A List of Cat Breeds of Longhair and Semi Longhair

Turkish Angora

• The Turkish Angora, or Ankara cat, is one of the oldest distinct cat breeds. Cat lovers so prized the Angora's medium-long hair that the breed almost disappeared due to cross-breeding. The Ankara Zoo began breeding the native cats to preserve the Angora's characteristic traits. Angora cats have medium-long coats with longer hair on their tails and hind legs. Their heads are wedge-shaped. White Angora cats most closely resemble the native Turkish stock. Angoras may have mismatched eyes, one blue and one gold. According to Turkish folklore, these odd-eyed cats bring luck.

Persian

• The Cat Fanciers' Association lists Persian cats as the most popular breed; they've topped that list since 1871. Of all longhaired breeds, Persians have the thickest, longest coats. In recent decades, cat-show regulations specified an extreme pug-shaped face, but the older "doll-faced" Persian type with a less blunt muzzle is enjoying a comeback among pet owners who don't plan to show their pets. Persians come in every color, but all colors need daily brushing to keep their dense coats from tangling.

Himalayan

• Although the CFA classes the breed as a Persian variant, nonshow cat fanciers typically refer to the Himalayan as its own breed. Himalayans are the result of crossing Persians with shorthaired Siamese cats. The resulting breed has a Persian's luxurious coat with the Siamese's distinctive "points," or darker color at the animal's face, feet and tail. Like Siamese cats, the Himalayan's coat can change with the weather; where the cat is colder, its fur grows in darker. Indoor Himalayans tend to be paler than cats who live outdoors.

Maine Coon

• A North American native, the Maine Coon is the largest domestic cat breed. Maine Coons vary from longhaired to semi-longhaired, but show-quality cats have the breed's characteristic longhaired tail and underside with medium-length hair elsewhere. Maine Coons tend to be affable and intelligent, making them second only to Persians in popularity. The cat got its name from its origins in the Northeastern United States and from tabby Maine Coons' extravagantly bushy ringed tails. Maine Coons carry a second variation to the hair length gene in addition to the one that all longhaired cats share.

Norwegian Forest Cat

• Like Maine Coons, Norwegian Forest cats are a naturally occurring longhaired breed. These cats have a lush undercoat and long guard hairs to keep their fur fluffed as an insulator against cold Scandinavian winters. Norwegian Forest cats shed copiously each spring as their summer coats come in, but otherwise require less brushing than specially bred longhaired varieties, such as Persians. They have a placid nature and tolerate other pets in the household well.

Somali

• Semi-longhaired Somali cats resemble foxes with their thick brush-like tails and white undersides. They're a man-made breed related to the shorthaired Abyssinian cat and share the Abyssinian's tawny color range. Somali cats have a ticked, or agouti, coat that resembles that of a cougar. Somali cats may be hard to find since they are relatively new, as of the 1950s. They're worth seeking out for those who dislike cleaning cat hair, though, as these semi-longhaired animals shed less than most cats.

Selkirk Rex and LaPerm

• Both Selkirk Rex and LaPerm cats have long, wavy or curly fur, but their striking appearance happened independently. Both cats contain a new variation on the hair length gene in addition to the standard version, but they're distinct from one another. These breeds arose in the 1980s.

Domestic Longhair

• Longhaired cats with unknown histories are domestic longhairs. While they may lack a pedigree for cat shows, these cats can make excellent household pets. They vary from semi-longhaired to longhaired and silky to coarse. A short nose might show Persian ancestry while color points indicate a Himalayan heritage.