Oriental Longhair

The Oriental Longhair is the semilonghaired member of the Oriental family, sharing the long body, wedge head, large ears, and lively expression of the Oriental Shorthair with a silky longer coat. In some registries or older references, related cats may be called Mandarin, Javanese, or part of a broader Balinese and Oriental grouping. Unlike the colorpoint-only Balinese, Oriental Longhairs can appear in many solid, tabby, tortie, smoke, shaded, and bicolor patterns.

This breed needs people who enjoy an interactive, talkative cat with a lot of energy. The coat is longer than a shorthair's but usually lacks a heavy undercoat, so regular combing is enough for many cats, with extra attention to the tail plume and rear furnishings. Breeders should keep the coat silky without losing the refined Oriental structure. Since naming varies, a buyer should verify the registration terms, color division, and family health history before assuming that every longhaired Oriental-type cat is recorded the same way.