oriental-longhair
Curious, affectionate, easygoing, playful
Overview
Origin
United States, United Kingdom
Life Span
12-15 years
Height
8"- 10"
Weight
6 - 12 pounds
Group
Medium-sized long-haired
Price
$400-$2000
History
Also known as Javanese, British Angora, Foreign Longhair, and Mandarin cats, Oriental Longhairs are part of a larger group called the Oriental. These cats were developed using Siamese cats as key foundation members, with the goal of creating cats with the body style and personality of a Siamese, in a variety of different coat colors and patterns.
The Oriental story began in England in the 1950s. There, many cat breeds were brought to near extinction during the second world war when food shortages and constant bombardment placed a massive strain on society as a whole. As breeders worked to rebuild their foundations, new colors and patterns emerged.
The Oriental Shorthair and the Oriental Longhair have similar backgrounds: Both have Siamese heritage along with Russian Blue, Abyssinian, British Shorthair, and various domestic genetics that ultimately enlarged and improved the Siamese gene pool. After all, color is the only thing that distinguishes an Oriental from a contemporary Siamese cat.
At first, breeders tried to come up with a separate breed name for each colored Oriental cat that resulted from various pairings. Thus, we’re graced with such breeds as the Havana Brown, Foreigh White, and of course, the Oriental Bicolour. Over time, cat breed registries decided that there were just too many different color and coat combinations (all of them wonderful!) and the Oriental Shorthair / Longhair terminology was adopted.
While the Oriental Shorthair was accepted by the Cat Fanciers Association (CFA) in 1977, the Oriental Longhair didn’t gain official CFA recognition until 1995.
The International Cat Association (TICA) granted recognition in 1979 and today, the breed or variety is recognized by cat breed registries worldwide.
Care
Nutrition
Oriental Longhair cats have no special nutritional needs, however they thrive on a high-protein diet that features real meat or fish as the main ingredient. Consider a brand with added Omega fatty acids to support skin and coat health.
Grooming
The Oriental Longhair has a single-layer coat that’s more medium length than long; in fact, these cats look positively short-haired when placed alongside Persians and other cats with very long hair. You won’t need to do much brushing, just offer a daily once-over to help remove any loose hair and keep shedding to a minimum.
Exercise
Oriental Longhair cats are extremely playful. They (and you) will benefit if you offer at least one tall cat tree, a window seat or two, and a nice scratching post in every room. Without these essentials and a well-stocked toy collection, these cats will jump and climb on every piece of furniture you own, and they’ll find all sorts of things to play with: Your toothbrush, those earrings you accidentally left on the nightstand, and your favorite collectibles are all considered fair game.
Health
Oriental Longhair cats are generally healthy. Their Siamese heritage does increase the risk for certain issues though, including asthma, megaesophagus, feline lower urinary tract disease, dilated cardiomyopathy, liver amyloidosis, and progressive retinal atrophy. A small percentage of Oriental Longhairs are born cross-eyed - not a major health concern, but a flaw that’s prohibited in the show arena.
Breed Standard
Body
The body is long, slim, and tubular. Oriental Longhair cats should appear have a lean, graceful appearance.
Head
The head is triangular, with a wedge-shaped muzzle and a long, straight nose that creates an elongated profile.
Eyes
The eyes should be medium size, with an almond shape. They should slant slightly, continuing the visual lines that the head and ears create. Green eyes are common; blue eyes are preferred in cats with pointed colors. Odd eyes may be encountered.
Ears
The Oriental Longhair cat should have very large ears that continue the triangular lines of the head. The ears should have wide bases and pointed tips.
Color
A vast range of colors and patterns are acceptable.
Coat
The coat should be of medium-long length, without a downy undercoat. The fur should lie close to the body so that it appears shorter than it is. The longest hair should be on the tail.
Tail
The Oriental Longhair cat’s tail should be long and thin, and should taper to a fine point. The hair on the tail should create an elegant plume.
Legs & Paws
The legs should be long and slim, with the hind legs being a little bit longer than the forelegs. The paws should be small, dainty, ovals.
Personality & Temperament
An outgoing, friendly personality plus a silky, luxurious coat: These are just two things that make the Oriental Longhair Cat stand out! These lovely - and loving - cats share so many traits with their Oriental Shorthair cousins and other Oriental cat: They’re playful, intelligent, and far more social than the average feline, with a built-in need for attention.
Bring an Oriental Longhair cat into your home, and you’ll have a friend for life. These cats love nothing quite so much as to follow their favorite person’s every move, poking curious noses into everything from the refrigerator to the bathtub, and reaching out to tap with a paw whenever anything looks out of place.
Not only do Oriental Longhairs use body language to express themselves, they have the ability to develop an impressive vocabulary of meows, trills, and chirps in keeping with their Siamese heritage. These gregarious cats are opinionated and they love to engage in conversation.
When it comes to companionship, the Oriental Longhair cat has some special needs. These cats don’t do well at all when they’re left alone for too long; in fact, they can become seriously distressed or develop destructive habits if they’re deprived of the ability to socialize.
While they do tend to choose a favorite human to follow and snuggle with, they’re happy making friends with other family members including those with four legs and fur. Another social cat or a friendly dog makes the ideal companion for an Oriental Longhair, particularly if you’re someone who spends quite a bit of time away from home.
As cats go, Oriental Longhairs are certainly more affectionate than most. If your family wants at least one fantastic cuddle buddy, this breed is more than capable of lending a paw.