Domestic Long Haired Cat

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Domestic Long Haired Cat
Domestic Long Haired Cat

Video: Domestic Long Haired Cat

Video: Domestic Long Haired Cat
Video: 10 LONG HAIRED CAT BREEDS 🐱 The Furriest in the World 2024, March
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The Domestic long-haired cat is one of Mother Nature's finest creations. These plush fur cats come in all shapes and sizes, while offering the same variety of colors and coloration as their shorthaired cousins. Despite the fact that the domestic long-haired is not considered a breed as such, these cats with different characters, types of hair, all kinds of colors become excellent companions. These handsome men deserve the same love and respect as any grand champion.

Gray long-haired cat, photo photography
Gray long-haired cat, photo photography

Domestic long haired cat

History

The first domestic cats were short-haired, but long-haired cats have lived next to humans for thousands of years. The shorthaired domestic cat is descended from the species Felis silvestris lybica. Then, as a result of the mutation, the coat became longer. This probably happened spontaneously in an isolated environment with a cold climate, where such a fur coat gave a better chance of survival. Experts speculate that this may have happened on a mountain plateau in eastern Turkey, as long-haired cats have existed there for millennia. Perhaps a similar mutation has occurred in Russia.

Longhaired cats were brought from Turkey to Europe in the late 16th century. Later, the Russian long-haired were introduced to England and from there spread throughout the world. They arrived in the New World with the pilgrims, and their long fur helped them survive the harsh winters of New England. These hardy long-haired feline emigrants crossed the country with European settlers and settled everywhere. They are the ancestors of the American Maine Coon breed. Today, the domestic long-haired is the second most popular after the domestic short-haired.

Appearance

The variety of domestic long-haired cats knows no boundaries. They come in all shapes and sizes, colors and colors, with a variety of coat lengths and textures.

Ginger domestic long-haired cat, photo photography
Ginger domestic long-haired cat, photo photography

The texture and density of the undercoat also affects the cat's appearance. In cats with a thicker undercoat, the fur appears to be fluffier. Even if the coat is not very long, the undercoat makes it stand out from the body and the cat looks larger.

Many cats are adorned with a chic collar on the neck, tassels on the ears and tufts of hair on their paws. Long-haired cats are painted in the same colors and colors as their short-haired cousins, but some colors, for example, smoky, look most advantageous on cats with long thick fur.

Sometimes an ordinary domestic cat may look like a cat of some kind, for example, a Himalayan or Maine Coon, but this is only a purely external resemblance. Domestic cats are not purebred animals that have accidentally entered the ranks of outbreds.

Character

Shorthaired cats have always been more popular and plentiful, as the gene for long hair is recessive, while the gene for shorthair is dominant. This means that a cat must have two copies of the long hair gene in order to have long hair. If the cat has one copy of the longhair gene and the other copy of the shorthair gene, it will be shorthaired.

However, a shorthaired cat with one copy of the longhaired gene can pass it on to its offspring. If such a cat is crossed with a short-haired cat that has a long-haired gene, then about a quarter of kittens will be born with long hair, and about half - with a short one, but they will carry the long-haired gene. And if you cross her with a short-haired, which does not have a long-haired gene, then all kittens will be short-haired, but about half will be carriers of the long-haired gene. Thus, this gene can be passed from generation to generation, and often no one even suspects of its existence.

Domestic long-haired cat, photo photography
Domestic long-haired cat, photo photography

The characters of domestic long-haired cats are as varied as the colors of their chic fur coats. The pedigrees of these cats are usually unknown, so it is difficult to predict what will turn out from the kitten when he grows up. He can become quiet or mischievous, shy or outgoing, small or large.

Anything is possible with random crossing. It is believed, however, that long-haired cats are calmer than their short-haired cousins. If you know your kitten's parents, you can get an idea of your pet's personality. However, do not forget that a lot of a kitten's character depends on its socialization. To grow up a calm, friendly animal, you need to spend a lot of time with your pet.

Domestic shorthair cat
Domestic shorthair cat

Related article Domestic shorthair cat

Care

Longhaired cats require more grooming than shorthaired cats. Teach your kitten to groom your hair from early childhood, and this will bring many joyful and pleasant minutes to both of you.

How often a cat needs to be combed depends on the density, length and texture of its coat. Undercoat density is also taken into account. Cats with a soft cotton undercoat need to be combed out two to three times a week to prevent felting.

A cat with hair of any length must be combed out, this helps to remove dead hairs, from which a hairball can form in the cat's stomach. In addition, combing stimulates blood circulation in the skin, removes dead cells, and tones the muscles. Grooming also allows you to regularly examine your cat's body for various diseases and detect them at an early stage.

Long-haired cats have a seasonal molt twice a year. By the way, these cats shed no less than short-haired cats, just long hair is more noticeable.

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