longhair
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longhair, breed of domestic cat noted for its long, soft, flowing coat. Long-haired cats were originally known as Persians or Angoras. These names were later discarded in favour of the name longhair, although the cats are still commonly called Persians in the United States. The longhair, a medium-sized or large cat with a cobby (stocky), short-legged body, has a broad, round head, a snub nose, and a short, heavily haired tail. The large, round eyes may be blue, orange, golden, green, or copper-coloured, depending on the colour of the cat. The soft, finely textured coat forms a heavy ruff about the neck.
The longhair is bred in a number of colour varieties. The solid, or self, colours are white, black, blue, red, and cream. Patterned coats include shaded silver and black (smoke); silver, brown, blue, or red with darker markings (tabby); white finely ticked with black (chinchilla); cream, red, and black (tortoiseshell); calico, or tortoiseshell and white; blue-gray and cream intermingled (blue cream); and bicoloured. The colours of tortoiseshells, calicos, and blue creams are genetically linked with the sex of the cat. Almost all are females, and most of the few males are sterile. Blue-eyed white cats may be deaf.
Longhairs with Siamese markings (i.e., pale body and dark face, ears, legs, and tail) are Himalayans, or colourpoints. Similarly marked longhairs with white paws are called Birmans. Peke-faced longhairs have short, pushed-in, Pekingese-like faces.
Longhair cats, although generally considered more languorous than short-haired cats, are, like shorthairs, noted for playfulness, affection, and the ability to defend themselves if necessary.
See the Table of Selected Longhair Breeds of Cats for further information.
| name | origin | characteristics | comments | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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Balinese | U.S. | long svelte body; sapphire-blue eyes | mutation of Siamese; tail sways when walking, resembling Balinese dancers |
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Birman | Burma (Myanmar) | deep blue eyes; bushy tail; white-gloved paws | known as the “Sacred Cat of Burma” |
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Cymric | Canada | stout with heavy chest; tailless | a longhair Manx |
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Himalayan, or Colourpoint Longhair | U.S., Europe | cobby body; short full tail; sapphire-blue eyes | cross between Siamese and Persian |
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Javanese | U.S. | graceful with long lithe body; silky coat | cross between Balinese and Colourpoint Shorthair |
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Maine Coon | U.S. | large and well-muscled; shaggy coat | oldest American breed |
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Norwegian Forest | Norway | robust muscular body; double coat | a favourite of the goddess Freya in Norse mythology |
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Persian | exact origin unknown, possibly Iran | cobby body; massive head | one of the oldest and most popular breeds; many varieties |
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Ragdoll | U.S. | heavy and powerful build; blue eyes | relaxes muscles when picked up, resembling a floppy rag doll |
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Somali | U.S. | lithe and muscular body; green or golden eyes; full brush tail | a longhair Abyssinian |
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Turkish Angora | Turkey | long plumed tail; large pointed ears | one of the first longhair cats in Europe |