The Tiffanie is a long-haired breed of British descent. It is a very affectionate cat that requires a lot of attention, but you get a lot of love in return. This breed is often confused with the Tiffany, which is also called Chantilly or a combination of these. This is of course a logical consequence with such a small difference in name. But this is a cat breed of American origin. Would you like to know more about this ideal companion? Then read on!
Ancestry: born from an unplanned mating
The Tiffanie is of British origin and used to be called the Asian Longhair. It is therefore the long-haired variant of the Asian Shorthair. The breed looks a lot like the Burmilla and is sometimes confused with it. Even more confusing; in Australia the name Tiffanie refers to a cat breed that is the long-haired version of the Burmilla. Outside Australia, too, the Tiffanie is sometimes referred to as a long-haired Burmilla. And to complete the confusion, the Tiffanie has a slight difference in name from the American version, the Tiffany. So in the pronunciation there is no difference between the two, but there is!
The birth of the Tiffanie occurred in the 1980s in the United Kingdom as part of a breeding programme. The Tiffanie originates from an unplanned mating between a male Chinchilla and a female Burmese. In this breeding program Burmilla’s wanted to mate with each other to breed short-haired cats with a light coat with silver accents. During this program they found out that some Burmilla’s had a long hair gene. This long-haired gene comes from the Chinchilla and could cause some kittens to have semi-long hair. At first the breeders didn’t take this sensation very seriously, but there were certain breeders who eventually became very interested in this beautiful new appearance.
In the end it took until 1991 before the breed was really recognised. From 2003 the breed was also allowed to participate in competitions. One of the reasons for this slow process was that the Tiffanie was not bred in very large numbers. The Tiffanie is the only semi-longhaired breed in a group of cat breeds called the Asian group. All other breeds in this group are short-haired.
The character: a calm cat that adapts easily
The Tiffanie is a quiet cat, but extrovert and really a cuddly animal. They are loving cats who are affectionate. They have inherited these traits mainly from the Chinchilla side. Somewhere you can also find some naughty traits that the breed has inherited from the Burmese side. The cat doesn’t get bored easily and can enjoy itself very well. Still he always likes it when the owner wants to play along too.
There are even a number of dog traits to be found in this breed. When you throw an object away, it is best for the cat to bring it back. Furthermore, the Tiffanie is also touted as an empathic and intelligent breed. For example, when the owner changes his or her state of mind, the Tiffanie will realise this and react accordingly. This is of course very nice coming home after a long hard day.
These fine properties also have a negative side. The affectionate nature of this breed can also cause jealousy. This certainly shows them. That is why the Tiffanie is not suitable for households with several cats. Although this is not always the case. It is also important not to leave them alone for too long. Even then they will clearly show what they think of this. An extra feline friend could be a solution.
Appearance: a green-eyed cat with a nice plume tail
The Tiffanie is a medium-sized cat. These cats often weigh between 3.5 and 6.5 kilograms, where the females are generally slightly lighter. They are known for their big green eyes that are at a nice distance from each other and are somewhat oval in shape. There are also other colour varieties, but green and yellow are most common. They have a semi-long and dense coat that is originally light with silver accents. The cat has no undercoat. External care is therefore necessary.
The Tiffanie has a broad and wedge-shaped head with fairly large and wide ears. Hair grows out of this as well. Because of their semi-long coat they have a nice thick collar around their neck. The body is quite compact with a muscular and straight back. They have medium long legs which end in oval claws. The cat has a nice long plume tail.
Coat colour and coat patterns
The Tiffanie has many different coat colours. The colours are often characterised by the so-called Burmese Colour Restriction. This is a mutation in the genetic code that reduces the amount of pigment produced in the hairs. This mutation is also sensitive to heat. This occurs less in colder areas of the body than in warmer areas. This can be seen in the coat of the Tiffanie. The back for example is darker, because here it is cooler. The belly is lighter, because here it is often warmer. There are many different kinds of coat colours to be found under the breed:
- Black: a black cat brings bad luck? I’m sure this loving breed will not be that bad.
- Blue: blue is a colour that is often most common in the Tiffanie at the beginning of the tail and the end of the back.
- Chocolate: a creamy brown colour. This can vary from very light to a dark, dark chocolate colour. The black in this colour is reduced, making this brown colour stand out.
- Lilac: a beautiful and elegant colour that sometimes contains some shades of chocolate.
- Red: a warm look that is very popular when mixed with other colours.
- Cream: a less chilly variant of the white.
- Cinnamon: Cinnamon is a rusty and reddish-brown colour.
- Caramel: this is a creamier variant of the cinnamon colour.
- Apricot: this is another lighter and brighter variant of cinnamon and caramel.
Patterns
The light colour with silver shading of the Tiffanie is most common. Partly because of its Asian origin. All other patterns of the Asian group also occur in this breed. Some patterns are less visible because of the semi-long coat:
- Turtle: this is a mix of two colours. Here a clear distinction is made between the man and the woman. The male only gets one X gene, the females get two. If females get an X gene with red and an X gene with a different colour, then the result is a turtle, because of the mixed result.
- Cypress: different colours and colour combinations are possible in this pattern. There is not much white in it. Actually, the cypress pattern is a combination of different patterns:
- Speckled: in this pattern the individual hairs have their own colour band. This creates a very detailed pattern. This pattern is created by the so-called Ta gene.
- Classic: this pattern consists of wider stripes that seem to rotate around a certain point. Over the body itself these stripes are wider than on the head. On the head the stripes can sometimes also form the letter M.
