15 Majestic Long-Haired Cat Breeds That Will Enchant You

Maine Coon

The Maine coon is one of the largest cat breeds, and also one of the many long-haired cat breeds. It's widely believed that Maine coons originated in a climate with harsh winter weather, which would explain their all-natural cold-weather wear.

Maine coons have extremely dense, water-resistant hair, giant, tufted paws (which serve as miniature snowshoes to make walking across snowy terrain easier), and massive, bushy tails they can wrap around their bodies for additional warmth.

Balinese

Balinese cats are known for their striking blue eyes and silky, pointed coats—much like their close relative, the Siamese. The Balinese breed results from the genetic mutation in Siamese that causes cats to develop longer, silky coats.

That's good news for cat-loving allergy sufferers. Although there's no scientific proof, many suggest that the Balinese is a hypoallergenic cat breed because it doesn't have an allergy-causing undercoat.

Persian

Persians are, perhaps, best known for their long, glamorous coats, smushed faces, and vivid eyes. These pretty kitties are loved for more than just their looks. They have charming personalities, too. Born to be cuddlers, Persian cats are very calm, affectionate, and, generally, inactive.

Despite their low-maintenance lifestyles, Persians are high-maintenance when it comes to grooming; their hair can easily become matted and tangled if not brushed daily. And regular baths might also be necessary to keep this kitty looking their best.

Norwegian Forest Cat

Also known as a "Wegie," the Norwegian forest cat is a natural breed that can trace its roots back to the Vikings. Like the Maine coon, it's believed that Wegies originated in a cold climate, so they, too, have very dense water-resistant coats.

Because of their water-resistant coat, bathing your Wegie isn't recommended unless their hair is overly dirty or you must wash it out of medical necessity.

Himalayan

If you think Himalayan cats look a little bit like a Persian and a little bit like a Siamese, you're 100% correct. Himmies are a hybrid of the two popular breeds. The result is a gorgeous cat with the coat and eye color of a Siamese and the long, silky hair of a Persian.

Himalayans are sweet, playful cats, but don't let their laid-back personalities fool you. Their long coats require daily maintenance to prevent mats and tangles. You can use a wide-tooth comb to keep their fur smooth.

Turkish Angora

Originating in Turkey sometime during the 15th century, Turkish Angoras were once considered only white cats with blue or green eyes, and, for many years, all long-haired cats were called Angoras.

After many years as the top cat when it came to coat colors and length, it's now accepted that Turkish Angoras can come in a variety of coat colors and patterns and other cats can have similar colored eyes and hair color.

Birman

Another popular long-haired cat breed is the Birman. The history of the Birman cat is largely unknown, but it's believed they're the result of Burmese cats being transported to France and mixed with Siamese cats.

Although the Birman's coat comes in six colors and two different patterns, they always have white "mittens" on all four paws and blue eyes.

LaPerm

Perhaps best known for a distinctive permed hair appearance, the LaPerm is a relatively newer breed that originated in 1982. The LaPerm's coifed coat resulted from a genetic mutation that caused cats to develop curly hair.

This long-haired cat breed has long, tightly curled hair around the neck, ears, and tail, and a fluffy, bottle-brush-shaped tail.

Somali

The Somali is a long-haired version of the Abyssinian. This breed was most likely developed by breeders introducing long-haired breeds into their programs during World War II. Abyssinian populations dwindled, so introducing long-haired cats may have been their attempt at boosting numbers.

Somali cats weren't considered a distinctive breed until the 1960s and 1970s.

Scottish Fold

The Scottish fold's most distinctive feature—folded, flat ears—results from a genetic mutation that has been continuously bred into this breed. The mutation causes flexible cartilage, which can lead to serious health issues, including arthritis, tail issues, and problems with knees and ankles.

It's often recommended that a Scottish fold is bred with a British shorthair to maintain their appearance but strengthen the gene pool.

Ragdoll

The ragdoll is a long-haired cat breed that got its name from the fact that they comically fall limp when held. This cat has a silky single coat of medium-to-long length. It lacks an underlayer of fur similar to Balinese cats, which means it's meant to mat less.

This breed still requires brushing at least twice a week to avoid matting. Some people with allergies may be less bothered by this breed since this cat doesn't have an undercoat and shed dander. However, most people are allergic to the saliva and skin secretions from cats, and ragdolls produce both.

Siberian

The friendly, intelligent, and athletic Siberian cat is a forest cat native to snowy Russia, where they needed a luxurious triple coat to protect them against cold. The triple coat comprises three layers: a shorter, dense undercoat of downy hair, a layer of slightly longer “awn hair” in the middle, and an even longer outer coat layer or guard hairs.

In warm weather, the Siberian cat will shed the heavy coat in favor of a shorter, thinner summer coat. In winter, the coat will be at its thickest and longest.

Despite its thickness and length, the Siberian cat’s coat tends to resist matting and only requires an occasional brushing. The coat may come in any color or pattern.

Turkish Van

The Turkish van is an all-white cat with colored markings on the face and tail only. This color pattern is so distinctive that it’s often called a “van” pattern when it appears in other cat breeds. The texture of the Turkish van’s semi-long, soft coat has been likened to cashmere.

According to the season, this long-haired cat breed's native environment experiences temperature extremes, and the Turkish van’s coat changes according to the season. The winter coat is longer and thicker to keep the cat warm in cold weather, with tufts of hair often sprouting between the toes. 

The Turkish van’s coat also naturally resists matting.

Ragamuffin

The ragamuffin is another striking long-haired cat breed. They are related to ragdolls, as breeders created the Ragamuffin by crossing ragdolls with Persians, Himalayans, and long-haired domestic cats.

In addition to their unique appearance, they also are known as being like puppies. They can learn tricks, love playing games, and can be taught to walk on a leash. Grooming them isn’t as complicated as with other long-haired breeds, as the coat is tangle-resistant, but you still need to brush them regularly.

Nebelung

A newer and rarer long-haired cat breed is the Nebelung. It was developed in the 1980s in the U.S., and these cats are sometimes referred to as long-haired Russian blues—the Russian blue was used in the breed’s development.

These cats are shy at first, but once they get to know you and they’re comfortable in your home, they’ll love you and be devoted to you.

It can take up to two years for their long, double coat to grow in fully. Brush your Nebelung cat often to keep their coat looking and feeling great.