A typical Oriental, this cat is ideal for people who want an active and engaging pet and a devoted companion.
Known originally as the British Angora, the Oriental Longhair was renamed in 2002 to avoid confusion with the Turkish Angora. The breed was developed in the 1960s in an attempt to re-create the silkyhaired Angora cats that were favored pets in Victorian households until ousted by the up-and-coming Persians.
Breeding programs included various longhaired Oriental cats, such as the Balinese, producing what is in essence a longhaired Siamese—lithe-bodied and elegant but without color points. Curious, playful, and highly active, the Oriental Longhair loves to be the center of family attention, but often chooses one person with whom to form a close bond.
Origin: UK, 1960s
Breed registries: CFA, FIFe, GCCF, TICA
Weight range: 6–11lb (2.5–5kg)
Grooming: 2–3 times a week
Colors and patterns: Many colors, including solid, smoke, and shaded; tortie, tabby, and bicolor patterns.