Collection: Personalised British Longhair Gifts

The British Longhair is a domestic mix which combines the physical characteristics of the British Shorthair with the Persian to create the trademark longhaired look. Engaging and affectionate, their docile nature makes them a great addition to lots of different types of household.

A nicely proportioned powerful cat with appealing round eyes, the British Longhair has a dense semi-long and defined coat with an attractive ruff around the neck. Due to the mixed lineage, the breed is available in a wide variety of colours.

The British Longhair emerged as a breed after the British Shorthair cat was crossed with long-haired cats from abroad, mainly Persians. This was during the early 1900s. The idea was to create an exotic British cat with a tractable temperament.

The breed declined during the Second World War as access for foreign cats was restricted and so the British breeders turned to home grown British Shorthairs which they bred to native Persians to create a real true cross. Despite the popularity of the breed in cat circles, it is still not very well known nor are they recognised by the Governing Council of the Cat Fancy unlike its sibling, the British Shorthair. However, the International Cat Association (TICA) granted the breed full championship status in 2009 and this has increased the breed’s popularity and reach. It is known as the ‘Lowlander’ in the Netherlands and the US and in Europe, the breed is called the ‘Britanica’.

Affectionate and even tempered, the British Longhair is a quiet, docile breed that makes an excellent house cat. They are great family pets and happy to go with the flow of a busy household or chill out in a quieter environment. They become extremely loyal and devoted companions to their owners and whilst not overly active, they can have mad moments where they are happy to clown around. Quite a self-contained breed, they are happy to be left alone and content in their own company.