Oriental Longhair vs British Longhair - Breed Comparison

Your Oriental Longhair cat has his foundations in the Siamese breed. The Siamese came from Thailand to the UK in the 1800s.

Sometimes a litter of Siamese kittens produced a long-haired variety but in the 1950s breeders started honing in on these longer haired Siamese cats.

Various crossings took place and Oriental Shorthairs came about. By breeding these Shorthairs with Balinese cats, the Oriental Longhair came about in the 1970s.

The British Longhair cat hails from Great Britain. The cat is a longer-haired variety of the British Shorthair.

These British Shorthairs were interbred with imported long-haired varieties with the idea being to bring about a cat that was more compact and stout and with a rounder face. Today the British Longhair is an established longhair breed in its own right.

The Oriental Longhair is a medium-sized cat with a fairly long, muscular, lean body. The Oriental Longhair actually resembles the Siamese cat.

They also come in an outstanding array of colors and patterns with the coat being long and silky. The coat can be a solid color but you can also find tabby-type coats as well as tipped coats. The cat doesn’t have an undercoat and coat lies fairly flat against the body. You will also hear it being referred to as a semi-longhair.

The tail is attractive and forms quite a bushy plume.

The Oriental Longhair cat has almond-shaped green eyes. If you see the white Orientals, they can have green or blue eyes. They can also be odd-eyed.

Temperament:

These cats are intelligent, curious, and good-natured and they love to talk. Therefore it is important that such a cat breed have a home where there is plenty of company.

They’re active cats too, loving to play and bound and leap. He'll want to willingly join in with some of your games. The cat will certainly need some exciting toys to keep him occupied.

They are loyal cats and become loving and devoted to their human family, getting on well with children in the home as well as other pets.

They don’t like being left alone at all and will prefer to have company, even if it is from another pet.

The beautiful British Longhair cat is a medium-sized feline, leaning towards being a large cat with semi-long hair.

The cat, whether males or females can weigh between 4 and 8kg. It is robust and muscular with round paws and legs of medium length. The ears are smallish and round at the tips.

The color of the eyes can be different - browns, greens, blue, and grey. The colors of the coat can be blue, white, black, grey, calico, tabby, bi-color and tortoiseshell. The coat can be a solid color or it can be in different patterns. The fur is always medium length and silky with an undercoat.

Temperament:

The British Longhair has much the same personality as the British Shorthair – being calm, amicable cats who appreciate their human owners.

They’re adaptable cats too and are willing to get along with any other pets in the home as well. They’re playful and affectionate with their owners but don’t particularly like being held for too long.

Even though this is a docile cate, it is intelligent and will require mental stimulation. You’ll need to invest in a few ‘intelligent’ type of toys to keep your cat physically and mentally active. Take a look at the kinds of games where your cat will be required to ‘hunt’ for his food.

Your Oriental Longhair is such a friendly, lively cat and he makes a splendid companion. It is an inquisitive cat and likes to be part of the activity in the household.

He is a social, talkative cat and has always got a lot to say/ They love the attention of their human family and don’t like being separated too long from them.

When you get one of these cats, you get both an entertainer and a friend.

The British Longhair makes an awesome pet and can live happily with children, other dogs, and cats and all of his human family.

He isn’t a cat that wants to be picked up too often – he is independent but is willing and loving towards his humans.

For the friendship he offers, you’ll want to reward him for the joy he brings by providing well for him.

The Oriental Longhair is generally considered a healthy breed. Because the cat can be prone to some inherited conditions, it is always a wise move to buy a kitten from a reputable breeder.

A couple of these diseases to look out for include Progressive Retinol Atrophy which is a degenerative condition that can lead to blindness.

Also, look out for periodontal disease which is common in many cat breeds.

These beautiful cats can be prone to obesity if kept as an indoor cat only and a cat that doesn't get enough exercise.

Obesity, an accumulation of excess body weight, is a preventable disease. It is necessary to prevent this obesity as it can reduce your pet’s life expectancy. Fat tissue is active, secreting inflammatory hormones and creating oxidative stress on the body’s tissue, and this is precisely what contributes to so many diseases.

The British Longhair cat can also be prone to renal polycystosis. This disease is where many pockets of fluid or cysts form in the kidney and if they grow large over time they can actually interfere with kidney function and this can bring on kidney failure.

This is a slim cat and you can easily tell when he has put on weight. Be very careful with how much you feed your cat and what you feed him.

Cats are carnivores and you need to ensure that his diet is rich in meaty ingredients. These cats have long slim legs and extra weight can put pressure on the cat’s joints. Keep your cat lean and healthy. If in any doubt about diet for your cat, speak to your vet, Always ensure a bowl of fresh, cool water.

Prepare to have a cat included in your family. Invest in food and water bowls, a cat bed, grooming brushes, toys, climbing tree, scratching post and litter box. A cat box for transporting your pet to the vet is also a good idea.

The Oriental Longhair loves to leap up into high areas so he will need a climbing tree. Try to get your cat out into the sunshine where possible and allow him to climb into a tree.

They’re playful cats and will require some stimulating toys.

The cat’s medium- to long hair will require brushing once or twice a week. When you brush your pet gently but purposefully, he loves it and it becomes a bonding session.

Provide your cat with a litterbox and make sure to clean out the box every day. You can do that by buying a small plastic rake at the pet shop and it keeps the litter nice and even for your pet.

Have your cat neutered or spayed to prevent unwanted kittens.

Because of the long hair, the British Longhair is going to require brushing as the coat can easily become matted, particularly as the coat thickens in preparation for winter.

You’ll need to brush the hair once a week, but perhaps more in peak shedding times. A gentle but firm brushing keeps the cat’s fur and skin in good condition.

Have your pet spayed and neutered to avoid unwanted kittens.

Take your pet to the vet as soon as he is unwell. He is part of your family now and must be treated as such.

Provide your pet with human companionship especially if you buy one of the more social cats.

If your cat is an indoor pet, provide him with a litter box ad be prepared to clean it every day.

Provide a clean, dry, comfortable bed in a quiet area.

Provide your cat with stimulating toys.

Vaccinate your cat against the major feline diseases. Also, have your cat dewormed.

Diet:

In terms of nutritional requirements, make sure that your British Longhair gets the very best cat food there is, whether you provide him with homemade food or you give him some of the excellent commercially manufactured cat foods there are.

There are wet- and dry foods and it's for your furry friend to decide which one he prefers.

Learn to read labels and make sure your cat is getting foods high in protein, after all, your cat is a carnivore.

Be sure that the food has lots of vitamins and minerals for his health. A cat also needs a constant supply of fresh, cool water.