Oriental Longhair (Angora)

The Oriental Longhair (Angora) in the UK has rather a muddled history. There were long-haired cats in the 19 th century with silkier coats than the well-known Persians and Oriental in type who were described as Angora, but it was unclear whether the breed was truly separate from the Persian, and it disappeared. Confusingly, in the USA and other parts of the world there is a cat known as the Turkish Angora, which has the type referred to above. In the States the Angora (Oriental Longhair) is known simply as the Oriental Longhair.

The Oriental Longhair (Angora) breed today is a new one; it has its roots in a mating between a Sorrel Abyssinian and a Seal Point Siamese in the late 1960s. The Abyssinian carried the long-haired gene, which some of the kittens inherited, and it was the longhairs that really excited interest, and so the Oriental Longhair developed. Other outcrosses were made to enlarge the gene pool using Balinese for coat length and Oriental Shorthairs for colour and type.

Progress has been quite slow, and similar sorts of numbers have been registered with the GCCF over the last 10 years – about 50 – 80 per year. In character and temperament they are similar to the Oriental Shorthairs and have the same colour range. It is important not to confuse this breed with the Turkish Angora, which is not recognised by the GCCF.

Although Oriental Longhairs have no particular health problems, it makes good sense to insure your cats.  Many breeders sell their kittens with six weeks free insurance cover.  More and more owners are now insuring their pets as advances in veterinary medicine, plus the soaring costs of drugs can mean astronomical bills.

Oriental Longhair (Angora) Breed Clubs and Rescue

Oriental Longhair Breed Club

Oriental Longhair (Angora) Breeders

Contact the Breed Clubs who will have lists of Breeders and may have Kitten Lists.