The Oriental Longhair: the little brother of the Oriental Shorthair

Oosterse langhaar van dichtbij

The Oriental Longhair is about the same as the Oriental Shorthair, it only has longer hair. This breed is quite rare and not very common in the Netherlands. It is a playful and lively cat with a strong personality. Despite the fact that the Oriental Longhair looks a lot like the Oriental Shorthair, there are some differences. Do you want to know what these differences are and do you want to know more about this fantastic breed? Then read on.

 

The origin: England

The Oriental Langhair originates from England and originated in the 1960s. Originally this cat was known as the British Angora, but it was renamed in 2002 to avoid confusion with the Turkish Angora. His brother, the Oriental Shorthair, exists in many different versions and was developed from the Siamese. The Oriental Longhair was created by crossing this Oriental Shorthair with long-haired Oriental cats, like the Balinese. This resulted in a long-haired Siamese, but without points.

This long-haired breed was only recognised as a breed by the CFA and FIFe in 1995. It is known worldwide as the Oriental Longhair. It happens that this breed is named with different names. This has to do with the fact that they have been bred through different breeding programs.

 

The character: active and playful

The Oriental Langhaar is known for its active character. He loves to play. They get along very well with cats and dogs. They also get along well with children. This makes this cat a very suitable cat for families. It is even true that the Oriental Long-haired cat can’t stand loneliness and wants to have company around him all the time.

The Oriental Langhaar is social and affectionate. They like to be petted by their owner and other family members. They are not afraid of unknown people. On the contrary, they are curious and like to go out on research to see if they can be petted by these people.

If we look at the difference between the character of the Oriental Langhaar and the Oriental Shorthair, the only thing that stands out is that the Oriental Langhaar is somewhat calmer than the Oriental Shorthair. He probably adopted this characteristic from the Balinese.

In general, you can see the Oriental Longhair as a playful family cat that is ideal for a family with several children and pets. It is a real companion animal and he can become your best mate.

Appearance: slim and elegant

The Oriental Longhair can be recognized by its triangular head. His forehead is somewhat rounded. The eyes have the shape of an almond and have a normal size. Often the eyes have a deep and lively colour. He has a long and strong neck, which gives him an elegant appearance. His ears are triangular and quite large. He has a long and well defined body with quite some muscle mass. His legs are slender and oval and fit well with the rest of the body. He has a nice tail that is in proportion with his whole body. His tail is tapering.

The eyes of the Oriental Longhair are quite striking because of the powerful appearance they have. They are very present and you ‘feel’ that sometimes they are staring at you. This all fits the elegant appearance of this cat and this is also the reason why many people are interested in this cat. The eye colour of the Oriental Longhair is a green, intense colour.

The coat of the Oriental Longhair is medium to long. He has no undercoat. His coat feels very soft and fine. Different coat colours are possible. Different patterns and shades are also possible. A number of common colours are:

  • Black
  • Blue
  • Chocolate
  • Lilac
  • Red
  • Creme

In addition to these colours, the Oriental Longhair can be found in even more colours. Different patterns are also possible. The most common are:

  • Tabby
  • Tortie
  • Smoke

The Oriental Longhair can therefore occur with different external characteristics. All combinations are possible, which makes it a very diverse breed. If you want to know more about the different colour combinations that are possible, you can take a look at the breed standard

 

Education: socialisation is most important

When it comes to the upbringing of the Eastern Longhair, it all starts with the socialisation period. This period starts as soon as he is born and lasts 14 weeks. During this period it is important that he spends enough time with his mother and that he gets used to human touch. The first 7 weeks are dedicated to his mother’s learning. His mother has a lot of experience with cat life and can teach the kittens some things. By copying the behaviour of the mother and playing with brothers and sisters, the kitten develops her own character in these first weeks.

In addition to the mother’s attention, human touch is also essential. This ensures that your Oriental Longhair will be much easier to care for in the future. It also prevents the development of fears and other behavioural problems. The Oriental Longhair is naturally curious and loves human contact, although it is important that it comes into contact with this at the very beginning of its young cat’s life. You can get your kitten used to people by picking them up and stroking them regularly, but also by playing with them. Even if you have other animals in the house, it is important that the Oriental Longhair gets to know them as soon as possible.

Because this period lasts about 14 weeks, it is important to remove the kitten from the litter only after this period. This way he can learn everything from his mother and he is ready to go out on his own. When the kitten leaves the litter, the upbringing will of course continue. One of the most important things that belong to this upbringing is to develop a routine. It is wise to immediately teach a new cat a routine around sleeping and eating. Feed your cat at set times and make sure he goes to his sleeping place at set times. This is much nicer for the cat, so he knows what to expect. This improves his mental and physical health.Oosterse langhaar rots omgeving

The care: simple

The Oriental Longhair needs to be cared for about two to three times a week. When grooming it is especially important to keep its coat in good condition. Because the coat of the Oriental Longhair is longer than that of the Oriental Shorthair, you will have more work to do.

