The British Longhair is the result of a cross between British Shorthairs and Persians that emerged after the two world wars. Although at first we did not want to create a new breed, over time we learned to appreciate and value them and today some associations have recognized them as a breed. Physically similar to the British Shorthair but with a medium length coat, he is characterized by an independent, playful, affectionate and calm personality. In terms of grooming, they don't differ too much from other long-haired or semi-long-haired breeds.The he alth of these cats is good provided they are cared for properly, but one should be aware of some diseases they are susceptible to due to the heritage of their parents.
Continue reading to learn more about the British Longhair and discover in our pleasant company all about its origin, its characteristics, its character, the care it needs, its he alth and the places where to adopt it one!
Happy reading!
Origin
- Europe
- United Kingdom
Physical Characteristics
- Thick Tail
- Strong
Size
- Average
Average Weight
- 6-8
Life expectancy
- 15-18
Character
- Affectionate
- Calm
- Shy
- Solitaire
Climate
- Temperate
Hair type
- Medium
Origin of the British Longhair
The British Longhair was born from the crossing of British Shorthair, Persian cats and cats without pedigree. Originally, this cross was mainly aimed at preserving the genetic heritage of the British Shorthair whose populations had drastically decreased because of the two World Wars.
The gene that causes the British Shorthair's long hair is hereditarily recessive, which means that the long haired British Shorthair may only appear in subsequent generations.In the beginning, British longhairs were rejected, given away or even euthanized, as it was sought to preserve the original short-haired breed. Subsequently, some breeders began to breed British longhairs, which caused some controversy. Over time, these cats have become more well known and are now recognized as a breed by WCF and TICA, but not yet by FIFE.
Physical characteristics of the British Longhair
British long-haired cats have similar physical characteristics to their short-haired relatives, with the exception of coat length. They measure between 28 and 30 cm, males can weigh up to 8 kg and females between 4 and 6 kg. Specifically, the main features are as follows
- Medium to large sized muscular body.
- Strong chest and shoulders.
- Rounded, broad head with a strong chin.
- Short, wide and slightly indented nose.
- Small, rounded ears.
- The eyes are large and round, matching the color of the dress.
- Tail about ⅔ the length of the body, thick and rounded at the end.
- Strong, rounded legs.
- Semi-long, soft coat with undercoat.
Colours of the British Longhair Cat
There are more than 300 color varieties in the British Longhair, unicolor or bicolor, as well as the following patterns:
- Tabby (tabby).
- Colourpoint (color point).
- Tortie (tortoiseshell).
- Tipping (gold).
British Longhair Cat Character
British Longhairs are characterized by a calm, balanced, reserved and independent personality.They are affectionate with their guardians, but more independent and less affectionate than other breeds. It is a cat that adapts very well to different types of homes, as well as to children and other animals. However, he is somewhat shy and wary of strangers.
He is a very good hunter who will not hesitate to attack any small animal in the house. They are also very playful and ask for affection when they want it. They are not a race that continually follows its guardian in search of affection.
Caring for a British longhair
The care given to a British longhair should not be very different from that given to any other semi-long haired breed, and the following hygienic, nutritional and preventive measures should be taken:
- Balanced and complete nutrition, in quantities adapted to age, level of activity, physiological state, he alth and environmental conditions.Dry food (kibbles) should be combined with wet food (cans) every day in several times to better control urinary or dental diseases.
- Ear hygiene and search for signs of infection or parasitism.
- Hygiene and monitoring of teeth to prevent tartar, oral diseases and chronic feline gingivostomatitis.
- Routine deworming and vaccination.
- Veterinary exams when needed and at least once a year from the age of 7.
- Brushing the coat several times a week, or even daily during moulting periods (spring and autumn) to prevent the formation of hairballs.
- Bathing if necessary or during moulting to promote the loss of dead hair and avoid ingestion.
British Longhair He alth
British Longhairs can live to be 18 years old, provided they are properly cared for and fed, and given routine checkups and prompt diagnosis of any problems of he alth that may affect them.Although they are susceptible to any type of disease or infection affecting cats, British Longhairs seem to be more predisposed to certain diseases, such as:
- Overweight and Obesity: Excess fat and weight can have serious he alth consequences, such as diabetes mellitus, urolithiasis and heart disease.
- Polycystic Kidney Disease: Fluid-filled cysts appear in the kidneys and can grow to the point of causing kidney damage and leading to kidney failure.
- Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: thickening of the heart muscle, which limits the space for blood circulation in the heart chambers and can lead to heart failure.
- Neonatal isoerythrolysis: British longhairs are generally blood group B and, if they are crossed with an A or AB male, the A or AB kittens they give will suffer from this disease when they are nursed and may die as a result of an immune-mediated reaction with rupture of red blood cells (hemolysis).
Where to adopt a British Longhair?
Although this breed is increasingly well known, it is still difficult to obtain it and British Shorthairs are more easily found. However, if one speaks to local shelters or foster homes, they can sometimes provide better information on how to adopt a specimen. If this is not the case, you can search the internet for an association that saves British longhairs or, if they don't have one, know that thousands of crossbred cats are waiting to be adopted!
British Longhair pictures
