If you are a cat lover, you know exactly what breed you like the most. Long haired cats might be hard to take care of but they are absolutely irresistible.
You can’t help but want to touch their long and fluffy fur and get a boost of energy and positive emotions you could never get from anywhere else.
Cats are amazing pets that don’t require too much of your attention but they are always around when you want to relax and enjoy a purring ball of joy. Even if you don’t own a long haired cat, you must have contemplated getting one.
Long Haired Cat Breeds Any Feline Lover Wishes to Own
There are many different long haired cat breeds for contemporary cat lovers to choose from. Whether you want to buy one or already own such a cat, you can benefit from some information about the breed.
Many owners-to-be don’t realize that caring for long haired cats is not too complicated. Obviously, the fur you have to deal with on the floor and furniture is annoying.
However, the moments you enjoy with your beautiful cat make up for all the downsides. We collected 22 long haired cat breeds for you to consider and have fun with. You can also get inspired by these cat haircuts.
1. British Long Hair
These cats are truly high-maintenance. You need to get ready for frequent grooming in order to keep them as beautiful as they can be. Regular brushing and combing allow you to spend plenty of quality time with your pet. This breed is generally healthy so it’s great for on-budget owners, who don’t plan for large vet bills.
Long haired Brits are quiet so no excessive meowing or night crying interferes with your lifestyle. These cats don’t require too much attention so you don’t have to worry about living them alone for the day. This is a great cat for families with children.
2. Himalayan
Get ready to do some extensive brushing, combing, and vacuuming. This beauty needs some special care. It constantly sheds so brushing is imperative for keeping the hairballs to a minimum. This is a sensitive breed, which is known for various health problems. So you should only get this feline if you are ready for frequent vet visits.
Himalayans require plenty of attention so don’t leave it alone for more than 8 hours. These cats are quite lazy and ready to spend the whole day lying around and sleeping.
3. Maine Coon
This is a wonderful family cat, which is very affectionate with all the family members including children. Since the coat is long, you know you have to groom it on a regular basis (at least 2 times a week). Get ready to get all types of grooming equipment to keep the fur healthy.
Maine Coons are not big attention lovers. So you can leave them alone while you are at work without being worried about the little catty revenge. These felines need regular exercises so get ready to play with them.
4. Persian
Get the combs and the brushes out. These cats need daily grooming. So you can spend plenty of quality time with this special pet. They are prone to developing hairballs so it’s inadvisable to skip the daily brushing sessions.
This long hair cat breed is prone to various health problems, including colds. So regular vet visits are a must. Persians love attention so don’t forget to play with your cat as often as possible. Don’t leave it alone longer than for 6 -8 hours. This is an affectionate breed so it can become a great family member.
5. Ragdoll
These long-haired cats are actually low-maintenance. You need to get ready for occasional brushing and grooming but they don’t require it more often than once a week.
Meanwhile, they are constantly shedding so you need to empty the vacuum cleaner on a regular basis. This is a healthy breed, which isn’t prone to too many cat diseases. It has an independent temper but still requires some attention from the owner. You can leave it alone for the day while you are going about your business. Ragdolls are affectionate and get along with everyone.
6. American Curl
American Curl cats have an unusual ear shape and long silky hair. It lies flat on the body, and the fur is fluffy and requires little grooming. To prevent matting, brush the coat constantly. Also, pay a lot of attention to those ears because they need cleaning. This way, you will prevent ear infections.
7. Selkirk Rex
Selkirk Rex is a long hair cat breed with thick fur. It has a plushy aspect, and the hair will look tangled and matty if not brushed constantly. The species has other variations, as some cats might have shorter and curlier hair.
8. Turkish Van
Determined by the season, Turkish Van has two types of coats. If in winter the hair is long and silky, during summer, this long coat falls. It is replaced by a shorter fur that makes the hot season bearable for this adorable breed.
9. Nebelung Cat
This breed has long, silky and dense hair. Cats posses a long tail covered with beautiful fur. These cats will have a second layer of coat; therefore, they require daily grooming. They shred a lot so make sure you have the time to take care of such a high- maintenance breed.
10. Balinese Cat
The Balinese cat is a gorgeous breed that resembles the long-haired Siamese. Cats have long hair, darker-coloured legs, and face and stunning blue eyes. They stand out because of the amazing contrast created with the lightly coloured fur on the rest of the body. They require daily grooming, especially in the tail area, which looks plumed and thick.
11. Chantilly Tiffany
This breed has semi long coat that feels so soft and smooth. Because this breed doesn’t have an undercoat, the grooming can be done easily. Brush your cat’s hair once or twice a week.
12. Japanese Bobtail
Japanese bobtail breed has a very distinctive feature: it has a very short puffy tail. They have short-medium fur, making them so easy to groom. Also, they shred less than the breeds presented above.
13. American Bobtail
Bobtail cats are originally from Japan, but you can also find the American version. They can be colourful, with big eyes and short tail, just like the Asian version. The hair has a silky texture and is easy to groom because they don’t have an undercoat.
14. LaPerm Cat
What makes this cat look so distinctive is the curly fur. It has a tangled aspect, and you can find the breed in many colorful variations. Because of its texture, the coat has a rough feeling, with no thick undercoat.
15. Manx Cat
Manx cats have quite an appearance because most have a very short tail or no tail at all. The breed’s colours can vary, and there are rare specimens with white hair. They are low maintenance, so the fur only requires brushing once or twice a week. Do it more often in spring when the cat shreds.
