LONGHAIR BREEDS

Persian

The docile, affectionate Persian is one of the most popular cat breeds and makes a great indoor cat. Like all longhaired cats, it requires regular grooming to stop its coat from matting. The Persian comes in a variety of colours, but be careful if you’re interested in one with white fur and blue eyes, as those traits often indicate deafness.

SEMI-LONGHAIRS

Balinese

The Balinese is similar to the popular Siamese breed, though with a longer, silkier coat. It’s just as smart and active as its shorthair counterpart, but slightly less demanding.

Birman

Supposedly a holy temple cat in its native Burma, the Birman has an appropriately meditative and peaceful personality. It makes a great lap cat but can get stressed if left alone too often.

Maine Coon

The Maine Coon’s heft and bushy tail led American settlers to believe it was a cross between a raccoon and a cat―hence its unusual name. This active and affectionate breed can get as big as 8.2 kg, though most are smaller, and it has a trademark mane of neck fur. The Maine Coon’s independent nature and thick, waterproof coat makes it a great outdoor cat.

Norwegian Forest

It may be friendly, but the fiercely independent Norwegian Forest is not a breed to be kept indoors. This thick-furred cat developed in Norway’s freezing temperatures, and it loves to hunt and climb.

Ragdoll

The Ragdoll’s tendency to go limp in an owner’s lap gave the breed its charming name. Its adorable habits also resulted in some funny myths: legend has it that the mother of the first litter was hit by a car and gave birth to “floppy” kittens, and that its affectionate nature makes the Ragdoll utterly defenseless. While intelligent, this docile cat requires less space and exercise than other breeds.

Somali

Like its shorter-haired equivalent, the Abyssinian, the bright, outgoing Somali gets its distinctive colouring from the dark bands that mark each hair.

Turkish Van

Cats hate water, right? Not the Turkish Van. This avid swimmer loves to bathe, and is named after its native Lake Van region in Turkey. The Turkish Van has a lovely personality and a beautiful auburn-and-cream coat.

Keep reading to see more breeds.