Oriental Bicolour vs Domestic Longhaired Cat - Breed Comparison

The Domestic Longhaired cat came about because of various attempts by breeders to bring in certain Persian cat varieties in the American Shorthairs.

The cat comes from champion bloodlines but one of the most remarkable traits of the Domestic Longhair cat is that they are just typical cats with long hair. In other words, Domestic Longhairs are a product of various cat breedings and it is thought they arrived in the USA with the early settlers.

They shouldn’t be confused with the purebred American Longhair cat. The ancestry of the Domestic Longhair cat is unknown but for people who own them, they are a longhaired cat that becomes special to their owners. The cat isn’t recognized by the larger cat organizations.

Oriental Bicolour cats owe their origins to Lindajean Grillo of Ciara Cattery. The cats hail from the United States. It was in 1979 that Grillo paired a Siamese and bicolored American Shorthair, selecting the best bicolored offspring to mate again with Siamese or Orientals.

This particular variety was granted recognition in 1983 by TICA. It was during the 1980s that European breeders started their own Oriental bicolor breeding lines. The first modern Oriental Bicolours were imported to the UK during 2004.

These Domestic long-haired cats are hugely popular in the United States. They can be of any color and the coat can have different patterns too, including bi-color, tortoiseshell and tabby.

With his muscled, athletic body he can weigh between 3 and 6kg. He can have a variety of eye colors, ear sizes, and shapes Essentially, their size and shape is influenced by the breed that dominates.

Temperament:

These are just your regular, balanced cats and they make splendid pets for first-time cat owners, single pet owners, those with kids in the home and seniors. You can’t really tell how their personality will be and some will be more quiet than others and some more loving than others too. A lot depends on how you raise- and socialize your cat.

These cats with a triangular-shaped head and slender, long body have a fairly thin tail. The ears are widely set and are large. The eyes are green, but blue with the colorpoint varieties.

The coat is short, close-lying and sleek while the coat of the long-haired variety is fine and silky with no thick undercoat. The tail forms a plume. The coat is mostly white and the other part of the coat can be in any other color. You’ll always see quite a bit of white around the legs.

Temperament:

These cats are suited for singles, couples, families, and seniors - in fact, anyone still active enough to provide this cat with lots of attention.

These vibrant cats are known for their social, friendly and loving personality. They are intelligent, inquisitive, active cats that need to have plenty of interaction with their human family members. They love their human family and love to hold conversations with them.

They're entertaining too, and love nothing more to ve the center of attention. They're so into their human family that you may even have him waiting patiently for you to come home fro work. He shouldn't be left alone for hours on end and should rather have a pet friend to keep him company during the day.

Domestic Longhairs are such wonderful cats and slot into a host of different lifestyles.

They are generally content cats with the different lifestyles they find themselves in. Some are smart, some playful, some quiet and some naughty, some are very vocal and some are content to be lap cats.

They're all different but they all have needs and concerns – to be part of a loving human family and to be treated with love, care and respect for the companionship they offer.

The Oriental Bicolor is such a wonderful pet to have. They are intelligent, entertaining, loving, active, playful, and inquisitive.

They’re also athletic and energetic. These cats have got all the characteristics you want in a good friend. They make a fantastic companion to people who are active and happy. They’re also very vocal and have a lot to say to their human family.

It is their mixed breeding that ensures that the Domestic Longhaired cat doesn’t have any health issues. Like any cat, things such as arthritis, cancer, diabetes and kidney disease can plague your cat.

A good diet, exercise, lots of love and care can all help to ensure your kitty kat doesn’t succumb to anything that your vet can’t handle.

As soon as your cat shows any sign of illness, get him to the vet. If you look after your cat well, he can avoid a lot of vet visits and can reach 15 to 20 years of age.

Any cat can develop health problems. Even kittens that come with a certificate of health can develop illnesses that you never thought possible.

Orientals are generally healthy cats, but the health issues that may affect the Oriental are similar to that of the Siamese cat.

One of these is Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA). This is a genetic eye problem that can lead to blindness. Another disease to look out for is Asthma. The Siamese is susceptible to this disease which means your Oriental Bicolor will also be. You will have to get your furry friend to the vet who may precribe anti-inflammatory drugs.

The hair of the Domestic Longhair will need to be tackled and you will need a firm brush to gently brush your cat once a week. This ensures the hair remains silky and tangle-free.

Remember, there are always professional cat groomers who specialize in grooming cats and ensuring their teeth, inside of ears, their nails and their fur is in tip-top condition.

Keeping your cat healthy is always going to require a trip to the vet. Your Domestic Longhair is going to require certain vaccines and deworming to ensure he remains free of deadly cat diseases. Also, if your cat is acting in a lethargic, ‘sick’ way, it could well be a sign that he is ill and a trip to the vet will be imperative as the condition could become worse.

To ensure your cat has the best chance at health, make sure you feed him well. Gut health is absolutely imperative and feeding your cat too many carbs will give him plenty of digestive problems.

A cat is a carnivore – a meat eater – and therefore his food needs to be meat. A kitten will require 4 small meals a day and an adult cat – over the age of 1 year – will require 2 meals a day. Any questions you have about feeding your cat can be answered by your local veterinarian.

Speak to your vet about spaying or neutering your Domestic Longhaired Cat as this will prevent unwanted kittens, particularly if your cat is allowed outdoors and wanders off.

Also, neutering and spaying have a host of health benefits for your cat and it also improves their personality.

The Oriental Bicolor will require a brushing once a week. A good idea is to also take a warm, damp cloth and to wipe your cat down. It’s an excellent way to rid your cat of loose hairs as well as dust. The cat has a sparse coat, so brush him gently.

Other grooming requires nail clipping and checking inside his ears. If you clean his ears, be careful not to go deep into the ear. It is precisely why so many cat owners take their cat to the pet groomers where they can do these things professionally.

It’s very important to keep your Bicolor’s litter box spotlessly clean because like most cats, they won’t use their litterbox if it’s still got yesterday’s feces in it. It needs to be cleaned every day.

The Oriental’s diet is much like that of other cats – it has to be meaty. You can’t afford to not understand your feline pet’s dietary needs. Cats are carnivorous and they need commercial cat food that will be equal to fresh meat that they would normally find in the wild.

They need foods high in protein but they will still need some carbohydrates, amino acids, and vitamins, and minerals. Always go for the best quality pet cat foods because by buying the poorer quality ones you put your cat at risk of developing health problems. Never ever leave your cat without a constant supply of fresh, cool drinking water.

Supply your cat with all the things that make it a pleasure to have a cat. You don’t want to bring your pet home and only then start looking for things to make him at home. He’ll need food and water bowls, a nice warm, soft bed, a litter box, grooming accessories, collar, toys climbing tree and scratching pole.

Have your pet neutered or spayed to prevent unwanted kittens.

Make sure he is taken to the vet when ill. You shouldn't own a pet if you can't afford to pay vet fees. There are some cat illnesses that can make your cat very sick and uncomfortable. He should have his vaccines and also be treated for parasites.