The Top 10 Most Popular Long-haired Cat Breeds, Plus Trimming and Brushing Techniques
There are many long-haired cats in the world, but do you know how many different types there are? Long-haired cats have fluffy fur that feels great to the touch, but to maintain that feel, trimming is essential. To prevent the soft and easily tangled fur of long-haired cats from becoming matted, the owner must carefully care for it with brushing, etc. In this article, we will introduce the different types of long-haired cats and tips for living with them.
✨ What is a long-haired cat?
A long-haired cat is a feline with long fur. Their body is covered in long hair, with abundant fur around the paw pads and ears. There are variations among long-haired cats, such as those with short semi-long hair and wavy hair.
❂ Long-haired cats are a species that arose from a sudden mutation
The exact origin of long-haired cats is unknown, but it is believed that they originated in Central Asia a few centuries ago. Some of these long-haired cats made their way to Italy around 1550 and then to France.
In 1871, the first “Crystal Palace Cat Show” was held in London and Persian and Angora long-haired cats were displayed.
There is a theory that the long-haired gene was passed from the Manul cat of Tibet to the Siamese cat, but there is no evidence to support this. In most cases, it is believed that long-haired cats arose from a sudden mutation.
❂ Adapted to suit the climate
The first long-haired cat to be exhibited in America was the Maine Coon. This breed originates from the northeast region of America and it is believed that cats with large bodies and long fur evolved to withstand the extremely cold and harsh climate.
There are several theories regarding the origin of long-haired cats, but it is believed that fur length can also evolve in response to the environment. Long hair is also one of the appealing characteristics of long-haired cats, and there are various types of fur depending on the breed.
✨ 8 Notable Long-haired Cat Breeds!
It is estimated that there are over 100 different types of cats. Among them, long-haired cats are particularly attractive due to their beautiful fur.
What are the different types of long-haired cats?
❂ Long-haired Cat: Persian
The Persian cat, often referred to as the king of long-haired cats, boasts an elegant and shiny fur with a thick texture that is soft and smooth to the touch.
Persians have a calm and gentle personality, with a relaxed and slow pace. They are also affectionate, making them an easy-to-keep breed for first-time cat owners.
❂ Long-haired Cat: Manchurian Long Hair
This breed is also known as the dachshund cat due to its short legs. There are both short-haired and long-haired Manchurian cats, with silky and smooth fur that comes in a variety of colors.
These cats have a friendly personality and are not very shy. They love to play with people and get along well with children and other cats.
❂ Long-haired Cat: Scottish Fold Long Hair
The Scottish Fold breed can come in both short-haired and long-haired varieties, with distinctive folded ears and a Scottish-style sitting posture.
The long-haired Scottish Fold is very rare and considered a “lucky cat” due to its rarity. It is also known as the “Highland Fold” and the “Long Unfold”, and has thick fur with a soft texture.
These cats have a calm, affectionate, and friendly personality and are known for their minimal meowing.
❂ Long-haired Cat: Ragdoll
The Ragdoll cat has a silky, stuffed animal-like coat of fur, as its name suggests. Despite its long hair, it is easy to groom as the fur does not easily tangle. Its fur color will settle after 2 and a half to 3 years, and its growth is slow.
Ragdolls have a calm and relaxed personality and rarely meow. They are prone to loneliness and have a clingy disposition. They love to be hugged by their owners and are often referred to as a stuffed animal.
❂ Long-haired Cat: Maine Coon
The Maine Coon is a large and representative breed of long-haired cats. Its fur is very soft, with a fluffy neck, belly, and tail. Its long hair requires frequent grooming, and it holds a place in the Guinness World Records as the cat with the longest body in the world.
The Maine Coon is known for its calm personality and minimal meowing. It is intelligent and easy to train, and gets along well with children and other cats.
❂ Long-haired Cat: Norwegian Forest Cat
The Norwegian Forest Cat is a long-haired breed from the Nordic region that has been popular for centuries. Its luxurious and beautiful fur, as well as its long, fur-covered tail, are standout features. It has a double coat of wool-like undercoat and waterproof outercoat, but despite its abundant fur, it is easy to groom.
The Norwegian Forest Cat is known for its calm and composed personality, and its playful and slightly spoiled disposition.
❂ Long-haired Cat: American Curl
The American Curl is a breed of cat known for its curled ears that face outward. It comes in both short-haired and long-haired varieties. Its fur is smooth and has a nice texture, and its undercoat is less dense, making grooming relatively easy.
The American Curl is friendly and gets along well with children and other cats. It loves to play with people and is often referred to as a “Peter Pan cat.” It is easy to keep, even for first-time cat owners, and is known for its intelligence.
❂ Long-haired Cat: Birman
The Birman is characterized by its white feet, with the front feet referred to as “gloves” and the hind legs referred to as “laces”. They are also known as “White Mitts” due to the white socks appearance.
Their fur is silky and visually stunning. Despite being a long-haired cat, it has a single coat and is not prone to matting, making grooming simple.
Their personality is gentle and easy to get along with. They are active and get along well with children. Additionally, they are intelligent and easy to care for, making them a good option for first-time cat owners.
