Long-Haired Cat Breeds
Long-haired cats are fluffy and beautiful, and they come with brushing. Here are popular long-haired breeds, with a note on how much grooming each tends to need.
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1. Persian
The longest coat, needing daily grooming.
Medium · Usually 10 to 15 years
Read the Persian guide → -
2. Maine Coon
Shaggy and silky, brushed a few times a week.
Large · Usually 12 to 15 years
Read the Maine Coon guide → -
3. Ragdoll
Silky and rabbit-soft, and it tangles less.
Large · Usually 12 to 15 years
Read the Ragdoll guide → -
4. Norwegian Forest Cat
A thick, weatherproof double coat with a heavy seasonal moult.
Large · Usually 12 to 16 years
Read the Norwegian Forest Cat guide → -
5. Siberian
A thick triple coat, brushed a few times a week.
Medium to large · Often 11 to 15 years
Read the Siberian guide → -
6. Birman
A silky coat that rarely mats.
Medium to large · Usually 12 to 16 years
Read the Birman guide → -
7. British Longhair
Plush and medium-long, with a ruff.
Medium to large · Usually 12 to 17 years
Read the British Longhair guide → -
8. Balinese
A fine, silky coat, combed a couple of times a week.
Medium, slim · Often 12 to 18 years
Read the Balinese guide → -
9. Somali
A soft, ticked coat and a fox-like tail.
Medium · Often 11 to 16 years
Read the Somali guide → -
10. Turkish Angora
A silky, single-layer coat that tangles little.
Small to medium · Often 12 to 18 years
Read the Turkish Angora guide → -
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12. Ragamuffin
A dense, soft coat with a ruff.
Large · Often 12 to 16 years
Read the Ragamuffin guide → -
Breed is only part of the story: every cat is an individual, and most cats in the UK are moggies. Meet the cat before you decide, and think about rescue cats too. This is a friendly overview, not veterinary advice.
Questions people ask
What is the easiest long-haired cat to groom?
The Birman, Turkish Angora and Balinese have silky coats with little undercoat, so they tangle less than many.
How often should I groom a long-haired cat?
Usually a few times a week, and daily for a Persian. More often when they moult.
