Longhair. The CFF (Cat Fanciers’ Foundation) in 1991 granted it championship states but used Longhair Fold as the name. Whilst on the other hand the ACFA (American Cat Fanciers’ Association) mentions Highland Fold as the breed’s name.

Internationally this breed doesn’t have an accepted name but is adored by those who come across it.

Nutrition

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