Description: British Longhair
The British Longhair is a charming and elegant cat breed, known for its dense, plush coat and rounded features. Developed by crossing British Shorthairs with Persian cats, British Longhairs exhibit both the luxurious fur of the Persian and the sturdy, robust build of their British ancestry. These medium to large-sized cats have a calm, gentle temperament and adapt well to various household environments. They are affectionate, though not overly demanding, and enjoy a peaceful home where they can relax. Their luxurious coat requires regular grooming to prevent matting, but otherwise, they are relatively low-maintenance. British Longhairs are well-suited for families, singles, and seniors alike, making them a popular choice for cat lovers looking for a serene and devoted companion.
British Longhair ratings
Properties
The British Longhair is a striking and relatively recent breed that originated as a variation of the well-known British Shorthair, distinguished by its luxurious, semi-longhaired coat. This breed was developed primarily in the United Kingdom by breeding British Shorthairs with longhaired breeds such as Persians, particularly after World War I and II, when the necessity arose to diversify gene pools due to population declines. As a result, the British Longhair maintains much of the sturdy and robust physique typical of its Shorthair ancestor, sharing the signature round face and densely boned structure.
Physically, British Longhairs are medium to large-sized cats, with broad chests, short, strong legs, and a thick, plush tail that matches the length and density of their fur. The breed's most prominent feature is, of course, its plush and semi-long double coat, which requires regular grooming to prevent matting and to keep it looking its best. The coat comes in a wide range of colors and patterns, very much like the British Shorthair, including solid, tabby, bicolor, and more.
The temperament of the British Longhair is gentle, affectionate, and somewhat reserved. These cats are known for being calm, easygoing companions, making them well-suited for family life, singles, or the elderly. While they can be playful, they are less active than some other breeds and tend to prefer lounging in a comfortable spot, observing their environment. They generally get along well with children and other pets, provided they are socialized from a young age. However, they may not always tolerate overly rough play, due to their peaceful nature.
British Longhairs are intelligent cats, but they’re not typically known for being overly demanding or vocal. They often form strong bonds with their owners, showing their affection through gentle headbutts, purring, and following their humans around the house. Despite their attachment, they do appreciate having some alone time and can cope fairly well if left alone during the day, making them suitable for working households.
This breed is generally healthy, though due to its Persian ancestry, it may occasionally inherit certain health issues, such as polycystic kidney disease (PKD) or susceptibility to obesity without proper diet and exercise. Regular grooming, routine veterinary check-ups, and attention to diet are key to keeping a British Longhair in good health. Overall, the British Longhair combines the best of British Shorthair looks with an impressive, plush coat and a loving, steady temperament.
Appearance
The British Longhair is a charming and elegant breed, primarily known for its luxurious and plush coat, which is the breed’s most striking feature and sets it apart from its shorthaired cousin, the British Shorthair. This breed exhibits a dense, semi-long to long coat that is both soft and silky to the touch. The fur is evenly distributed across the body, forming a thick ruff around the neck (often referred to as a 'mane'), bushy tail, and tufts of hair between the toes and behind the legs, especially on mature individuals.
The overall body of the British Longhair is sturdy and well-proportioned, characterized by a compact and muscular build. These cats are medium to large in size, with broad chests, strong shoulders, and a powerful appearance that reflects their robust constitution. Typically, they display a cobby body type, which means their torso is short and rounded, further contributing to their plush, teddy-bear-like presence.
The head of the British Longhair is distinctly round with full cheeks and a short, broad nose that displays a gentle curve rather than a break. The muzzle is well-developed yet smoothly rounded, complemented by a strong chin. Their medium-sized, rounded ears are set wide apart on the head, blending gracefully with the contours and often adorned with tufts of hair at the tips.
One of the most captivating features of the British Longhair is its large, round eyes, which give the breed a sweet, expressive look. Eye color typically corresponds with the coat color, ranging from deep copper and gold to blue or green, particularly in colorpoint varieties.
The breed comes in an impressive array of coat colors and patterns, including solid, tabby, bicolor, and colorpoint variations. Classic colors such as blue, lilac, cream, black, and white are popular, with blue (gray) being especially iconic among British cats. Their tails are notably plumed and well-furred, adding fullness to their silhouette.
Overall, the British Longhair’s appearance exudes a soft, regal charm. Their majestic fur and rounded features not only contribute to their visual appeal but also to their gentle and approachable demeanor, making them highly favored by cat enthusiasts around the world.
History
The British Longhair is a relatively modern breed whose origins can be traced back to the United Kingdom. Its development is closely linked to that of the more well-known British Shorthair. During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the popularity of Persian cats was soaring in Europe, particularly in England. To introduce new features and improve certain aspects of the British Shorthair, such as coat texture and size, breeders began crossing British Shorthairs with Persians and other longhaired cats.
This crossbreeding resulted in kittens that sometimes carried the recessive gene for long hair. As a result, some shorthair litters would unexpectedly produce longhaired individuals. These longhaired kittens were initially not recognized as a separate breed and were often excluded from breeding programs, as the focus remained on the traditional British Shorthair standards. However, over time, the charming appearance and gentle temperament of these longhaired cats led to increasing interest among breeders and cat enthusiasts.
The establishment of the British Longhair as a distinct breed gained momentum in the latter half of the 20th century. Efforts were made to standardize their characteristics and separate them from both British Shorthairs and Persians. British Longhairs maintained the robust, muscular bodies and round faces of their shorthair relatives, but sported a plush, semi-longhaired coat that set them apart. Crossbreeding with Persians was minimized to preserve a unique identity while avoiding the exaggerated features of the Persian.
Breed recognition arrived gradually, with various organizations in Europe, such as the Fédération Internationale Féline (FIFe) and The International Cat Association (TICA), acknowledging the British Longhair as a separate breed. In the UK, however, their status has sometimes been aligned with the British Shorthair as a coat variation. Today, the British Longhair is celebrated for its majestic appearance, laid-back nature, and loyal temperament. The breed remains rarer than the British Shorthair but is steadily growing in popularity as more people become aware of its history and charm. The development of the British Longhair is thus a testament to selective breeding and the human appreciation for genetic diversity within the domestic cat population.