What do glamorous Persians, outdoorsy Maine coons, and rare, unique Scottish Folds all have in common? Their long, coifed coats, of course!
Check out our round up of the fluffiest, silkiest, and most coifed long-haired cats out there.
Tip
If your cat has long, silky hair, it's important to maintain a daily grooming routine. If left untreated, your cat could start to develop painful mats and tangles. If your cat has medium-length hair, you can leave the grooming to every other day.
- 01 of 10
Maine Coon
Two Maine Coon Cats Looking Into The Camera. 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.
Breed Overview
Weight:
9 to 18 pounds
Length:
36 to 40 inches
Physical Characteristics:
Medium-to-large, broad-chested cat with pointed ears and a long, dense coat that's shorter on the shoulders and stomach; coats can come in more than 75 color variations, but their eyes are usually green, gold, or copper
- 02 of 10
Balinese
A Balinese Cat On A White Backdrop. Balinese cats are known for their striking blue eyes and silky, pointed coats—much like their close relative, the Siamese. In fact, the Balinese breed is actually the result of genetic mutation in Siamese that caused cats to develop longer, silky coats. That's good news for cat-loving allergy-sufferers: Although there's no scientific proof, many consider the Balinese a hypoallergenic cat breed because they don't have allergy-causing undercoats.
Breed Overview
Weight:
6 to 11 pounds
Length:
Typically 18 inches
Physical Characteristics:
Slender body with a long tail and pointed ears; coats are long and silky, coming in creamy white with pointed colors around the face, ears, tail, and paws
- 03 of 10
Persian
A White Persian Cat With Green Eyes. Persians are, perhaps, best known for their long, white, glamorous coats, smushed faces, and vivid eyes. These pretty kitties aren't all looks, though—they have seriously sweet 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 on a daily basis.
Breed Overview
Weight:
7 to 12 pounds
Length:
14 to 18 inches
Physical Characteristics:
Sturdy, medium-sized built with a smushed face, and round, vivid eyes; long, silky coats that come in solid, bi-color, tabby, calico, and other color variations and patterns
- 04 of 10
Norwegian Forest Cat
A Norwegian Forest Cat Outdoors. Also known as a wegie, the Norwegian forest cat is a natural breed that can trace its roots back to the time of 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. In fact, bathing your wegie isn't recommended unless their hair is extremely dirty or it must be washed out of medical necessity.
Breed Overview
Weight:
13 to 20 pounds
Length:
12 to 18 inches
Physical Characteristics:
Large, sturdy cat with very dense hair, large, padded paws, and a long, bushy tail; coats can come in white, black, red, cream, cinnamon, and tabby
- 05 of 10
Himalayan
A Profile View Of A Himalayan Cat. If you suspect Himalayan cats look a little bit like a Persian and a little bit like a Siamese, you're 100 percent correct—Himmies are a hybrid of the two popular breeds. The result is a gorgeous cat with the coat and eye colors of a Siamese, and the long, silky hair of a Persian. Himalayans are very sweet and playful cats, but don't let their laid back personalities fool you—their long coats require daily maintenance to prevent mats and tangles.
Breed Overview
Weight:
7 to 12 pounds
Length:
About 18 inches
Physical Characteristics:
Medium-to-large in size with a wide chest, round abdomen, and muscular build; can often look bigger than they actually are; coats come in cream, grey, blue, and chocolate with pointed markings
- 06 of 10
Turkish Angora
A Cream Colored Turkish Angora Cat Originating in Turkey sometime during the 15th century, Turkish Angoras were once considered to be the only white cats with blue or green eyes—and, for many years, all long-haired cats were called Angoras. After many years as top dog—err, 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.
Breed Overview
Weight:
5 to 9 pounds
Length:
12 to 18 inches
Physical Characteristics:
Long, slim, and slender bodied with pointed ears and long, silky hair; Turkish Angora's coat can come in numerous color variations and patterns, including white and lilac, chocolate, calico, tabby, and more
- 07 of 10
Birman
A Birman Cat Sitting On A Window Ledge. 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. 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 breeding with Siamese cats.
Breed Overview
Weight:
10 to 12 pounds
Length:
15 to 18 inches
Physical Characteristics:
Sturdy, medium-to-large cat with long, silky hair and pointed markings; coat can come in seal, blue, chocolate, red, cream, and tortoiseshell, with pointed or lynx patterns
- 08 of 10
LaPerm
A LaPerm Cat Looking Into The Camera. Perhaps known for its distinctive appearance, the LaPerm—a relatively newer breed, having originated in 1982—has long, tightly curled hair around the neck, ears, and tail, and a fluffy, bottle-brush shaped tail. The LaPerm's coifed coats were the result of a genetic mutation that caused cats to develop curly hair, which was then propagated by breeders.
Breed Overview
Weight:
6 to 12 pounds
Length:
12 to 18 inches
Physical Characteristics:
Medium sized with a sturdy build and tightly curled hair around the neck, ears, and tail; can come in all colors and patterns, but are commonly seen in tortoiseshell, calico, and tabby
- 09 of 10
Somali
A Somali Cat Looking Past The Camera The long-haired version of the Abyssinian, the Somali cat was most likely developed by breeders introducing long-haired breeds into their programs during World War II. Abyssinian populations had 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.
Breed Overview
Weight:
6 to 10 pounds
Length:
15 to 18 inches
Physical Characteristics:
Sturdy, medium-sized cat with pointed ears and a narrow, Persian-like face; can come in a variety of colors and patterns, including brown, red, cinnamon, blue, and grey, among others
- 10 of 10
Scottish Fold
A Scottish Fold Cat On A Bed. The Scottish Fold's most distinctive feature—its folded, flat ears—are the result of a genetic mutation that can lead to serious health issues during the cat's lifetime. Accordingly, it's often recommended that a Scottish Fold is bred with a British Shorthair to maintain its appearance, but broaden the gene pool.
Breed Overview
Weight:
5 to 11 pounds
Length:
10 to 30 inches
Physical Characteristics:
Medium-sized cat with a round head, and folded, flat ears; coats can come in many colors and patterns, but commonly calico, tortoiseshell, and tabby