How to Identify An Oriental Longhair Cat

The Oriental Longhaired Cat is currently the topic of discussion among the Cat Fancier’s Association and The International Cat Association. The CFA divides them based upon their breed; TICA divides them based on their outward appearance. Essentially what TICA is doing is allowing species of Oriental cats such as the Javanese and Balinese to compete in the same grouping as the Oriental Longhair because of their outward similarities. This is another of the Siamese derived species which accidentally resulted from the mating of an Oriental Shorthair and a Balinese. They obtained recognition as a separate species in 1995, though not all cat organizations agree with that decision. In Britain this species is known as the Angora, though this is not the same as the Turkish Angora. In Europe this species is called a Javanese or a Havana Brown depending on their coat color; despite the fact that these are two breeds have been established as different in the US. Because of all the difficulty in the classification and identification of this cat, here is a guide on how to recognize a real pedigree Oriental Longhaired Cat.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Cat
• Your Eyes

Identifying An Oriental Longhair

1. Begin by looking at the cat’s general shape and size. The cat should be elegant, fine boned, and lithe. The cat’s lines should be slightly angular and taper down the legs and neck. This is a small species and the males rarely weigh more than ten pounds, the females eight. One thing to pay particular attention to is the tail. It should be long, almost as long as the cat. And be covered in lush, feathery fur much longer and fluffier than the rest of the body.

2. Examine the cat’s fur. It should be very fine and silky. Though this is called a long haired breed, the hair shouldn’t be much longer than an average American Shorthair. The only thing of note is the ruffled, rugged look of the fur. It shouldn’t lie down quite as evenly as you see on most cats, giving it a patchy look. All colors and patterns that are possible can appear in an Oriental Longhair, so this will be of no help identifying the animal.

3. Look closely at the cat’s head. It should have slanted green eyes, though a pure white cat will have blue eyes. The neck will be long and angular, the muzzle too. A strong jaw will keep the muzzle from looking odd. The head and ears will present a long, tapering wedge, when viewed from the front, in good proportion to the body. The total wedge starts at the nose and flares out in straight lines to the tops of the ears, forming an isosceles triangle with no break at the whiskers. The ears themselves will be strikingly large, very long and pointed. If the cat meets these criteria then you’re looking at An Oriental Longhair.

Tips & Warnings

• Oriental Longhairs share the temperament of the Balinese and Javanese. They can be loving and devoted, but can be loud and demanding if ignored. They have no trouble interrupting you if they want to be fed or played with. This species is moderately playful and can be destructive in order to get attention. This species is fine around older children, but they will not tolerate being handled improperly so they should be kept away from small children and babies. They are not aggressive around other animals, but will not back down or run if threatened and will likely come out the winner if pitted against an animal up to twice it's size.

Resources

• A List of Reputable Oriental Longhair Breeders