British Semi-Longhair vs British Longhair - Breed Comparison

The British Longhair cat hails from Great Britain. The cat is a longer-haired variety of the British Shorthair.

These British Shorthairs were interbred with imported long-haired varieties with the idea being to bring about a cat that was more compact and stout and with a rounder face. Today the British Longhair is an established longhair breed in its own right.

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 beautiful British Longhair cat is a medium-sized feline, leaning towards being a large cat with semi-long hair.

The cat, whether males or females can weigh between 4 and 8kg. It is robust and muscular with round paws and legs of medium length. The ears are smallish and round at the tips.

The color of the eyes can be different - browns, greens, blue, and grey. The colors of the coat can be blue, white, black, grey, calico, tabby, bi-color and tortoiseshell. The coat can be a solid color or it can be in different patterns. The fur is always medium length and silky with an undercoat.

Temperament:

The British Longhair has much the same personality as the British Shorthair – being calm, amicable cats who appreciate their human owners.

They’re adaptable cats too and are willing to get along with any other pets in the home as well. They’re playful and affectionate with their owners but don’t particularly like being held for too long.

Even though this is a docile cate, it is intelligent and will require mental stimulation. You’ll need to invest in a few ‘intelligent’ type of toys to keep your cat physically and mentally active. Take a look at the kinds of games where your cat will be required to ‘hunt’ for his food.

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 British Longhair makes an awesome pet and can live happily with children, other dogs, and cats and all of his human family.

He isn’t a cat that wants to be picked up too often – he is independent but is willing and loving towards his humans.

For the friendship he offers, you’ll want to reward him for the joy he brings by providing well for him.

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.

These beautiful cats can be prone to obesity if kept as an indoor cat only and a cat that doesn't get enough exercise.

Obesity, an accumulation of excess body weight, is a preventable disease. It is necessary to prevent this obesity as it can reduce your pet’s life expectancy. Fat tissue is active, secreting inflammatory hormones and creating oxidative stress on the body’s tissue, and this is precisely what contributes to so many diseases.

The British Longhair cat can also be prone to renal polycystosis. This disease is where many pockets of fluid or cysts form in the kidney and if they grow large over time they can actually interfere with kidney function and this can bring on kidney failure.

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.

Because of the long hair, the British Longhair is going to require brushing as the coat can easily become matted, particularly as the coat thickens in preparation for winter.

You’ll need to brush the hair once a week, but perhaps more in peak shedding times. A gentle but firm brushing keeps the cat’s fur and skin in good condition.

Have your pet spayed and neutered to avoid unwanted kittens.

Take your pet to the vet as soon as he is unwell. He is part of your family now and must be treated as such.

Provide your pet with human companionship especially if you buy one of the more social cats.

If your cat is an indoor pet, provide him with a litter box ad be prepared to clean it every day.

Provide a clean, dry, comfortable bed in a quiet area.

Provide your cat with stimulating toys.

Vaccinate your cat against the major feline diseases. Also, have your cat dewormed.

Diet:

In terms of nutritional requirements, make sure that your British Longhair gets the very best cat food there is, whether you provide him with homemade food or you give him some of the excellent commercially manufactured cat foods there are.

There are wet- and dry foods and it's for your furry friend to decide which one he prefers.

Learn to read labels and make sure your cat is getting foods high in protein, after all, your cat is a carnivore.

Be sure that the food has lots of vitamins and minerals for his health. A cat also needs a constant supply of fresh, cool water.

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.