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List of selected longhair breeds

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Also known as: Felis catus, domestic cat, house cat
Written by
J. Anne Helgren
J. Anne Helgren is the author of six books on cats.
J. Anne Helgren
Fact-checked by
The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors.
The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
Last Updated: • Article History
Also called:
house cat or domestic cat

News •

Golden Retriever Allows 15lb Cat Sibling To Beat Him Up in Viral Clip • Nov. 19, 2024, 8:01 PM ET (Newsweek)
Senior Cat Neglected for 7 Years Looking for New Home After Amputation • Nov. 18, 2024, 8:08 AM ET (Newsweek)

A selection of longhair breeds of domestic cats is given in the table.

Selected longhair breeds of cats
name origin characteristics comments
Balinese cat
 Balinese U.S. long svelte body; sapphire-blue eyes mutation of Siamese; tail sways when walking, resembling Balinese dancers
Birman cat
 Birman Burma (Myanmar) deep blue eyes; bushy tail; white-gloved paws known as the “Sacred Cat of Burma”
Cymric cat
 Cymric Canada stout with heavy chest; tailless a longhair Manx
Himalayan cat
 Himalayan, or Colourpoint Longhair U.S., Europe cobby body; short full tail; sapphire-blue eyes cross between Siamese and Persian
Javanese cat
 Javanese U.S. graceful with long lithe body; silky coat cross between Balinese and Colourpoint Shorthair
Maine Coon cat
 Maine Coon U.S. large and well-muscled; shaggy coat oldest American breed
Norwegian Forest cat
 Norwegian Forest Norway robust muscular body; double coat a favourite of the goddess Freya in Norse mythology
Persian, or Persian Longhair, cat
 Persian exact origin unknown, possibly Iran cobby body; massive head one of the oldest and most popular breeds; many varieties
Ragdoll cat
 Ragdoll U.S. heavy and powerful build; blue eyes relaxes muscles when picked up, resembling a floppy rag doll
Somali cat
 Somali U.S. lithe and muscular body; green or golden eyes; full brush tail a longhair Abyssinian
Turkish Angora cat
 Turkish Angora Turkey long plumed tail; large pointed ears one of the first longhair cats in Europe