Mandarin or Oriental Longhair Cat: Characteristics and Photos

Also known as Javanese, the Mandarin or Oriental Longhair is considered one of the most endearing cat breeds in the world. In addition, we are confronted with a cat which, according to many guardians, is able to speak to us. you will discover many other curiosities about the Mandarin in this article of PlanèteAnimal in which we explain everything about the Oriental Longhair.

Origin

  • Europe
  • United Kingdom

Physical Characteristics

  • Thick Tail
  • Big ears
  • End

Character

  • Extrovert
  • Affectionate
  • Smart
  • Curious

Hair type

  • Medium
  • Long

Origin of Mandarin

Although its Javanese cat nickname may make us think otherwise, these felines have nothing to do with the island of Java, far from its origin, because the Oriental Shorthair is the descendant of the oriental shorthair and the Balinese that English breeders crossed in the 1960s. This is why it is sometimes considered to be either a color variety within the Balinese breed or a sub-breed medium-length hair of oriental cats.

However, it is believed that the origin of the Oriental Longhair may be more remote, since in 1890 specimens were donated which, although cataloged as Angora cats, were far from the standards of the breed.They later went on to name them British Angora, as they weren't quite the same as the Turkish Angora cats, although at that time the only officially registered long-haired breed was the Persian.

In 1983, he was registered as a Javanese cat at TICA and in 1995, the CFA recognized him as a breed in his own right. Even nowadays, there are cat associations, such as the GCCF, which exclusively names it as Oriental Longhair. In the United States, it is recognized in the Siamese-Oriental category.

Physical characteristics of the Mandarin

The oriental longhair is found in the category of medium-sized cats, its weight generally varies between 4 and 6 kg. Their life expectancy is generally between 14 and 18 years.

His body is thin and tubular, his limbs are long and supple, both strong and muscular. The tail is long and thin and tapers towards the tip and with hairs that look like a kind of plumage.The head of the Javanese cat is triangular, long and narrow and has a thin wedge-shaped muzzle. Its eyes are almond-shaped, slanting towards the muzzle, not too far apart, dark in color depending on the coat, although the most spectacular is bright blue.

What characterizes the Oriental Longhair are its unique ears because they are exceptionally long, wide at the base but very pointed on the other side, they lean and fall slightly on the sides of the head.

Finally, his hair is medium-long, dense and soft, longer at the tail and neck. The most common colors for Javanese cats are solid colors, although almost any color and pattern is allowed. The most common are unicolors, bicolors, turtles, smoke, tabby, silver tabby, van and harlequin. Best of all, thanks to its incredible characteristics, the mandarin coat is one of the most recommended for people with allergies.

Mandarin Character

This feline breed is very popular for its affable and charming character. They are affectionate and communicative cats, who will tell us what they need at any moment, reaching a near conversation with their adorable sustained meow and their penetrating gaze.

With a remarkable intelligence, it will be easy to educate a Mandarin cat and even teach him fun tricks for the greatest pleasure of all. In addition, it is one of the most suitable cat breeds for apartment life.

In short, let's refine our description of the Mandarin's character by highlighting the fact that it is a flexible feline that adapts easily to various environments. It is an excellent pet both for the elderly and for children (provided that the relationship is based on understanding and mutual respect) because it knows how to enjoy great moments of play and affection.

Caring for the Javanese

As a semi-long-haired cat, the Javanese cat will need frequent brushing to avoid the formation of annoying hairballs. To help you, we can also use products that prevent their formation or facilitate their evacuation if there are already any. Brushing will be simple because it does not have a woolly coat, which is present in other breeds such as the Siberian cat, which is why its hair does not tangle too much and why it does not need a lot of maintenance effort.

Because it's a feline that likes to go out and spend the energy it accumulates, living in a small apartment may not be the best thing, unless you provide it with hours of fun. physical activity and play enough to keep him he althy. In turn, as with all feline breeds, we must keep their claws, teeth, coat, eyes and ears clean in order to quickly detect the appearance of any disease.To avoid complications, provide them with a he althy, balanced diet that will guarantee them the best!

Mandarin He alth

Basically, the Mandarin is a he althy and strong cat that shares diseases of certain breeds such as Siamese, diseases such as cranial sternum protuberance or endocardial fibroelastosis, which consists of a diffuse thickening of the left ventricular endocardium.

Because it lacks a woolly coat that insulates it from the cold and, at the same time, it likes to spend time outdoors, it must be taken into account that it is a breed of cat more sensitive to cold. It will therefore be necessary to be careful because he can easily catch a cold and catch respiratory diseases.

Finally, for the Javanese cat's optimal he alth, we must follow the vaccination schedule established by our veterinarians, as well as carry out the appropriate deworming so that our cat is free of any disease.

Mandarin or Oriental Longhair pictures