British Longhair

The British Longhair is the semi-longhaired counterpart of the British Shorthair — the same stocky, round-faced cat under a longer, plush coat.

History

It arose from British Shorthairs crossed with Persians, the long-hair trait carried quietly until it was recognised as a breed in its own right. It keeps the sturdy build and dense coat of its shorthaired cousin, drawn out to a soft, flowing length.

Temperament

The breed is known for being calm, easygoing and affectionate on its own terms — a placid, undemanding cat that is tolerant of being left to itself and steady, quiet company. It is affectionate without being clingy.

Care

The semi-long coat needs regular brushing to stay free of mats, more so in moult, and the breed's placid nature can tip into weight gain without play. It is otherwise an easy cat to live with.

Health

Known tendencies, from its British and Persian ancestry, include hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and polycystic kidney disease, for which breeders test. These are patterns for the breed rather than a verdict on one cat; the measured facts and trait ratings are in the panels.