Itämainen pitkäkarva

Abbreviation:

Oriental Longhair

FIFe:

OSL

Place of Origin:

United Kingdom, USA

Ancestors:

Oriental Shorthair cat, Balinese

Breed type:

Long-haired cat

Body type:

Long, elegant

Weight:

4.5-6 kg

Colour variety:

All colours and patterns except Himalay

History: The breed was formerly called a Javanese cat or Mandarin. It was born around the 1970s by crossing the Oriental Shorthair cat with Balinese. The breeding took place independently of each other in the United States and the United Kingdom.

The Oriental Long-hair cat can still be crossed with an Oriental Long-hair cat or Balinese cat.

Temperament: As well as body structure, the character of Oriental Long-hair cats it is comparable to shorthair breeds. As a rule, they get well with other cats and dogs, and they also get very well with children. They are very social cats that cannot stay alone. They can get sick of it because they often become addicted to their master and family members. They love stroking and cuddling. They are also equally suspicious and they like to be in the spotlight. Their playful and curious they can keep at high age and learn a lot of different pieces. They do not have the problem with retrieving or wearing of harness.

Body: Oriental is a medium sized cat with a long, slender but well-muscled body and a fine skeleton structure. It has a flexible, graceful and elegant look. There must be no roughness anywhere. Slim long legs have small oval paws. The hind legs are longer than the front. The long thin tail tapers to the tip. The wedge head is set on the long neck and should form a perfect triangle with large, oblique ears. The chin must not go backwards or be too prominent. Almond eyes are slightly sloping on the head, the long nose has a straight profile.

Coat: The semi-long and fine coat of the Oriental Long-hair cat is free of undercoat and is well suited to the body. The neck collar is missing.

Care: The coat of Oriental Long-hair cats does not crumble, so it is usually enough to brush it once a week with a soft brush, and use a suede cloth for polishing. During moulting period it can help remove dead hair with a wet suede cloth. In the case of Oriental cats that can participate at cat show, it may sometimes be necessary for a cat to be bath with a quality shampoo designed for cats several days before the show. The sharp ends of the claws should be regularly cut and the ears can be cleaned if necessary.

Colour variants: Oriental Long-hair cats always have green eyes. Besides the Himalayan colour, they can be found in countless colours and patterns. The most popular colours are black and blue, but the most popular are also individuals with patterns:

• Full colour: The most famous full colours are Havana (chocolate), ebony (black), red, cream, cinnamon, blond, lilac or blue. Ideally, the colour should be uniform throughout the coat. Especially in red and cream cats, it is almost impossible to get a clean colour without the hint of pattern. If the cat has a full-coloured silvery white background, it is a smoke colour. White Oriental cats have green eyes or they are different in their eyes.
• Tabby cats: Oriental Long-hair cats are recognized with four different patterns: blotched, mackerel, spotted and ticked tabby (Abyssinian). Abyssinian pattern gives ticking all over the body. Other tabby variety forms distinct patterns. These must be as clearly defined as possible. Very desirable are closed rings around the tail or the following dark coloured ribbons around the neck. Above the eyes should be a distinct dark-coloured M-shaped badge (so-called scarab drawing). Cats with a drawing are found in a range of colours, including black, blue, lilac, red, cream, cinnamon, and chocolate, with or without a silky white undercoat.
• Turtle cats: Mostly female. The coats are small, irregularly formed by stains of different overlapping colours. The primary colour can be, for example, black, blue, chocolate or lilac with red or creamy stains. The Smoke Turtle Cats (Smoke) goes if they have a silvery white undercoat.
• White spotted cats: These are combined with all possible colours or patterns. The amount of white can range from a bicolour or tricolour division to several colour spots on an otherwise white body.

There are also Oriental Long-hair cats that have both tortoiseshell and tabby. These are called tortoise tabby. They can be recognized with a silvery white undercoat or without it.