York Chocolate Cat 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 York Chocolate cat is often referred to simply as the York. The cat was developed in New York in 1983 by breeder Janet Chiefari. The American breed of cat came about by selecting certain colors for breeding.

The breed isn’t recognized by cat registries, however, in March 1990, the Cat Fanciers’ Federation of the New England area recognized York Chocolates as an experimental cat breed.

By 2016 no registry carried its breed standard and it looks as though the cat is now extinct. Later is was also established that the International York Chocolate Federation was founded in 2003 but that the site seems to be archived.

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.

Today the breed is still under development and in the experimental stages. It is a medium to large cat, both robust, sturdy, and muscular.

He can weigh up to 7 or 8 kg. The head is medium-sized with a rounded muzzle and the ears fairly large, pointed and tufted and broad at the base.

The eyes are medium in size, almond-shaped, and slanted slightly. The color of the eyes is a striking gold, green, or hazel.

The legs are also medium to long in length and well-muscled with the hind legs being a bit longer than the forelegs. The coat is medium to long, smooth and glossy with no undercoat. Color of the coat is mainly a rich chocolate color or silver, black and white.

Temperament:

The York Chocolate is a loyal and friendly cat. He is independent and although he loves his human family, he is perfectly happy on his own as well. They make wonderful pets as they get on well with children and also with other pets in the home.

They’re even-tempered and adapt well to all kinds of lifestyles. What is notable about this cat is that even if you tend to ignore him, he wants to lavish you with his attention. He is a cat that just loves to spend time with his human family.

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.

The York Chocolate is an ideal breed for families but he will get along well with single people too who are willing to make a fuss of him.

He is the kind of cat that makes himself at home indoors or outdoors. He has such an amicable nature and wants to be your friend. In return for this friendship, he needs to be given a whole lot of love and attention.

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.

York Chocolates are generally considered to be healthy cats, but always schedule regular wellness visits with the vet if you suspect even the smallest illness.

The insides of the cat’s ears should be examined regularly for signs of dirt and wax build-up that can lead to an infection.

The trend these days is to brush your cat’s teeth. This can absolutely traumatize your cat. When you take your cat for a check-up he will in any case look inside your cat’s mouth to make sure there aren't any bad teeth.

As a cat owner, it is a good idea to recognize the signs and symptoms of common illnesses in your cat. Cancer

Cats can get different kinds of cancer – where cells grow uncontrollably and spread to all parts of the body.

When a cat doesn't produce insulin, his blood sugar levels elevate and this can result in hyperglycemia.

Rabies is a viral disease that affects the brain and spinal cord. It's a deadly disease that can be prevented by vaccination.

Spread by infected mosquitoes, heartworm causes lung disease in cats.

Vomiting is a common problem with cats with many different causes. The danger with vomiting is that it can lead to dehydration,

A cat’s upper respiratory tract is susceptible to infections caused by a variety of viruses and bacteria.

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.

The coat of the York Chocolate is fairly short and it doesn't shed heavily. A weekly brush will suffice to help remove dirt and loose hairs as well as to maintain the coat’s sheen.

The nails need to be trimmed.

A high-quality diet high in protein and animal meat must be provided for your cat Cats are carnivores and are not plant eaters.