Chantilly Tiffany Cat Breed Price, Personality and Lifespan

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Seb Jenkins
Seb Jenkins

Author: Seb Jenkins

Seb is a professional SEO writer with a degree in Journalism, he has five years of experience in writing and editing. Seb specializes in topics like dog and cat breeds, aquarium guides, and pet care. He is passionate about educating and entertaining animal owners worldwide. In his spare time, Seb enjoys writing fiction novels.

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Updated on: 06/27/2023

When welcoming a new feline friend into your home, it is rarely as simple as picking the one you think is most adorable. Researching personality traits and needs is necessary to determine whether a cat fits into your family dynamic. Unsurprisingly, you are researching the Chantilly Tiffany cat as the next possible addition to your family. Fortunately for you, we have compiled an all-you-need-to-know guide right here.

chantilly tiffanyJennie Kondo (Jennie Valdivieso Kondo – Grialte), CC BY-SA 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

Characteristics

The following are the main characteristics shown by the Chantilly Tiffany cat:

CharacteristicDescription
Length16-20 inches
Weight6-12 pounds
Lifespan7-16 years
ColorBlack, chocolate, blue, silver, lilac, platinum, fawn
GroupSemi-longhaired cat
TemperamentSweet and gentle
IntelligenceHigh
Social skillsFriendly and loving
People skillsVery human-oriented
ChildrenKid-friendly

Interesting Facts

  • As Chantilly Tiffany cats get older, the colors of their eyes get deeper.
  • Tiffany was called the Foreign Longhair for a very short period.
  • They like to have conversations with you via a series of adorable chirps.

Breed History

The Chantilly Tiffany is a rare cat breed with a rather fascinating history. The semi-longhaired feline, often referred to as a Tiffany, was first seen in the 1960s, making it a relatively new breed on the block. Jennie Robinson, a professional New York cat breeder at the time, combined two long-haired cats with chocolate fur, not knowing their exact origins. She originally named the resulting breed the Foreign Longhair, but it was soon renamed the Tiffany when another breeder named Sigyn Lund took control ten years later.

For many years, people mistakenly claimed that the Chantilly Tiffany was a cross between a Burmese cat and a Persian or Himalayan. This mistake was printed in books and official registers in the 1960s/70s. Lund had made his name as a famous Burmese breeder, but nothing indicates that the Tiffany dates back to the Burmese breed.

Fast forward another ten years to the 1980s, and Tiffany breeding in Canada began, although the name was changed for a third time to Tiffany-Chantilly – or Chantilly for short. Suddenly, the breed was available in a vast array of colors, which made the origins even more confusing to the outside world.

In the modern day, it is still challenging to determine what is and what is not a Chantilly Tiffany. The breed is not recognized by any registry, so many breeders claim to have Tiffanys, but there is one specific way of knowing. As such, they are extremely rare breeds to find, and you need to be careful when dealing with people who say they have purebred Tiffanys.

You should do a lot of research and ask questions to determine the true origin. Mixing up a Chantilly Tiffany with any other longhaired breed with dark fur is easy. On another note, Tiffany is an entirely different breed from Tiffanie.

Temperament and Personality

The Chantilly Tiffany is known to be a very kind, sweet, and gentle cat. They are loyal and devoted to their favorite humans and will often approach you to demand attention and love whenever desired. For anyone looking for a cat who will interact with you and seek you out, Tiffany is for you.

While the Chantilly Tiffany does not meow or howl at you for attention, they are known to be chatty little cats. They chirp at you to communicate, which can be charming – and far less annoying than a loud meow.

The best way to describe Tiffany is human-oriented. They will likely follow you around the home, curl up for a cuddle when relaxing, and want to play with you throughout the day. Be prepared for a conversation because that chirping chatter is very regular.

Tiffany kittens are cheeky and playful little creatures, so be prepared to deal with that. Adults are still fun and playful but a little more relaxed.

The Chantilly Tiffany is a great family cat as they are happy to interact with you but are also calm and gentle enough to have around children. Generally speaking, Tiffany deals with children and is handled awkwardly very well. They should be near the top of your list if you are looking for a kid-friendly kitty.

It all depends on socialization. You stand a far better chance if you socialize your Chantilly Tiffany with other animals from a young age. They are not territorial cats by nature. That said, they can get jealous when you give attention to other pets and slap other animals out of the way to get to the front of the queue.

CategoryRating (out of 5)
Affectionate with family4
Shedding3
Health4
Playfulness4
Vocal5
Kid-friendly4
Stranger-friendly2
Easy to groom2
Pet-friendly3
Intelligence4

Feeding and Diet

Like most cats, the Chantilly Tiffany is always at risk of obesity, especially when they are bored or stressed, so you need to watch how much you feed them. A growing belly can be hidden under all that long hair, so be vigilant. We recommend talking to your vet to come up with a specific diet plan for your cat, depending on their age and activity levels.

