Cat breeds

British Longhair

The British Shorthair in a longer coat

A golden-shaded British Longhair with sea-green eyes and a full white ruff

A fluffy golden tabby British Longhair kitten standing on a white background

A white British Longhair with one blue eye and one amber eye, sitting by a bright window

With its round, full-cheeked face and what looks like a permanent grin, the British Longhair is often linked to the Cheshire Cat from Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland. It is a solid teddy bear of a cat with a soft, plush coat and an easy, gentle nature that makes it a lovely family companion. Its ancestry reaches back to the cats of Roman times, which places it among England's oldest breeds.

Written with reference to The International Cat Association (TICA). British Longhair on TICA

History

The British Longhair comes from one of the oldest cat lineages in the world. Its ancestors are thought to have travelled from Egypt to Rome, and then to Britain with the Roman invasion of 43 CE. One of the earliest breeds recognised by the cat fancy, the line has changed remarkably little over the centuries. The long coat came later: between 1914 and 1918, Persians were bred into the line and brought the longhair gene with them.

Personality

Calm, patient and undemanding. British Longhairs tend to settle near their people rather than on them, take change in their stride, and are famously tolerant — which is much of why they suit a busy room.

Did you know?

The coat is double and stands away from the body rather than lying flat, which is why a British Longhair looks considerably larger than it weighs.

At Pink Paws