Oriental Longhair

Climbing routes and shared discoveries

A home for an Oriental Longhair should make use of height. Securely fixed shelves or a sturdy scratching tree provide places to climb and watch. Routes between them should be accessible, with surfaces large enough for comfortable resting. Fragile belongings should be kept where exploring paws will not easily knock them down.

Hunting games with short pauses suit shared activities. Toy prey can move along the floor, disappear behind a box and return after a short pause. She should be able to catch the attachment as well. Some cats bring back a small ball or enjoy learning a simple task. Coming to a particular place when they hear an agreed word is one example. You should pair the voluntary movement to that spot with a small reward and keep practice brief.

A simple food search adds another option. Food should initially be visible and easy to reach. The portion used in the game should come from the measured daily allowance. Especially in a busy household, regular opportunities for time together help without filling every quiet period with another task. In homes with several cats, feeding places, litter trays and retreats should be distributed so one cat does not constantly have to pass the other.

For practical play, food searches and quiet retreats, read Indoor Cat Enrichment: Play, Food Puzzles and Safe Retreats ↗

Everyday cat training: carriers, grooming and confidence ↗

Silky fur without dense undercoat

The coat is medium in length, fine and silky. It follows the slender body rather than surrounding it with dense undercoat. The long, plumed tail is particularly distinctive. The standard specifies no woolly undercoat. The full coat develops as the cat matures.

A soft brush or suitable comb a few times a week can remove loose hair and help you find small tangles early. Frequency should follow the needs of the actual coat. Areas behind the ears and beneath the front legs merit a check. If the cat dislikes being touched in one place, you should inspect it gently and have possible pain investigated. Firm mats should be removed by someone with suitable experience.

Teeth need attention too. You should introduce brief touches around the mouth gradually, followed by appropriate dental care. The veterinary team can demonstrate the technique. Human toothpaste is unsuitable. Bad breath, drooling or a change in chewing should be investigated even if the cat continues eating.

The longhaired form of the Oriental

The Oriental Longhair is the longhaired form of the Oriental Shorthair. Both belong to the Siamese breed family, but their colours are not restricted to the typical pointed pattern with darker extremities. Oriental breeds were developed in many coat colours and patterns. Introducing longhaired cats also produced the silky coated longhaired form. FIFe recognised it in 1985.

The standard describes a medium sized cat with a long, slender body, good muscle and a long wedge shaped head. Large ears continue the lines of the head. Eyes are usually green. Under the FIFe standard, white cats may also have blue eyes or one blue and one green eye. The Balinese belongs to the same close family but has pointed colouring and blue eyes.

When meeting a kitten, you should ask about early grooming experiences and willing contact with people. An adult Oriental Longhair already has individual habits. How vocal is she, and what company is she used to? This information helps you prepare a suitable home. For an older cat, intermediate steps and lower favourite places should make movement easier. Sudden withdrawal or less jumping should prompt an examination for pain or illness.

Kitten, adult, senior: care that changes with your cat ↗