- Mackerel: this pattern contains mainly vertical stripes that sometimes bend slightly. The stripes may also be interrupted or form dots. Also in this pattern the stripes on the head can form the letter M.
- Spotted: the name of this pattern actually describes everything; no stripes or lines, but spots or dots.
- Smoke: with this pattern the hairs are silver and white. The silver part of the hair can be half to a maximum of two thirds. The boundary of this is often strong. In general the head and legs are less silver. While at the chest, underside of the belly and throat this is usually more.
- Even: as the name suggests, this is an even coat where each hair has only one colour.
- Shaded (original): this pattern is very similar to the smoke pattern, but the silver coloured part is smaller. Namely one eighth to one third of the length of the hair.
The upbringing: make sure your kitten is socialised.
With kittens it is important that they get used to people. It is important that kittens get used to human touch, so nurturing is possible. Once your kitten is used to human touch it will be possible to cut your kitten’s nails for example. Not unimportant! It’s also important that your kitten gets used to other animals and unfamiliar sounds. If your kitten doesn’t get used to this, there may be symptoms of anxiety and stress in the kitten.
This can lead to several problems. For example, you could think of problems with the kitten’s skin or problems with the immune system. Behavioural problems can also arise. For example, the kitten may start to behave very aggressively. Absolutely not what you want!
It is therefore important that the cat is properly socialised. This is especially important when the kitten is between two and seven weeks old. In addition to this first socialisation period, there is also talk of a second socialisation period. This stops as soon as the kitten is fourteen weeks old. If you want to get your kitten from a breeder who is a member of a cat club, you will only get the kitten when he is at least thirteen weeks old. The kitten will then have spent almost the entire period of socialisation with the breeder. It is wise to check whether the breeder has paid enough attention to this socialisation process.
The care: extra attention is needed
If you know how to socialise a kitten at a young age and get her used to human touch, the kitten will get better used to the care. Cutting your nails, brushing your teeth and brushing your coat will make it easier for you.
The coat of the Tiffanie is semi-long, which means that extra attention is needed. Mats and tangles can also occur in cats. Combing helps to keep the appearance nice and taut. You should therefore comb the Tiffanie more often than once a week. The guideline is two to three times a week. Luckily, the Tiffanie often doesn’t find this combing a problem at all. Especially when her favourite owner does this.
Also keep in mind that cats have a moulting period in which they lose a lot of coat. This is often in the spring when temperatures start to rise again. Then It is advisable to comb the coat more often than three times a week.
Nutrition: Provide a varied diet!
Food for cats is, of course, extremely important. So don’t economise on this! Especially for pedigree cats with (semi-)long hair it is important to make sure that the cat doesn’t eat too much. The long hair of the cat makes the belly less visible, so that overweight is not so easily noticed. Depending on how active the cat is, more or less food can also be given. Active cats of course burn more. So they also need more food.
The Tiffanie also likes human snacks, such as fried or boiled chicken, ham and cheese. Just think about giving cow’s milk to this cat breed. Their bellies are quite sensitive to this. Make sure they always have water at their disposal. That’s enough in terms of fluid intake.
Diseases that are common in this cat
The Tiffany is a healthy cat. There are no specific diseases to link to this breed. Just like other cats they do need their annual vaccinations against common cat diseases.
How old can the Tiffanie get?
The life expectancy of the Tiffanie is between eleven and fifteen years. Of course this depends very much on how well the cat is cared for. With good care they can certainly live to be fifteen years old. Of course older specimens are no exception. In general the Tiffanie is a healthy breed, but of course it is possible that the cat has to deal with certain diseases and/or disorders. This can have considerable consequences for life expectancy.
What you need to know before you take this cat into your home
To get a Tiffanie you don’t need any specific experience in keeping pets. However, it is important that you inform yourself well in advance so that you know what to expect. If you want a Tiffany with papers, it is wise to visit a breeder who is a member of a breed or cat association.
One of the big associations is Felikat. Felikat is one of the two associations that exist in the Netherlands at the time of writing. They are affiliated with FIFe, the Fédération Internationale Féline. Mundikat is the other association. The Fédération Internationale Féline is an umbrella body involving forty countries.
After thirteen weeks Dutch breeders give the kitten to its new owner. Moreover, the cat associations all make extra demands. For example, the breeding animals have to be tested for certain hereditary diseases and blindness.
For the development of a kitten it is important that it is raised in a domestic environment in the presence of the mother cat. It is also very important that the cat has been vaccinated, dewormed and possibly chipped.
Furthermore, for this breed, but also for all other (semi-)longhaired breeds, hair loss is more noticeable than for short-haired breeds. So in order to keep your house tidy and as free as possible from hair loss, it is advisable to vacuum a little more often a week.
What price do you have to think of?
Not much is known about the price of the cat, but about the Chantilly-Tiffanie, they cost on average between the $300 – $500. We will of course keep you informed of any changes to this information. Prices may vary per breeder. In addition to these purchase costs, if you take on a Tiffanie, you also have to take other costs into account. For example, you will have to buy a litter box and a cat basket. In addition, you will also need to provide cat toys. The Tiffanie loves to play. Compared to other breeds, a few extra toys are certainly not an unnecessary luxury.
In addition, you will incur costs for taking care of the cat. To take good care of your cat, you quickly lose $400 on an annual basis. Think of costs for the food of your cat and veterinary costs. It is also possible to take out health insurance for your cat, so that you will not incur unexpectedly high costs in the event of any illness or disease.
Do you also choose the Tiffanie?
Do you already have a Tiffanie or are you planning to have one? Then let us hear from you! We are very curious why you choose this cat breed and what you think makes this cat so special. You can let us know by leaving a message on this article!
