The interval, stage by stage
Highlander kittens start with several early visits for vaccinations, growth tracking, and neutering guidance. As an adult, one routine checkup a year is the right rhythm for a healthy cat of this sturdy, recently developed breed. From his senior years, make it twice a year — the usual ageing concerns of kidneys, teeth, thyroid, and joints all benefit from a six-month interval, and a large-bodied cat carries more weight through ageing joints than a small one, so earlier notice of stiffness or condition change is worth more here.
Curled ears, bobtail, and extra toes
The Highlander's signature features each add a line to the checklist. His ears curl backwards, which changes how wax and debris sit in the ear and makes a deliberate ear inspection part of every visit rather than an afterthought. His short bobbed tail and the spine behind it get a hands-on feel, much as with other bobtail breeds. And many Highlanders are polydactyl — born with extra toes — so feet deserve a real look: extra claws can grow unnoticed, curve toward a pad, or get missed in home nail trims, and the checkup is where the full count gets checked. Ask the vet to note how many toes and claws he actually has, so home trims can be matched against the true number.
Weight and muscle in a big-framed cat
A Highlander is bred to look substantial — broad, muscular, and heavy-boned — which gives genuine gain excellent camouflage. Owners excuse a widening cat as 'just his build' for a year at a time. The clinic scale plus a hands-on body condition score cuts through that: the vet feels ribs and waist under the frame rather than admiring it. Weigh him at home between visits if he tolerates it, and treat a steady climb as a portion conversation at the next checkup, not a character trait of the breed.
Your observations between visits
Watch the features the vet watches, at home scale. Check ears weekly for build-up or odour, since curled ears hide their contents; run through all his claws when you trim, especially the extras tucked between toes; and notice how he lands from jumps and whether stairs slow down. He is typically a playful, doglike cat who follows games around the house, so a drop in play or a new reluctance to climb is worth reporting with a date, not a shrug.
When the yearly date is too far away
Book sooner for head shaking or an ear that smells, a claw grown into a pad, limping, reluctance to jump, a lump felt along the back or tail, or the standard cat warnings: appetite gone for a day, repeated vomiting or loose stools, drinking much more, or weight sliding despite a normal bowl. Foot and ear problems in particular do not improve by waiting for the calendar.
A breed with this many individual features needs records that describe this cat, not a generic cat, and KinsLe's Pet Passport keeps a Highlander's toe count, ear findings, weights, and checkup notes in one packet that any vet can use.