Domestic long-haired cat

Domestic long-haired cat
A grey female domestic long-haired cat
Other names	Domestic Longhair (DLH)
Common nicknames	long-haired moggie, mutt
Origin	worldwide
Notes
Like the domestic short-haired cat, this is not a breed, but a non-breed classification of mixed-breed cats.
Domestic cat (Felis catus)

A domestic long-haired cat is a semi-long-haired to long-haired domestic cat of mixed ancestry that does not belong to a recognized cat breed. In the cat fancy, such cats are designated Domestic Longhair (DLH), a pseudo-breed, for registry classification purposes (uncommonly, some such cats are actually pedigreed). Domestic long-haired cats should not be confused with the British Longhair, American Longhair or other breeds with "Longhair" names, which are breeds recognized by the Cat Fanciers' Association (CFA) and other registries. In British English, they are often referred to as long-haired moggies.

Domestic long-haireds come in all the standard cat colours including tabby, tortie, bi-colored, smoke etc. A non-pedigree short-haired cat is termed a domestic shorthaired cat. Some long-haired cats are not able to maintain their own coat - they must be groomed for at least half an hour per day, and preferably bathed every week or two. The cat may not enjoy the bathing process, but if it is bathed and groomed regularly from kittenhood it will accept it as a standard part of its routine. Very long-haired cats do not make good outside animals, as their coats are extremely prone to matting.

The matted fur will usually accumulate in the under arm areas and upper leg region of a long haired cat. In extreme circumstances, the matted fur can inhibit the cat's movements and cause irritation, and can cause the cat to become caught on outside shrubs and trees. When this occurs, the cat's forceful attempts to break away can pull large amounts of clumped fur away, leaving bald areas and possible injuries. If such matting of fur occurs, a simple de-matting comb for cats or dogs will be sufficient to detangle it. At first, the cat may be irritated by the comb, but gentle brushes each day to ease the fur off will gradually work out the matted areas, and continued brushing thereafter can help prevent large clumps of fur from appearing again.

This DLH appears to be of partial Persian ancestry, with a relatively flat nose and fine hair.

Many owners of long haired cats -- especially new owners -- may feel tempted to cut tangled or matted fur away with scissors in lieu of combing it out. This should not be done by any owner not trained to do so, as it can be difficult to distinguish between hard-matted fur and the skin of a cat. In addition, in extreme circumstances, heavy-matted fur will harbour bacteria-infested soil or vegetation, which can cause infection to any cuts accidentally inflicted on the cat by an untrained owner attempting to cut out matted fur. If a de-matting comb does not work well enough, the cat should be taken to a groomer, or, in rare cases, a veterinarian, who may remove heavy matted fur with electric clippers fitted with a guard to prevent injury to the cat. However, the owner of the cat should never try to remove the loose fur by themselves; they could injure the cat that they were attempting to help.

See also

• Domestic short-haired cat