Long-Haired Cat Breeds

Coat & grooming — Long, shaggy, water-resistant coat; needs weekly brushing

Suits — Families, children, other pets, dog-friendly homes

Coat & grooming — Long, dense coat; requires daily brushing to prevent mats

Suits — Calm households, adults, gentle indoor families

Coat & grooming — Semi-long silky coat; needs brushing twice weekly

Suits — Families, children, seniors, multi-pet homes

Coat & grooming — Short or long dense coat; brush weekly

Suits — Families, calm homes, other pets

Coat & grooming — A long, dense double coat with a glossy, water-resistant top layer and woolly undercoat, plus a ruff and bushy tail. It sheds seasonally, shedding heavily in spring when the winter coat is lost; weekly brushing keeps it tangle-free, increasing to several times a week during the moult. The coat is largely self-maintaining and rarely needs bathing.

Suits — A relaxed, family-friendly cat that suits households with children and other pets, including cat-friendly dogs. Its easygoing, independent nature makes it forgiving for less experienced owners, though it appreciates company and vertical space to climb. It tolerates flats if given tall cat trees and enrichment, but it is an active, athletic breed that enjoys interactive play and exploring.

Coat & grooming — A medium-long, silky single coat with no woolly undercoat, which means it mats far less than most longhairs and never feels heavy. Shedding is light to moderate; a quick brush once or twice a week keeps the coat glossy and tangle-free, with a little extra attention around the ruff and 'breeches'. Bathing is rarely needed.

Suits — An excellent all-round family cat that suits first-time owners, families with children, and homes with other cats or gentle dogs. Its calm, sociable and adaptable nature makes it well suited to flats and quieter households alike. Birmans dislike being left alone for long stretches, so they do best where someone is often home or where they have a companion animal for company.

Coat & grooming — Long, thick, glossy double coat with a fine texture. It is high-maintenance and prone to matting, so daily combing is recommended, along with periodic bathing and wiping of the eyes and facial folds to prevent tear staining.

Suits — A gentle, quiet companion ideal for calm families, considerate children and adults seeking a placid lap cat. It suits flats and indoor life well and gets on with other relaxed pets. Its grooming demands suit owners willing to commit to daily care, though its easy temperament is fine for attentive first-time owners.

Coat & grooming — Comes in shorthair and longhair (the Cymric) varieties, both with a plush, dense double coat that feels padded to the touch. The shorthair needs weekly brushing, while the longhair benefits from two or three sessions a week to prevent matting. Shedding is moderate and rises during seasonal coat changes.

Suits — A friendly, adaptable choice for families, including those with gentle children and other pets, and manageable for attentive first-time owners. Manx cats form strong bonds, follow their people about and often greet visitors at the door. They suit both houses and flats provided they get play and company, but tail-touching should be avoided as the area can be sensitive.

Coat & grooming — Long, fine and silky with no woolly undercoat, which makes it surprisingly easy to care for and resistant to matting. A brush once or twice a week keeps it smooth and glossy, with heavier seasonal shedding in spring. The single coat lies flat and flowing, plumed at the tail, and comes in white and many other colours.

Suits — An excellent, adaptable choice for families, first-time owners and multi-pet homes, suiting both houses and flats. Affectionate and clever, Turkish Angoras enjoy being involved in everything, get on well with respectful children and other pets, and often take charge of the household. They crave company and play, so they do best where someone is around and willing to keep them entertained.

Coat & grooming — Single-coated, medium-to-long, fine and silky with no downy undercoat, lying close to the body and lengthening into a plumed tail. Because there is no undercoat, it sheds modestly and mats rarely. A weekly comb-through keeps it sleek; bathing is seldom needed.

Suits — Excellent for families, including households with children and other cats or sociable dogs, thanks to its outgoing nature. It suits both first-time and experienced owners but needs company, so it is poorly matched to people who are out all day. It adapts well to flats provided it gets plenty of interactive play, climbing space and attention.

Coat & grooming — Comes in both longhair and shorthair, with loose, soft curls that are most pronounced around the neck, belly and tail; even the whiskers may curl. The dense, slightly woolly coat sheds and benefits from gentle weekly combing rather than brushing, which can straighten the curls. Over-bathing or heavy grooming relaxes the curl, so a light touch keeps the texture.

Suits — A great all-rounder for families, children, multi-pet homes and first-time owners thanks to its easy-going, affectionate temperament. Its moderate energy suits both flats and houses, and it is content to be a relaxed lap companion rather than a demanding athlete. Like all cats it appreciates play and climbing options, but its exercise needs are modest.

Coat & grooming — Medium-length, fine and soft with a striking ticked (agouti) pattern in which each hair carries several bands of colour, plus a full ruff and a bushy, fox-like tail. The semi-long coat lacks a heavy undercoat, so it resists matting and needs only weekly combing, increasing during seasonal moults. Bathing is rarely required.

Suits — Best for active households that can offer plenty of play, climbing and mental challenge; it suits families, sociable children and other lively pets. It does well with both first-time and experienced owners who understand its need for stimulation. Adaptable to flats if given vertical space and enrichment, but it is not a placid lap cat and can grow bored without company.

Coat & grooming — Semi-long, soft and notably water-resistant with a cashmere-like texture and no woolly undercoat, so it resists matting and is largely self-maintaining. The coat is shorter in summer and grows a fuller winter coat with a plumed tail and neck ruff. Weekly combing suffices, increasing during the heavy spring moult; bathing is seldom needed.

Suits — Best suited to active homes that can give it space, height to climb and plenty of play; it enjoys families and older, respectful children. Its strength, energy and independent streak make it more rewarding for owners who appreciate a busy, interactive cat rather than a placid lap pet. It can live in a flat but needs ample enrichment, and not every Van tolerates being picked up or crowded.