Oriental Longhair: Oriental Longhair Cat Breed History, Temperament and Personality

The Oriental Longhair is a cat that most closely represents the Siamese longhair breed and has a much more recent history in today’s breeding market.

Their extremely good-natured and talkative, and they do best in homes where they have plenty of company. Oriental longhairs come in a wide range of pattern combinations and colors.

They are known for their long and slender shape and for a coat that’s medium to long with fine and silky style fur.

Characteristics

Weight	8-12 pounds
Height	8-10 inches
Colors and Patterns	all colors and patterns
Lifespan	12-15 years
Suitable for	Families with kids and other pets; single people, seniors who spend most of their time at home

If you’re wondering what to expect out of an oriental longhair cat, you’ll be looking at a pet of around 8-12 pounds when fully grown. The patterns that their coats can take on make them beautiful pets and elegant companions. Their eye color is usually green or blue, and they do sometimes have odd-eyed looks.

They have a life expectancy of 12 to 15 years. The breed is known for being extremely affectionate and very friendly. They are excellent pets for kids, and they’re good with other pets in the house as well. The oriental longhair only has a medium level of exercise need, but they can be highly playful and energetic when they are played with. These are extremely intelligent cats, and they are known for their level of vocalization when they need something. As well as being fun and playful, they’re also known for a reasonable amount of shedding due to their long and silky hair.

 History of the Breed

Oriental cats were originally a shorthaired breed, and the shorthaired variety is the most common. The first of these cats were bred somewhere in Turkey in the 19th century, and they were an adaptation of the famous Persian cat. The popularity of the breed would continue and they would be dispersed across Europe. In the 20th century, breeders were interested in developing these cats to have many different coat patterns. Crossing the breeds of Siamese, Russian blue, British shorthair and Abyssinian produced the first of the oriental shorthair is an Oriental cats. The shorthaired version of the breed was recognized by the cat fanciers Federation in the year 1977, but it wasn’t until the year 1995 that the oriental longhair was recognized as a breed. The international cat association recognized the oriental longhair in 1979, but it took some time for the breed to capture recognition worldwide.

Another name for this type of cat is often the British angora which was the original name for the breed in the 20th century.

READ MORE: Oriental Shorthair

Interesting Facts

• Over 600 coat colors and patterns are associated with the oriental longhair family.
• The breed often retains its kitten traits as they continue to age and their personalities will continue to amuse even as they reach senior status.
• The oriental longhair cat is viewed as a separate breed in the division, and it’s often seen as a larger group of breeds. The longhair is a division of the oriental breed and because of the number of coat varieties, it can be challenging to determine the breed standard.

READ MORE: The Fluffiest Cat Breeds You Can Own

Color Variety

The length of the coat is usually at a medium-long length and there isn’t a downy undercoat. The fur for an oriental longhair cat will often be close to the body and the longest hair will be along the tail. There are many color varieties available for oriental longhair cats, and you can get these cats in almost any color you can imagine, from orange to gray tones and more.

Temperament and personality

This cat breed is somewhat similar to the Siamese with an elegant and graceful approach to its movements. Like many of these cats, they’re known for being extremely long and lean and also great natural athletes. Oriental longhair have a surprising amount of muscle in their very slender look, and although they’re not larger, they have long tails for balance and are built to run their years are wider, and the angles of the cheekbones produce an angle at the ear tip that holds them upwards. They have fine bones in a tubular body with very close line coats.

They’re known for being extremely lively and elegant and they are also extremely positive and friendly.

These cats are known for being extremely intelligent and sociable. They’re great at playing fetch, they can amuse themselves for hours, and they love to play. They love to play with other animals and their also cats that are highly interactive. Some cats have a tendency to pick a member of the household, whereas others remain the life of the party. If you’re seeking a devoted companion, this is a pet that will provide you with years of beautiful companionship.

The chart below ranks various aspects of an Oriental longhair’s temperament and personality from 1 to 5, 5 being the highest:

Potential for playfulness	5
Activity level	4
Friendliness to other pets	5
Friendliness to children	5
Grooming requirements and shedding	3
Need for attention	4
Affection towards its owners	5
Intelligence	5
Independence	3

Caring for Oriental Longhair Cats

Caring for an oriental longhair cat can be somewhat similar to other breeds. Oriental longhairs will share a series of traits with Siamese cats and are also known to be very curious and clever. Oriental longhair cats require regular stimulation to prevent them from making mischief. In a household where they’re going to have plenty of company their often best suited. Your oriental longhair can be an excellent companion for other pets, and they can be easy to train with some positive reinforcement training methods. An oriental long hair can be very chatty and vocal, so if you enjoy having a quiet home, this may not be the breed for you.

Regular grooming and regular play can be a big part of working with your oriental longhair and ensuring that they’re enjoying the best quality of life. 

Common health problems with Oriental longhairs:

Some of the most common health problems that Oriental longhairs experience include liver problems, eyes that can eventually lead to blindness, kinked tails, and crossed eyes, which are also quite common from their relationship with Siamese cats. They can be prone to periodontal diseases, so it’s important to feed them a healthy diet and consider tooth cleaning regularly.

Activity Levels

Most Oriental longhairs are excellent at being interactive and also entertaining themselves. They require some activity but are also quite content as a medium level of exercise breed. Their activity levels will vary, but they are often social cats that enjoy at least a small bit of play every day.

Should you adopt or rescue?

Adopting or rescuing a cat can be an extremely rewarding experience. Because oriental longhair cats are extremely popular, there’s a good chance that you might be able to find one at a local shelter that you will be able to adapt as your own. You can find reputable breeders at pet finder if you’re interested in finding a kitten that’s going to be well socialized and healthy or you can find many adoption sources in your area if you’d prefer to adopt an older cat or to find a kitten that may be as an oriental longhair.

Are they hypoallergenic?

The oriental longhair is considered to be a non-allergenic cat. You will still need to regularly groom your cat to ensure that the dander is kept down to a minimum. Regular grooming will make sure that you can prevent shedding and enjoy an easier time with any allergies.

FAQ:

Conclusion:

If you are looking for an extremely social cat that can be elegant and rewarding, the oriental longhair cat could be an excellent addition to your family. If you’re the type of person that doesn’t like any extra noise in your home, the oriental longhair cat may not be the best choice for your family. These cats do not do well if they cannot express themselves.

Oriental longhairs also require a social environment and regular stimulation. If you’re not going to be around regularly or you don’t have other animals in the home, and Oriental longhair is somewhat independent, but they can thrive in situations where they can be social.

If you are interested in learning more about this breed, be sure to check out our future posts or consider contacting a vet or breeder in your area.

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