Taking care of the coat is essential for keeping his coat and skin healthy. If the coat of the Oriental Longhair is not well cared for it can cause many health problems in the future.

Besides taking care of his coat, cleaning his ears is also important to prevent inflammation. It varies from cat to cat how often this is needed, so it is wise to keep an eye on this during the first few weeks after you have brought your cat into the house. You will soon see how often this will be necessary.

Cutting the nail tips is also necessary on a regular basis. The Oriental Longhair can find this annoying, therefore it is wise to start as early as possible. This is how your Oriental Longhair learns to deal with this. This is why the socialisation period is so important. This makes taking care of the cat in later life a lot easier. It is also advisable to get a scratching post in the house so that your cat can wear out and sharpen his claws as well.

 

Nutrition: animal proteins

The basis of the diet of the Oriental Long-haired, but also of other cats, consists of animal proteins. Animal proteins are complete proteins. This means that these proteins contain all the essential amino acids. This is necessary for the health of the cat. So when you buy food for your Oriental Long-haired cat, make sure that this is a complete food. Complete food contains all the necessary nutrients to keep your cat healthy and fit… In addition to protein, vitamins and minerals are also important. The packaging of the food often states which vitamins and minerals it contains.

There are different types of cat food on the market. In general, a distinction is made between dry and wet food. Many cats prefer wet food. However, it is advisable to keep variation. Because just as variety is good for humans, it is also very important for a cat.

Because the Oriental Longhair is a rather muscular cat, it is wise to buy food with some extra protein. The muscles of the Oriental Longhair should be kept in good condition. Proteins take care of the recovery and maintenance of this muscle mass.

Diseases that are common in this breed

The Oriental Longhair is a healthy and strong breed. Nevertheless, there are a number of health problems that occur with this breed, partly thanks to the cross-breeding me the Siamese. These health problems are:

  • Heart problems
  • Kidney stones
  • Liver problems

Heart problems are common in cats, therefore healthy food is essential. The right food contains taurine. Taurine contributes to normal heart function. Besides heart problems, kidney stones can also occur. It is important that if you notice that something is wrong with his stool, you call in a veterinarian on time. This also applies to liver problems. Often you can already tell from the behaviour of the Oriental Longhair that something is wrong. An Oriental Longhair is lively and energetic. If you notice that he is distant and no longer alive, there is a good chance that there are problems with his health. A visit to the vet will not do any harm.

 

How old can the Oriental Longhair get?

The Oriental Longhair grows between 10 and 15 years old on average. This is quite normal for a pedigree cat. The life expectancy of the Oriental Longhair does depend to a large extent on the quality of the care it receives.

So don’t save on caring for your cat, this can make him grow less old. Make sure your cat has enough attention, enough toys and the right food. These things are essential for his health and ensure that your Oriental Longhair can enjoy a healthy and happy life.

Oosterse langhaar strekken

What you need to know before you take this cat into your home

The Oriental Langhaar is fairly rare in the Netherlands. It is very common in America. For this reason it can be difficult to buy the Oriental Langhaar in the Netherlands. Nevertheless, there is a breed association in the Netherlands that deals with this breed.

If you want to buy an Oriental Longhair, it is advisable to do so through a breeder who is a member of such a breed association. Rasclub Siok is a breedclub in the Netherlands which is affiliated with Felikat. They breed Siamese, Balinese, Oriental Shorthair and Oriental Longhair. They are in contact with recognized breeders who deal with the animals in a responsible way.

It is also good to know that this is a family cat and therefore it is not an option to leave this cat alone at home for several days. So only buy this cat if you have a family and if there is enough time to pay attention to it. Otherwise, it will be bad for his health and he may develop problems.

 

How much does an Oriental Longhair cost?

The Oriental Longhair costs an average of around $900 This can differ per breeder but this is the amount you have to pay for this cat. Besides the purchase costs there are of course also the maintenance costs you have to take into account. These costs consist of:

  • Enter
  • Toys
  • Medical care
  • Care

This could certainly cost several hundred euros a year. So keep this in mind if you want to buy an Oriental Longhair. Having an Oriental Longhair is a nice hobby, but make sure you have enough money to take care of it in the right way.

 

Do you also choose the Oriental Longhair?

The Oriental Longhair, an elegant breed with lots of energy and a playful character. Perhaps the ideal family cat? What do you think of the Oriental Langhaar? Do you already have one? Are there things that stand out or do you have any tips for our readers? Let us know in the comments under this article. We are very curious about your experiences!

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Onlinecatworld.com Team

Onlinecatworld.com Team

We are a team of cat lovers, doing our best to create and spread information about cats. On Onlinecatworld.com you will read all about different cat breeds, and what makes them so special. You will also find information about grooming and training your cat. Be sure to leave us a reply if you like our article.

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