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Longhair Cat Breeds
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Calico cat Balinese cat Birman cat Cymric cat Himalayan cat Javanese cat Maine Coon cat Norwegian Forest cat Persian, or Persian Longhair, cat Ragdoll cat Somali cat Turkish Angora cat
Calico cat
Calico cat North American domestic cats, calico cats are blotched or spotted, usually predominantly white with red and black patches (a pattern also called tortoiseshell-and-white). Because genetic determination of some coat colors in cats is linked to the sex chromosome, calicoes are almost always female.

Longhair Cat Breeds

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Longhair cats are defined by their luxurious coats. Here’s a sampling of 11 longhair breeds.

Balinese

Balinese cat
Balinese catBalinese cats have long svelte bodies and sapphire-blue eyes.

Balinese cats have long svelte bodies and sapphire-blue eyes. They are a mutation of the Siamese breed.

Birman

Birman cat
Birman catThe Birman is known as the “Sacred Cat of Burma.”

The Birman is known as the “Sacred Cat of Burma.” It is characterized by deep-blue eyes, a bushy tail, and white-gloved paws.

Cymric

Cymric cat
Cymric catThe Cymric cat is a stout tailless breed.

The Cymric cat is a stout tailless breed. It is a type of longhair Manx.

Himalayan (Colourpoint Longhair)

Himalayan cat
Himalayan catThe Himalayan cat is a cross between the Siamese and the Persian.

The Himalayan cat is a cross between the Siamese and the Persian. It has a cobby body, short full tail, and sapphire-blue eyes.

Javanese

Javanese cat
Javanese catThe Javanese cat is known for its gracefulness.

The Javanese cat is known for its gracefulness. It has a long lithe body and silky coat.

Maine Coon

Maine Coon cat
Maine Coon catThe Maine Coon is the oldest American breed of cat.

The Maine Coon is the oldest American breed of cat. It is large and well-muscled with a shaggy coat.

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Norwegian Forest

Norwegian Forest cat
Norwegian Forest catThe Norwegian Forest cat features prominently in Norse mythology as the skogkatt, a mystical cat with the power to climb sheer rock faces. Norwegian Forest cats were also thought to have been favoured by the Norse goddess Freya.

The Norwegian Forest cat features prominently in Norse mythology as the skogkatt, a mystical cat with the power to climb sheer rock faces. Norwegian Forest cats were also thought to have been favored by the Norse goddess Freya. They have a robust muscular body with a double coat.

Persian

Persian, or Persian Longhair, cat
Persian, or Persian Longhair, catThe Persian, or Persian Longhair, is one of the oldest and most popular breeds of cats.

The Persian, or Persian Longhair, is one of the oldest and most popular breeds of cats. They are known for their cobby bodies and massive heads.

Ragdoll

Ragdoll cat
Ragdoll catThe Ragdoll cat relaxes its muscles when it is picked up, giving it the appearance of a floppy rag doll.

The Ragdoll cat relaxes its muscles when it is picked up, giving it the appearance of a floppy rag doll. They have a heavy and powerful build and blue eyes.

Somali

Somali cat
Somali catThe Somali is a longhair variety of the Abyssinian, which is a shorthair cat.

The Somali is a longhair variety of the Abyssinian, which is a shorthair cat. They have lithe and muscular bodies with a full brush tail and green or golden eyes.

Turkish Angora

Turkish Angora cat
Turkish Angora catThe Turkish Angora was one of the first longhair cats in Europe.

The Turkish Angora was one of the first longhair cats in Europe. It has a long plumed tail and large pointed ears.

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