Pedigree Cat Breeds - Oriental Longhair

The Oriental Longhair has a rather unwieldy name for such an elegant creature. It is the longhaired (semi longhaired actually) equivalent of the Oriental Shorthair, or the full coloured equivalent of the Balinese and therefore belongs in the Siamese/Oriental group.

Its history is a little patchy as there have been several different strands of breeding over the last 50 years which have finally come together. It was once known, in the UK, as the Angora because breeders initially producing these cats thought they resembled the Turkish Angora.

But with a renewed interest in the Turkish Angora itself, which is a totally different breed, the name had to be changed to avoid confusion.


 


In other parts of the world the Oriental Longhair has been known as the Mandarin, in an attempt to give the cat an Oriental name which respects its origins. But perhaps the most common other name that this breed has been known by is the Javanese Cat and in some places it is still called the Javanese.

The International Cat Association (TICA) was the first registering body to recognise the Oriental Longhair followed by FIFe and then the British organisations. It is now fully recognised by all bodies and has championship status. The standard for the breed is the same as that for the Oriental Shorthair except for the coat, which should be long and silky resulting in a full, plumed tail.


 

Ear tufts and a neck ruff are also acceptable. Most registering organisations consider the Oriental Longhair, Oriental Shorthair, Siamese and Balinese to be 'sister breeds' and therefore outcrosses between these cats are permitted and you may find more than one of the other breeds in an Oriental Longhair pedigree.

Well over 200 colour/ pattern combinations are accepted including tortoiseshell, tabby, silver and now bi-colour (any colour with white). The basic 'type' or conformation should be of a fine boned, slender cat on tall legs with a long tail. The head should be wedge shaped with a straight profile. Ears should be large and widely spaced. The appearance of the head from the front should represent an equilateral triangle with the ears following the lines of the head. Eyes should be almond shaped and always green in colour.

Oriental Longhairs are much rarer than their shorthaired counterparts.

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*Breed standards may vary according to cat governing body