The Oriental Longhair is a unique and elegant breed known by several names. The most common designation is Oriental Longhair. In Europe, the breed was often called Mandarin at independent associations, while at FIFé it carried the name Javanese, although in the CFA this term refers to Balinese in colors other than classic. In England, the breed is also known as Angora, which should not be confused with the Turkish Angora. These different designations were created by independent breeding programs in Europe and America. Today, the official name in most organizations is Oriental Longhair, which avoids confusion and clearly links it to the Oriental Shorthair, to which this breed is very similar in appearance.

Origin

The Oriental Longhair is the result of crosses between the Balinese and the Oriental Shorthair. The goal was to breed a cat with the type and coloring of the Oriental Shorthair, but with a semi-longhair coat similar to that of the Balinese. In the first generation of these crosses, the kittens are outwardly shorthaired, but carry the recessive longhair gene. These kittens are called “variants.”

Appearance

The Oriental Longhair comes in the same variations of colors and patterns as the Oriental Shorthair. In terms of type, they are almost identical, although the longhaired variety sometimes appears more moderate. This is due to the longer coat, which softens the body type and makes it less edgy. In addition, the Oriental Longhair exists shorter than the Oriental Shorthair, which sometimes makes the type a bit less refined. However, through breeding efforts, this deficit is quickly made up. The coat of the Oriental Longhair is silky and without woolly undercoat, which distinguishes it from other semi-long-haired breeds such as the Norwegian Forest Cat or Ragdoll. Its hairs are as long as those of long-haired breeds, but its smooth texture makes it low-maintenance. An occasional brushing is enough to keep him looking groomed. The coat retains the sleek, elegant appearance of the Oriental. The tail is full, long and silky, giving the cat a graceful plumed tail.

Character

The character of the Oriental Half-longhair is identical to that of the Oriental Shorthair. They are social, extroverted and affectionate cats who love company. Their cuddly nature, combined with their low-maintenance coat, makes them particularly attractive to people looking for a cat with a lively and loving temperament.

Variants

Variants are created by crosses between a long-haired and a short-haired cat from the Oriental breed group (Balinese x Siamese or Oriental Shorthair, or Oriental Longhair x Siamese or Oriental Shorthair). These crosses are done primarily to improve the type of the longhairs, as the long-haired varieties often lag slightly behind their short-haired counterparts. The shorthaired kittens from these crosses carry the recessive gene for longhair and are therefore valuable to the longhair breeding program. However, it is less desirable to backcross these variants with Siamese or Oriental Shorthairs, as this may enhance the shorthair factor, making longhair breeding more difficult. Some associations name them as Oriental Shorthair or Siamese variants (phenotypic approach), while others call them Oriental Longhair or Balinese variants (genotypic approach).

Pedigree and Show Status

Although variants receive full pedigrees, they do not have separate show status. However, they can participate in shows as shorthairs, where they compete with pure Oriental Shorthairs and Siamese.

Breed Standard of the Oriental Longhair

The standard of the Oriental Longhair is identical to that of the Oriental Shorthair, except for coat texture.

• Coat texture: Fairly long, fine, silky and without undercoat. The coat should be smooth to the touch, and the absence of a collar is preferred. The tail is full and long, with a plume-like shape. At the chin, neck and tail, the coat may tend to be wavy. Kittens may have a shorter coat.
• Colors: All color varieties and patterns allowed in the Oriental Shorthair are also recognized for the Oriental Longhair.

The Oriental Longhair offers the perfect combination of the graceful, slender type of the Oriental Shorthair and the extravagant, yet low-maintenance appearance of a semi-longhair cat.