Popular Long Hair Cats

Known for its slender, elegant body and silky fur, the Turkish Angora is cherished in its homeland of Turkey. Despite their delicate appearance and small size, Turkish Angoras are affectionate and playful with their owners, children, and other pets (as long as the other pets recognize that the Angora is in charge).

Due to their hefty bodies and good, cuddly nature, Maine coon cats are often referred to as the gentle giants of the cat world—and for good reason. Male Maine coon cats can weigh as much as 18 pounds, while females can weigh up to 16 pounds. Maine coons, on average, measure 39 to 40 inches long.

The Siberian cat is an ancient and majestic breed that originated in Russia. As forest cats, they have luxurious triple coats for cold protection. Siberians are outgoing and affectionate, making them excellent companions.

The Norwegian forest cat has a long, dense coat that helped their ancestors survive for centuries in Norway's forests. Today, these large felines are loving house cats, but they typically don't enjoy sitting on laps.

One key feature that long-haired cat breeds like Persians, outdoorsy Maine coons, and rare, unique Scottish folds all have in common is their long, coifed coats that make you want to pet them for days.

Persian cats are best known for their flat faces, big eyes, and long, luxurious coats, but there's much more to discover. From their mysterious origins to the genetic changes in the 1950s that led to their famous flat faces, there's a lot to learn (and love) about Persians.

The ragdoll cat is a large, affectionate feline that goes with the flow. They're ideal lap cats because they often go limp with pleasure when petted, which is how they got their name. Though among the largest cat breeds, ragdolls are gentle giants. Their big blue eyes and loud purr reveal their soft nature. They're social cats, making them ideal for busy homes with many people and pets.

The Nebelung is a new and relatively rare breed, known for its medium-length bluish-gray fur with a silvery sheen and large green eyes. Developed in the 1980s in the United States, its name comes from the German word "Nebel," meaning mist or fog. They are often called long-haired Russian Blues, but while related and similar in looks, they are distinct breeds.

The LaPerm cat is a newer cat breed—in fact, the first known LaPerm litter was born in 1982 in the United States. Best known for their distinctive appearance, the LaPerm has gently wavy to tightly curled hair, which can be short or long. Because the breed is the result of a natural genetic mutation, these cats can come in every color and coat pattern.

One of the oldest cat breeds, the Cymric is a long-haired variety of Manx. Besides their hair length, the Cymric and Manx are virtually identical—both have rounded features and naturally short tails. These slow-to-mature breeds also share playful, kitten-like personalities that persist into adulthood. The Cymric and Manx are so genetically similar that Manx kittens may appear in Cymric litters and vice versa.

The Selkirk rex, a breed native to the United States, has a curly coat shared by only three other cat breeds: the Cornish rex, Devon rex, and LaPerm. The tousled appearance of the Selkirk rex, coupled with their laid-back attitude, brings new meaning to the saying, “Curly hair, don’t care.” This cat's easygoing personality makes them as charming as they are beautiful.

Best known for their large, long bodies and super plush coats, Ragamuffin cats are true lap cats that love to be cuddled by their owners. Often referred to as "puppy-like," Ragamuffin cats are intelligent, friendly and super personable. Plus, many Ragamuffins learn to love new tricks and play games, like fetch. Some even learn to love walking on a leash!

The elegantly built oriental longhair, also known as the British angora, resembles its relative the Siamese but has a much more recent history, officially recognized by the Cat Fanciers' Association in 1995. Its long, silky coat comes in an outstanding array of color and pattern combinations, and the cat is as personable as it is pretty. This curious, easygoing, and talkative breed is best suited to a home with lots of people or an extremely dedicated single owner. The oriental longhair loves company and hates to be left alone for long.

The mixed-breed cat, Felis silvestris catus, is a typical "house cat" without a pedigree. Called "moggies" in the UK, these common cats have developed due to feral and non-selective breeding. But, a lack of papers does not detract from them being beautiful and loving companion animals. Their varied shapes, sizes, coat colors, and personalities make them fascinating—and full of surprises.