16. Somali
Somali cats have a very soft and silky coat. This breed doesn’t shed a lot and has longer hair patches on the chest, tail and face. These cats are mat-free, but they require weekly grooming.
17. Scottish Fold
These gorgeous cats have a very appealing aspect because of their ears. These are oriented downwards and not pointed up like most cat breeds. They don’t require any special care, just the weekly brush to remove dead hairs.
18. Norwegian Forest Cat
Do you love huge cats? This one is really big. In fact, it’s about twice the size of any other domestic cat. This long haired cat breed requires moderate maintenance. You don’t have to brush it more often than once a week. There isn’t too much shedding either. With the right care, the fur can be limited to the pet bed.
These cats are prone to various illnesses, so frequent vet visits are necessary. They don’t require too much attention but don’t hesitate to spend several minutes a day petting them. The cat is a good choice for a family since it’s nice to everyone.
19. Turkish Angora
These beauties are mostly white, but they are known to come in other colors. You only need to groom it occasionally, about once a week. They are very good in taking care of their own coats. These cats don’t shed too much, so you won’t have to do too much vacuuming. This breed is moderately healthy and not prone to common cat diseases.
Sometimes they can be loud, especially if something is not done their way. They require plenty of your attention, so don’t plan to leave them alone for too long. These felines love activities so get ready for plenty of playing. They are rather affectionate and make great pets.
20. Siberian
This long-haired cat breed requires grooming about once a week. They don’t shed too much and won’t have you struggling to keep the house clean. This is a healthy breed but regular vet visits are still preferable.
Siberian cats are quiet so you won’t need to deal with excessive meowing or crying. They won’t require too much of your attention but don’t leave them alone longer than for 8 – 10 hours. You need to give the cat a chance to run around and exercise in order to prevent obesity.
21. Ragamuffin
Surprisingly, these long-furred felines are quite low – maintenance. You can groom them once in 7 – 10 days. However, they are prone to shedding, so brushing is required. It’s a healthy cat with not too many common health problems.
These cats are highly social and need plenty of attention. Just like Ragdolls, they go limp when you pick them up. But it doesn’t mean they don’t like human contact. It’s a lazy cat that loves to sleep and lie around.
22. Birman
These beauties need regular grooming. Don’t forget to brush them at least twice a week. They shed moderately, but only if you keep to the grooming routine. They are prone to various health problems, so regular vet visits can’t be overlooked.
Birmans are quiet animals, so they won’t be disturbing your sleep. They require a moderate amount of attention, so you don’t have to worry about leaving them alone when going to work. Birmans are lazy but very affectionate to people, so don’t forget to spend some quality time with them.
Grooming Tips for Long-Haired Cats
Long-haired cats are wonderful creatures, but that beauty doesn’t always come naturally. Unless groomed regularly, long-haired cats often deal with hairballs, matted and dirty fur, and other cosmetic issues.
When grooming your long-haired cat, you’ll want to consider grooming methods and tools to keep them looking clean and healthy.
Brush Them Every Day
Yes, every day! It may seem tedious, but brushing your long-haired cat daily is essential to ensure its fur stays clean and healthy. Cats with longer hair require frequent grooming to avoid tangles and mats.
The best time to brush your long-haired cat is whenever they seem most relaxed. So whether they tend to feel calm after a meal or right before bed, brushing them when they are relaxed will make both of your lives easier.
Choose Good Grooming Tools
You’ll need effective grooming tools to remove loose and dead fur from your long-haired cat. The Hertzko Grooming Brush is one of the best tools out there, as it features slightly bent bristles that pick up loose hair without scratching your cat’s skin. It’s also self-cleaning, so you won’t have to remove the captured fur manually.
It’s also important to note that you should brush their tail along with their body. Brush their tail outwards, being careful not to tug on the fur.
Bathe Them
We all know cats hate water. The good news is that most cats don’t need baths unless they get into something smelly outside. Cats are great self-groomers, but there are times when bathing themselves won’t be enough.
When bathing your long-haired cat, consider using Veterinary Formula Clinical Care Shampoo. This shampoo was created by veterinarians and had several varieties and uses, such as anti-itch, anti-fungal, and antiseptic.
Consider using Burt’s Bees Cat Shampoo if your cat does not get anywhere near the bathtub. This shampoo is a spray you can apply directly to your cat or their brush. It’s also hypoallergenic and an excellent alternative for cats who despise getting wet.
FAQs
Here are some frequently asked questions about long-haired cats.
Yes. Because their fur is longer, they do require more maintenance. Their luscious hair is more challenging to keep up on, so they’ll need your help to keep it in good condition.
All cats shed. Long-haired cats tend to shed the exact amount that short-haired cats do. However, long-haired cats more often have to deal with matting, which is why grooming is so important.
Some long-haired cats are hypoallergenic. Balinese cats, also known as “long-haired Siamese,” are great cats for people with allergies. They tend to produce less of the Fel d 1 protein, the major allergen of domestic cats, than other breeds.
While all cats shed some fur, some long-haired breeds shed less. These breeds with minimum shed levels include Birman, Siberian, Japanese Bobtails, LaPerm, Javanese, and Turkish Angora cats.
The frequency of bathing will differ for each cat. At the very least, you should bathe your cat at least once every eight weeks to keep their fur from becoming matted.
Friendliness will vary from cat to cat. Domestic long-haired cats are capable of a wide range of temperaments due to mixed breeding backgrounds. Some cats can be friendly and playful, whereas others can be independent and aloof.
Now that you know these 22 long-haired cat breeds, you can easily choose the one you like best. Each one of these cats is very beautiful and can become a wonderful family member.