The Highlander/ Highland lynx is a fairly new cat breed that made its first appearance in 1995 at a North Carolina cattery. Also known as the Highland lynx bobtail and the Highlander, the Highland lynx was developed by crossing jungle curls with desert lynx cats.

Highlander/Highland  Lynx was developed to reflect the look of a Bobcat.  To create this look, a Desert Lynx, another breed that resembles a wild cat,  to a Jungle Curl.  These Jungle Curls were polydactyl cats that also carried the dominant curl gene in their ears.  These cats are believed to have developed a different or at least a spontaneous curl mutation on their own, just as the curled cats that were discovered in Canada in the 1950's.  According to original documentation, different breeds including domestic shorthairs were used to create the Desert and Highland Lynx.  Though there have been claims of wild/domestic hybridization being used, there are no documented fertility issues in any of these cats.