Asian cat breeds are renowned worldwide. This region has created many unique cat breeds centuries, from the beautiful Siamese to the glamorous Persian. These felines hail from various places, including Japan, China, Myanmar, and Singapore. Interestingly, some of these cats were once considered royalty, while others have rich histories spanning centuries.

The red cat is a common type that is always tabby in pattern, and males far outnumber females. They are more commonly called orange, ginger, marmalade, yellow, butter, caramel, or butterscotch.

Soft, snowy, and cuddly, pure white cats are some of nature's most beautiful works of feline art and the facts about them make them even more interesting. Unlike gray or black cats, which can easily hide in shadows, a white coat practically glows. Every cat has unique beauty, mystique, and habits, but white cats have many facts specific to their snowy coats.

Norwegian forest cats are shaggy creatures that are relatively new to America (having arrived in 1979) but have a long, varied history in Europe. With their thick, water-repellent coats and sturdy build, these cats are perfectly adapted to survive the harsh Scandinavian winters. Plus, they make for both affectionate companions and excellent hunters.

The Somali cat is an active, intelligent, medium-sized breed with luscious locks and an athletic build. Known for their playfully curious nature, they enjoy interacting with humans and do not adjust well to boredom. Somalis make wonderful companions for people who spend most of their time at home or have other pets to keep these cats company.

The Balinese cat breed is renowned for its striking beauty, intelligence, and friendly, inquisitive, and playful nature. They are often vocal and quite demanding. This breed emerged from a spontaneous genetic mutation in purebred Siamese that caused the cats to develop a longer coat type.

The Himalayan cat is a cross between the Persian and Siamese breeds. Their beautiful long, silky coats come from their Persian relatives, while the pointed coloring on the ears, tail, face, and paws are thanks to their Siamese ancestry—along with their bright blue eyes.

The Turkish van is a rugged, large-bodied cat that originated in the Middle East. It is all-white with colored markings on the face and tail only. This type of color pattern is so distinctive that when it appears in other cat breeds it is often called a “van” pattern.

Ragdoll cats are probably best known for their silky, white-colored fur and bright, blue eyes, but there's much more to these gorgeous kitties than their good looks.

Persian cats have been cherished for hundreds—if not thousands—of years, tracing their origins to the deserts of Persia and Iran. They are medium to large-sized, easily identifiable by their round, flat faces and long, flowing coats in almost every color. Despite their sometimes grumpy appearance, Persian cats are gentle, loving companions.

The Maine Coon cat has existed in the U.S. since the 1800s and is considered the oldest native cat breed in the U.S. Rugged and solidly built, the Maine Coon cat is known for its massive size, shaggy coat, and large tufted ears reminiscent of a bobcat. While the Maine Coon might appear intimidating to some, this breed is a gentle giant with a sweet, laid-back personality. Learn more about the beloved Maine Coon.

The Birman cat is a sweet and affectionate companion with long, silky hair. Birmans are color-pointed, which means they have a light-colored body with darker “points” of color on the face, ears, legs, and tail. Regardless of color, all Birman cats should have four white paws and blue eyes. The history of the Birman cat is unclear, but it may have originated in Burma, where they were possibly regarded as sacred.

The Javanese cat, also known as the colorpoint longhair, is related to the Siamese, colorpoint shorthair, and Balinese. The Javanese looks like a Siamese cat with medium-long hair in lynx point, tortie point, or red/cream point. The Javanese’s semi-long coat is fine and silky, without an undercoat, so it lies close to the body.

Many cat lovers adore fluffy cat breeds with long, luxurious coats. Fluffy cats are not only beautiful but also soft, plush, and enjoyable to snuggle with. Various breeds boast long, fluffy coats, from the familiar Persian to the unique Turkish Angora.