❂ Long-haired Cat: Siberian
The Siberian, also known as the “Siberian Cat”, is a breed of cat originating from Russia. They have a long coat known as a “triple coat” which provides added warmth and waterproofing, as they hunted in Russia’s extremely cold regions.
Their neck fur is fluffy, resembling a lion, and like the Maine Coon and Norwegian Forest Cat, they have a majestic presence as they are a large breed of cat.
❂ Long-haired Cat: Somali
The Somali is a long-haired cat breed that was recognized as a breed when a long-haired cat was born from an Abyssinian breed.
Their beautiful long fur has a characteristic known as “ticking”, where multiple colors are present in one hair and create a striped pattern of light and shade. Their silky fur gives a luxurious feeling, shining brightly with movement and light.
❂ Long-haired Cat: British Longhair
The British Longhair is the long-haired variant of the British Shorthair. They are recognized in many different coat colors. They are a cat with a fluffy coat and a plump body that feels good to hold.
Like the British Shorthair, they have a friendly personality.
However, due to their dense fur, they require daily grooming to prevent matting.
❂ Long-haired Cat: Ragamuffin
The Ragamuffin is a long-haired breed of cat that is based on the ragdoll, which was created through the breeding of a Persian and Himalayan.
They possess an affectionate and clingy personality, and many of them prefer to sleep and stay close to their owner. They are playful and innocent, so they enjoy playing with toys.
Compared to other long-haired breeds, it is said that they have a coat that is less prone to tangling and shedding, but regular brushing is still necessary to maintain a healthy and beautiful coat.
✨ Types of Fur in Long-haired Cats
There are two types of fur: an overcoat (protects the skin) and an undercoat (regulates body temperature).
❂ Single Coat in Long-haired Cats
Single coat refers to having only an overcoat and either no or a minimal undercoat (breeds such as American Curl and Birman).
❂ Double Coat in Long-haired Cats
Double coat refers to having two types of fur, typically an overcoat and an undercoat (breeds such as Persian, Manchurian long hair, Scottish Fold long hair, Ragdoll, Maine Coon, etc.).
During the shedding season, the undercoat, which regulates body temperature, is replaced, so careful trimming is required. For this reason, it is said that single-coated breeds are relatively easy to trim.
In addition to the types of coats, the quality and amount of shedding can vary depending on the breed.
✨ Diseases Easily Contracted by Long-haired Cats
Long-haired cats are more susceptible to various diseases if they are not properly taken care of, compared to short-haired cats.
❂ From Matting to Skin Inflammation…
Long-haired cats require proper fur care, such as trimming. If left unattended, the long and soft fur of long-haired cats can become tangled and matted, providing a breeding ground for bacteria that can lead to skin inflammation.
When living with long-haired cats, it is important to always keep their fur clean.
❂ Seek assistance from a trimming salon if the mats are severe
If the mats have become severe, it may be challenging for the owner to remove them on their own. It is advisable to seek help from a trimming salon. Trimming salons often offer mat cutting services.
However, removing the mats can also be stressful for the cat. To prevent severe matting, the owner should regularly brush the cat.
❂ Beware of hairballs
Cats groom themselves, and the fur they ingest can become matted in their stomach, causing hairballs.
Typically, cats excrete the ingested fur through their feces or regurgitation, but they may not be able to do so effectively. Grooming is a habit that cannot be stopped. Trimming the cat frequently can reduce the amount of fur ingested.
✨ How to trim long-haired cats?
❂ Long-haired cats require trimming
For the reasons mentioned above, regular trimming is necessary for long-haired cats. Trimming refers to cat grooming activities such as shampooing, brushing, ear cleaning, and nail clipping.
While the image of a summer cut at a trimming salon might come to mind when it comes to trimming long-haired cats, it is not necessary to visit a trimming salon. Going to an unfamiliar place can cause stress for some cats, depending on their personality.
It is recommended that owners perform trimming activities that can be done at home, such as daily brushing and nail clipping.
❂ Straighten the fur through daily brushing
Try to brush the long-haired cat’s fur at least once or twice a day to keep it straight.
Cats have a shedding period twice a year, during which they change their entire body fur, and the amount of fur shed increases. During this period, the frequency of brushing should be increased.
Neglecting trimming can result in matting and pain for the cat, as well as skin inflammation and mat balls. To prevent these issues, be sure to brush the cat every day.
❂ A butt cut is also recommended for long-haired cats
Long-haired cats are susceptible to collecting food scraps, waste, and dust in their fur, making shampooing essential for keeping their fur clean.
It is recommended to shampoo the entire body approximately once every 1 to 2 months. Over-shampooing can strip the cat’s sebum, which is not healthy. Instead, only shampoo the dirty areas or use dry shampoo.
The butt area is particularly prone to becoming dirty from waste. For long-haired cats, cutting the hair around the butt using clippers will help maintain cleanliness.
✨Conclusion
Cats come in both long-haired and short-haired breeds.
One of the appealing aspects of long-haired cats is their gorgeous fur. To keep this fur looking beautiful, proper grooming by the owner is crucial.
Shampooing is an effective way to clean the fur, but daily grooming by the owner is also important. Long-haired cats are prone to matting, and neglecting grooming can result in mat balls and skin irritation.
Regular grooming is necessary for both long-haired cats and short-haired breeds. Let’s make sure both the cat and the owner can live comfortably.
