Oriental Longhair

😺 Temperament

🏡 Best suited to

📊 Personality ratings

📜 History & origin

The Oriental Longhair descends from the same 1960s British breeding programmes that produced the Oriental Shorthair — an effort to recreate the elegant Siamese body type in every colour except the traditional points. When a recessive longhair gene surfaced in these lines (inherited from Balinese and Angora ancestry), breeders developed it into a distinct semi-longhaired variety. Early examples were sometimes called the British Angora before international registries settled on the name Oriental Longhair to avoid confusion with the Turkish Angora. It was granted championship status by major registries through the 1990s.

🧼 Care & grooming

Despite the length, the single, undercoat-free coat is remarkably low-maintenance — a weekly comb keeps it silky and tangle-free. Far more demanding is the breed's need for company: these are 'Velcro' cats that bond intensely and can become anxious or destructive if left alone for long stretches. Provide a companion animal, plenty of interactive play, climbing height and puzzle feeders. Their fine coat and lean build mean they feel the cold, so keep them warm.

🩺 Health notes

Generally healthy, but as part of the Siamese/Oriental family they can inherit progressive retinal atrophy, dilated cardiomyopathy, and amyloidosis affecting the liver. Their slim frame and lack of undercoat make dental care and warmth important. Buy from breeders who screen breeding cats and can show the lines are free of the known Siamese-group conditions.

📸 Oriental Longhair photos

Photographs from Wikimedia Commons, used under their respective licences.