Cymric vs British Semi-Longhair - Breed Comparison

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 Cymric is a naturally tailless cat although having said that, not every Cymric is completely tailless.

It’s actually a long-haired Manx cat this and thought to date back to 1750. It is one of the oldest cat breeds.

Known also as rumpies or stumpies, the taillessness of the Manx an Cymric started as a mutation among the island's domestic cat population. Long-haired kittens were born to Manx cats on the Isle of Man, but in the 1960s, similar kittens were born in Canada and then specifically bred.

The Cymric became popular, even though it took years for the Cymric to be recognized as a breed of its own by cat associations. The International Cat Association (TICA) gave the cat breed status in 1979.

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 Cymric is a medium-sized cat that can weight between 4 and 6kg and he is round in shape and stockily built. The back legs are also longer than the front legs.

He has a short, arched back with a broad rump. The unusual but beautiful Cymric has long hair and a thick double coat that is glossy and vibrant. Some cymrics have tufts of hair on their ears and toes.

All colors of the coat are available and it can be solid or patterned - white, blue, red, black, cream, tortoiseshell etc.

The eyes are large and can be green, copper, or yellow. The ears are widely spaced with rounded tips.

Temperament:

The Cymric is described as a sweet-natured, placid cat that doesn’t get ruffled over much, though he does get excited about his human family.

He tends to be reserved around strangers. He is a loving cat and simply loves being around his human family. He is a strong cat and intelligent too and he is quite capable of watching you and then learning how to open doors and get into cupboards.

He is sociable and talkative too and enjoys ‘talking’ to you, especially when he has attached himself to one member of the family. He thrives on his human family's company and is a cat that provides lots of entertainment for you. Even though he becomes attached to one family member, he gets on well with children and pets in the home.

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.

Yes, the Cymric has quite a few health issues but many people choose to overlook these as they love the personality of the lovable cat breed.

It’s such an intelligent cat too but best of all it offers total love and companionship.

It is certainly an unusual domesticated cat breed that appeals to many different people and it is guaranteed that you’ll also find him one hang of a feline pet.

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.

If you look after your Cymric well, he can live to a good age of up to 15 years. The lack of a tail is a genetic defect and the cat’s deformed spine can cause health problems including arthritis.

In fact, the cat’s lack of a tail causes some serious diseases. The defective gene responsible for the loss of the tail affects the spine and can actually cause spinal problems. In fact, when completely tailless Manx cats mate, the defects can be so severe that some of the offspring are born dead.

People often speak of these health issues of the cat as the Manx Syndrome.

Some cats have a narrowing of the anal passage and this can lead to bowel blockages. Make sure to get your Cymric vaccinated against deadly cat illnesses and ensure veterinary checks for parasite control and illness.

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.

Diet:

As a kitten, provide your Cymric with food appropriate to its age. Once your cat turns one, you can start feeding him adult cat food. There are a whole lot of excellent commercially manufactured cat foods – dry and canned foo – but always choose a high-quality one where the first ingredients listed are always meat. This is because the cat is a carnivore. Make sure the food has taurine, which is an essential amino acid for cats.

This cat has a thick coat and he will need a brush at least twice a week, especially as he is a high shedding cat. While you brush your cat, look out for any problems such as red areas, hair loss, sores or irritated skin. Take note of any unusual lumps.

Some people take their Cymric to the vet once a year for a routine medical check-up. They have the nails clipped and the ears and teeth checked. It is also a great way to get your queries answered on the nutritional and health needs of your pet.

You will need to have your Cymric’s nutrition checked to keep him in tip-top condition. The Cymric cat has a good appetite and his build can allow him to put on weight easily. Obesity can put pressure on the spine and lead to all kinds of joint problems.

Provide your cat with a litter box and keep it immaculately clean.