Most Chantilly Tiffany owners find that a two-meal diet is best for their Chantilly Tiffany, feeding them once in the morning and once in the evening. If there is food left in the bowl after 30 minutes, then remove it so you can keep track.

We recommend a mixture of high-quality dry and wet food to maintain health and to keep them interested. They are not too fussy when it comes to dinner, but they like to mix things up.

It is also always a good idea to purchase food that is aimed towards your cat’s age range to ensure they are getting all the stuff they need in order to remain healthy. You should also cater the portion size to the size of your Chantilly Tiffany cat and their energy levels – to avoid them becoming overweight or malnourished.

Grooming Needs and Shedding

Grooming is a task with Chantilly Tiffany; it has to be said. That long hair doesn’t look after itself. Because the hair is both long and fine, it can be tangled and knotted quite easily. We recommend that you give them daily brushes. With some cats, this might be tricky, but Tiffany will likely enjoy the process just because they want to spend time with you. Just be careful when dealing with knots and tangles so you don’t hurt them.

You should also take the chance to brush their teeth and trim their nails to keep their health at an optimum. Brushing once per day is best to reduce the risk of periodontal disease, but a weekly brush will often be enough. If your cat really fights against brushing, then you can get dental treats to help. Nails should be trimmed once every two weeks or so, although your cat may regulate this themselves just by walking around.

We also recommend checking/cleaning their ears to prevent the build-up of dirt and bacteria – just be sure to keep using clean parts of the cloth so you don’t spread any infection.

black chantilly tiffanyImage by Petra from Pixabay

Known Health Problems

The Chantilly Tiffany cat breed is generally very healthy, but you should still keep an eye out for common problems which can be found in mixed breeds:

  • Kidney disease
  • Feline cancer
  • Prolonged labor
  • Gingivitis
  • Ear wax build-up
  • Digestive problems
  • Corn or maize intolerance

Regular vet check-ups are a necessity with any animal, no matter their track record of health. One thing to look out for, which is standard with many cats, is signs of dirt building up in the ears, which can lead to a possible infection. You could also look to converse with your vet about a tooth-brushing plan for your Chantilly Tiffany. Our general advice would be to always be on the lookout for changes in their behavior or any signs of pain/distress.

READ MORE: How do I know if My Cat is Sick?

Exercise

Although Tiffany likes to follow you around and play all day, they are not actually very active cats. This becomes even more the case once they reach adulthood. You should look to play with your Chantilly Tiffany a few times a day for ten minutes at a time to keep them exercised and healthy. We recommend investing in some toys and puzzles. They will likely pick their favorites, but you can rotate things in and out to keep them on their toes.

Adoption

Because they are so rare, Chantilly Tiffanys do not usually end up in adoption shelters, so the chances of finding one in a shelter or adoption agency are pretty slim. Of course, we always recommend giving a home to a cat who needs one rather than purchasing a bred kitten if possible.

READ MORE: How Much Does It Cost To Adopt A Cat?

Breeders

This is your best chance of finding a Chantilly Tiffany local to you. The Chantilly Tiffany is a very rare cat and is not recognized by any registers, so you need to be very careful when dealing with people who claim to have purebred Tiffanys. Some research into your local area should reveal some breeding options to you. Always select a breeder who has good reviews to ensure that you are actually getting a healthy Chantilly Tiffany kitten rather than something else.

Conclusion

And there we have it, everything you need to know about the Chantilly Tiffany cat breed. They truly are a joy to have around the family home and will be a welcome addition to your group. If you have any further questions, feel free to get in touch or post a message in the comments section below. We wish you all the luck with your new pet.

FAQs:

Is Chantilly-Tiffany cat rare?

The Chantilly Tiffany is a very rare cat. Because they are not recognized by any official registers, they can be even more difficult to find, so be careful when dealing with breeders.

How do you tell if my cat is a Chantilly-Tiffany?

Honestly, it can be difficult. Because the Tiffany is not recognised by any official registers, the exact specifications are tricky to confirm. We recommend only going to highly-respected and well-reviewed breeders to be 100% sure.

What are the characteristics of a Chantilly-Tiffany?

They have slanted oval eyes which are usually golden in colour. Long legs with rounded paws. Lucious plume tails. They weigh between 8 and 12 pounds. They have a gently-rounded wedge-shaped head, with a short and broad muzzle. High cheekbones. Usually have prominent ear tuffs with rounded tips. Medium to long coat with no undercoat. The colors usually include black, chocolate, blue, silver, lilac, platinum, and fawn.

How much does a Chantilly-Tiffany cost?

The Chantilly Tiffany usually costs between $300 and $1,000.