Quick Facts

• Weight: 11 – 15 pounds | male
  8 – 12 pounds | female

The Look of a Domestic Long Hair

Domestic Longhairs have long, fluffy fur. They come in every color seen in cats, as well as every pattern, including tabby, patched tabby and solid.

Domestic Shorthairs can have different body types and facial expressions, depending on the more prominent breeds in an individual cat’s ancestry. Their weight can vary, from 11 to 22 pounds. Males tend to be larger than females.

Traits

• Long, fluffy coat
• Varied temperaments
• Many colors available

Ideal Human Companion

• Owners willing to groom weekly
• First-time cat owners

What They Are Like to Live With

Because Domestic Longhairs are of mixed ancestry, their temperaments can be hard to predict. Some cats are quiet and docile while others are more active and vocal. Some are affectionate, while others are independent. Most are playful when they are young. Some enjoy the company of children and other pets.

All Domestic Longhairs have one thing in common: their fluffy coat. Owners of this type of cat must spend 20 minutes at least once a week brushing out the coat to avoid mats and hairballs.

Things You Should Know

Domestic Longhairs are not purebred cats, but are of mixed ancestry.

Domestic Longhairs need weekly brushing to remove loose hair and to discourage mats and hairballs.

Domestic Longhairs can vary greatly in temperament because of their mixed breeding.

Domestic Long Hair History

The Domestic Longhair is the result of many generations of mixed breeding with different types of cats. In the U.S., cats first came on the Mayflower with the Pilgrims. Some of these cats went on to be the foundation for pure breeds like the American Shorthair, while others bred to cats brought to America from foreign countries.

Domestic Longhairs are closely related to Domestic Shorthairs. The primary difference is the recessive long-coat gene inherited by the Domestic Longhair, which produces its fluffy coat. A Domestic Shorthair can produce a Domestic Longhair, and vice versa.

Top Photograph: ara Middleton/Getty Images