Thai vs British Semi-Longhair - Breed Comparison | Petzlover

The British semi-Longhair cat is exactly like the British Shorthair except when it comes to the coat length - the hair is longer.

During the 20th century, a short-haired version of the modern Persian was developed and it was then proposed that a long-haired cat of the British type make it into the cat fancy.

The British Shorthair cat was bred with different Persian cat breeds which then resulted in a cat that looked like the British Shorthair cat, just with longer hair. It is recognized separately in the United States of America but considered one and the same as the short hair in the United Kingdom.

The Thai cat is also referred to as the Wichien Maat. It is an old cat breed descended from the cats of Thailand.

The Wichienmaat is a cat that was spoken of already centuries ago in a book. Over the years, the cat has remained much the same as its original breeding. Today this cat is popular in Thailand.

It was in the late 1800s that the Wichienmaat was imported to the West by British cat breeders, and the cats became known as ‘Siamese’.

Western breeders wanted to add in some other qualities to the cat and through selective breeding, they developed a finer-boned type of Siamese cat. Today some people refer to these cats as Old-Style Siamese, while others refer to them as Thais, but they are one and the same.

The British Semi-longhair can become quite a large cat really and is described as a medium to large cat. In fact, a full-grown British Semi-Longhair can grow to be about 7.5kg in weight.

They’re compact and robust with short, strong legs. The longish coat can be in all colors and patterns and he sheds moderately. Color can be white, cream, chocolate, blue and colors can be solid, ticked or bi-colored.

The ears are wide-spaced and medium-sized and they eyes are almond-shaped and match the color of its coat.

Temperament:

The British Semi-Longhair cat is such an easy-going pussycat while being reserved, independent and undemanding. He will get on with children and other pets in the home. Perhaps he suits someone who loves the idea of having a gorgeous pet around, but who is working and doesn’t have that amount of time to devote to a cat.

The British semi-longhair is one of those cats that doesn’t mind too much if you disappear to work each day. He can amuse himself without you during that time, as long as he has some nice toys and a nice environment to chill.

It’s not the kind of cat to follow you around, making it perfect for anyone who doesn’t have the time to give the cat too much attention. It’s simply not a lap-cat.

The cat isn’t very active at all and is more than happy to sit in his favorite spot in the sun and to watch activities from there. This is a quiet, content cat, not wanting to meow unnecessarily and his round face shows off a happy disposition.

The Thai is a short-haired, glossy cat and comes in a variety of colors but no white.

The soft, silky fur is a warm cream shade, much like the Siamese, with dark brown, black, smoky colored extremities.

The Thai is considered to be a medium-sized cat and he will weigh between 3 an 6kg. The body is lean, slender and muscular, the ears medium size with rounded tips and set wide apart. The eyes are are beautiful blue, large and slightly slanted.

Temperament

Thai cats are curious, active, and intelligent. They are also social and vocal and are able to communicate to their human owners what they want.

They thrive on getting lots of attention from their humans and will even follow them around the house. They do well with children in the home when the children have been taught to be kind and respectful to animals.

This moderately shedding cat is such a balanced cat – it is good with everyone, is quiet and unassuming. It just quietly gets on with life, being content and satisfied with its lot.

If you’re looking for a more ‘involved’, vocal, active cat, the British semi-longhair isn’t for you. If you however, want a quiet, steady presence in your home, this lovely cat is for you.

The Thai cat is social and friendly and enjoys time spent with his human family. They don’t like to be left alone for long periods of time and it just might be a good idea to have a feline friend for this cat.

He is also a vocal cat and lets you know his feelings and certainly when he wants his food. The Thai wants to be your friend and companion and he will thrive in any kind of home when he is made to feel important and loved.

Your British semi-longhair is quite healthy, but it does come with a few issues, and this is suffering with renal and kidney diseases – more so than with other cat breeds.

It can also battle with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, a type of heart disease often found in cats.

These cats are known for their good health. Just because he is considered healthy, you can't ignore looking out for signs that he may be in distress.

There are actually a whole lot of common cat illnesses your cat could succumb to, so you want to be sure you recognize some of the signs such a vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, and battling to urinate. Make sure that the eyes are always bright and clear and that he is his active self.

Have your Thai cat vaccinated against the deadly cat diseases that there are. You will also need to have your cat dewormed. Speak to your vet about the best way to prevent fleas.

Have your cat spayed or neutered to prevent unwanted kittens.

Grooming:

Because of the semi-longhair, the British Semi-Longhair will require more effort than short hair cats with keeping the coat free of tangling. It’s a good idea to get this cat used to a brush-session to free the coat of dust and loose hairs at least once or twice a week.

Other basic grooming requirements for your kitty kat would be to keep the claws short, to check inside the mouth for dental problems, to check inside the ears for dirt and redness and to check the eyes to make sure they’re bright and clear. If there is a discharge, wipe the eyes gently with warm water and some apple cider vinegar. Be very gentle with all your grooming processes for your cat.

Diet:

The British semi-Longhair enjoys his food and if you don’t feed him in a responsible manner he can become obese. He is such a beautiful cat this that you want to ensure he gets the best premium quality food there is – food that is high in proteins.

It’s not worth feeding your beautiful semi-longhair on inferior foods as this can impair his health.

Cats are carnivores – related to lions – they’re meat-eaters. As far as their diet is concerned, they need fats and proteins and not carbs.

When you’re choosing food for your British semi-Longhair, check out the label to make sure you know precisely what your cat is taking in. When you are 100% sure that the food is the best it can be and your cat loves it, give it to him.

Don’t change foods haphazardly, as this cat likes a lifestyle devoid of sudden changes. If in any doubt, get advice from your vet on weight and calorie intake for your pet.

You’ll see your Thai cat preening and grooming, but he will still need to have the silky coat brushed gently to keep it shiny and healthy.

The brushing will make him happy as he just loves the attention, and it is good for the cat’s fur – to remove dust and loose hairs.

Make sure to visit your vet if you suspect that your Thai cat is ill.

Your Thai cat is a scratcher just like any other cat, and if you don’t want to have your furniture scratch, invest in a scratching post.

Examine the inside of your cat’s ears to make sure they are clear of dirt and wax that could cause infection.

Some people say you should brush your cat’s teeth, but this can be too traumatic for your cat. Pets have always done well without their teeth being brushed. It can frighten your cat so much, he’ll want to scratch you.

Your Thai is an active, energetic cat, and you will want to provide him with a cat tree for climbing.

Provide your cat with feeding- and drinking bowls, litter box, warm, soft bed and toys to keep him occupied. It is always a good idea to put a collar on your pet and an ID disc in case he runs away.