Originating in 1960s England, the oriental longhair is a cat that is highly devoted to people and loves companionship. Although it sheds constantly, its long, bi-color coat requires minimal grooming. Oriental Longhair (solid black).

Understanding the Context

The Oriental Longhair is a variety of domestic cat closely related to the Oriental Shorthair. The Oriental Longhair in some registries, such as The International Cat Association (TICA), it is considered a separate breed. Their intriguing appearance is often enough to make you fall in love with the Oriental Longhair cat breed. Read on to find how their temperatment and care stack up.

Key Insights

The oriental longhair looks similar to a Siamese, with its triangular heads, large ears, and almond-shaped eyes. But, the longhair has an even lankier and more slender body with a long, plumed tail. Oriental Longhairs are medium-sized cats with a svelte but muscular build. They have long, tapering lines and graceful bodies that give the impression of strength without bulk. The Oriental Longhair's coat is semi-long and lies close to the body.

Final Thoughts

Below the fine, silky topcoat is a slight undercoat. 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. Oriental Longhairs are talkative cats that enjoy talking with their family. They demand a lot of attention and tend to get into mischief if left alone for long periods of time. The ideal cat of this breed group is a svelte, graceful, refined cat of medium size with long tapering lines. With nearly 300 recognized color and pattern variations, there is an Oriental Longhair to suit nearly every aesthetic preference, from subtle, soft tones to bold and striking contrasts.

Oriental Longhair: Price, Personality, and Colors - All the Facts You Need Whether your Oriental cat has short or long hair, they can have one of any of the 300 coat colors possible for the breed. Compared to other cat breeds, including the Siamese, the variety is impressive. The Oriental Longhair cat boasts a slender, muscular body with a fine, silky coat that lies close to the skin. Their almond-shaped eyes and large, expressive ears give them a distinctive and elegant appearance.