Oriental Longhair

The Oriental Longhair is a friendly, playful, and energetic breed. The feeling is that these cats have time to be in all places in the house at the same time, for their movements are extremely difficult to keep track of the human eye. Wherever you look – there will always be an Oriental!

Breed Photos

Origin History

Looking at the Oriental Longhair cat’s unusual appearance, a persistent association comes to mind – an alien creature. The history of Oriental Longhair cats could have turned out very differently, but the British’s laziness and inattention hampered this breed’s success and recognition.

In the 19th century, British breeders came to Thailand to search for new cat breeds. When they saw a green-eyed Oriental, it was decided not to create a separate breed but to refer this subspecies to their closest relatives – Siamese cats. It had a very negative impact on the development of the breed in the future.

Over the century, the breed evolved solely to explore all possible colors. By crossing Siamese, Russian Blue, and Abyssinian cats, felinologists formed modern Oriental cats. Various changes and improvements were regularly made to the breed standard. It led to the division of Orientals into short-haired and long-haired. The Oriental Longhair was bred in the 1970s based on the Oriental Shorthair and Balinese breeds.

Appearance

The Oriental breed is very similar to its closest relatives, the Siamese cats. They have a slender, trumpet-shaped body, which can be up to 90 cm long. Cats are quite strong and strongly built and can weigh up to six kilograms.

The muzzle is wedge-shaped in the shape of a heart, and huge standing ears crown the head. The neck, limbs, and tail are thin and long. Some experts call this cat a rainbow cat; the breed has more than three hundred colors. The hair of the Oriental Longhair is quite long, soft, smooth, and pleasant to the touch.

Character

The Oriental Longhair is a friendly, playful, and energetic breed. The feeling is that these cats have time to be in all places in the house at the same time, for their movements are extremely difficult to keep track of the human eye. Wherever you look – there will always be an Oriental!

This breed of cat’s peculiarity is their talkative nature; they have a booming voice and use it to their utmost. They can repeat the intonations of all family members, easily change the timbre of their voice. It is important for Orientals to be given maximum attention, to talk a lot and for a long time with them, to have full-fledged conversations. In turn, they are willing to listen to their owners, to empathize and reassure them if necessary. If you’re a connoisseur of lively and sociable character in a cat, the Oriental Longhair breed will be your indispensable companion for years to come.

Care

The Oriental Longhair cat breed is very active and suitable for people with a similar temperament. Lovers of peace or very busy people who cannot give enough time and attention to the pet, it is better to give up the idea of getting this breed of cat.

Most of the care is required for the pet’s long hair; although it does not tend to pile up, it needs to be maintained in good condition. It is enough to comb out the hair once a week with a special brush.

Education

The Oriental Longhair cat breed is very easy to train. Walking on a leash is taught without problems, can easily and without tantrums walk on the street because with such a responsible owner, the pet is not afraid of anything! Breed Oriental tends to often and a lot of “talk”, pay considerable attention to this education feature. But if you prefer quiet and inconspicuous cats, think a hundred times, and whether you really need an Oriental Longhair cat.

Common Diseases

Oriental Longhair cat has strong immunity and good health. Loneliness is not tolerated; they become sad and unhappy, may become depressed, so you need to monitor the mental state of the Oriental.

They are prone to gingivitis, so they need to have their teeth cleaned periodically. There is also a risk of cardiovascular disease, so the veterinarian’s periodic examinations will not be out of place.

Nutrition

The Oriental Longhair cat breed is prone to overeating and very quickly becomes overweight. To avoid this problem, from the moment the kitten enters the house, you need to provide a proper diet that includes all the necessary substances. Good nutrition is also necessary for adult Oriental Longhair cats for their health. The beauty of their coat depends on the provision of the body with the necessary mineral elements and vitamins. Feed this breed can be both natural and purchased feed. But you should not save on it – it must be of high quality and balanced.