Seniors, single people, families with older children
Temperament:
Curious, loving, active, gentle, sociable
A relatively new breed, the Asian Semi-longhair cat originated in the United Kingdom in the 1980s. This breed is best known by the name “Tiffany Cat” in many circles. The breed is curious, loving, gentle, and sociable—something many cats are not.
This stunning feline is best suited for families with older children, seniors, or single people. These cats tend to become dependent on their owners and don’t do well when left alone. If you’re gone a lot of the time, then this isn’t the breed for you.
This breed tends to be quite vocal and has no problem making its opinions known. If you’re considering adopting or purchasing one of these gorgeous felines, there are a few things you should know first.
In this guide, we’ll tell you what you should expect to pay for an Asian Semi-longhair kitten, a few facts you might not have known about the breed, and a few other tidbits to help you make an informed decision on whether you want to give this cat a forever home or not.
Asian Semi-longhair Kittens
Energy
Trainability
Health
Lifespan
Sociability
The Asian Semi-longhair kitten is a touch more expensive than many other breeds.
It is possible to find one of these stunning animals at a local rescue shelter, which will cost you quite a bit less. If, however, you decide to use a breeder to purchase your kitten, you’ll want to vet them completely before making any type of commitment. Ask for a tour of the breeder’s facility and make a note of their practices as you do.
There are unreputable breeders out there that aren’t good to the cats they breed, and you don’t want to get your kitten from such a person. Always make sure that you get the relevant paperwork for the kitten you’re purchasing and ask for a copy of the parent’s medical records from a reputable vet. In this way, you’ll avoid possibly paying a lot for a cat that isn’t the breed you think it is or getting a kitten that’s sickly.
It’s also essential to note at this point that the initial purchase fee isn’t all you’ll pay for this kitten. In addition, there are costs such as vet visits, shots, food, grooming, toys, bedding, and other things your kitten will need to live a happy, healthy life, and you need to be willing and able to give that to the kitten you choose.
3 Little-Known Facts About the Asian Semi-Longhair Cat
1. Asian Semi-longhair Cats Are Less Aloof
This breed tends to form a close attachment and sticks close to its owners, unlike many other breeds who enjoy doing their own thing. This makes this breed the perfect option for someone who wants a kitty they can cuddle with.
2. Asian Semi-longhair Cats Are Quite Vocal
It has been reported that this breed isn’t afraid to let its owner know when they want attention or feel neglected. In fact, this breed can get so vocal it’s not recommended to keep them in an apartment, as they might disturb the neighbors with their loud meowing.
3. Asian Semi-longhair Cats Like Guests
If you’re looking for a cat that likes your guests, then this is the one for you. While most cats are aloof and hide when guests come over, this breed greets them at the door!
Image Credit: Pikrepo
Temperament & Intelligence of the Asian Semi-longhair Cat
This breed is loving, curious, and sweet. Not only that but this breed is quite intelligent too.
The breed has been likened more to dogs than cats, who are usually aloof, independent, and prone to do their own thing when they want to do it. Instead, the Asian Semi-longhair cat wants attention and has no problem demanding it. Your cat will expect you to spend a certain amount of time petting, loving, cuddling, grooming, and otherwise giving them the attention they know they deserve.
This breed loves to play, and as previously stated, they like a lot of attention from their pet parents, so if you don’t have the time to spend with this kitten, then you need to choose another breed to adopt instead.
Are These Cats Good for Families? 👪
This breed is an excellent choice for a family because it gives them plenty of people to be around and pay attention to their needs. In addition, with their patient nature, they do well with children. However, you want to ensure your children know how to treat a cat because, as with any cat, they will scratch or bite if they’re mistreated.
You should never keep an Asian Semi-longhair in a home where no one has time to spend with them. They are sociable, affectionate, and will grow discontent and moody if they are left alone or ignored for too long.
Does This Breed Get Along with Other Pets?
Since this breed is so much like a dog, they get along pretty well with other pets. However, it’s important to train and socialize your cat as a kitten to ensure they get along well with other pets.
While dogs are pretty much a given, other cats in the household will have to be introduced slowly. Even with their even tempers and sweet personalities, this breed is jealous and won’t like sharing your lap or anything else for that matter.
Things to Know When Owning an Asian Semi-longhair Cat:
Below, we’ll give you a little information on food and diet requirements, exercise needs, training, grooming, and any health conditions you should be on the lookout for with your new kitten as they age.
Food & Diet Requirements
Asian Semi-longhair cats don’t have any specific nutritional needs that have to be met. However, with their long, lush coat, you should choose a cat food that’s high in Omega-3 fatty acids to help promote coat growth, health, and shininess.
With all cats, you need to feed them a diet that consists of high-quality dry and wet food. This breed doesn’t have a preference and will usually eat dry or wet food without a problem. However, it is best to feed them a mix of the two for their continued good health. Strictly wet food isn’t good for their teeth or gums, as they need the crunch of dry food to keep them healthy.
On the other hand, a diet of strictly dry food isn’t always good for their kidney health, so make sure to have a good mix of the two on hand instead.
Exercise 🐈
While these cats may look perfect, pretty, and like they lounge around in the sun all day, they are quite energetic creatures. They love to play, jump, run, pounce and climb, which promotes muscle growth and helps to keep them healthy.
Make sure you keep an overflowing basket full of toys for your new kitten. It’s also a good idea to have scratching posts and cat towers for your cat to use and exercise on as well. Your cat will like nothing more than you taking about 20 minutes a day out of your time to play with their toys with them. Encourage them to run around and play with the toys instead of lounging in the sun for continued health and happiness.
Training 🧶
While extremely smart, these cats don’t have a long attention span, meaning teaching them to do tricks can be challenging.
Teaching them to use a litter box should be simple, though, as they are neat creatures. However, if their litter box is dirty, they will refuse to use it. If it isn’t cleaned when they think it should be, expect them to find another spot to do their business.
Grooming ✂️
This breed doesn’t have a typical thick undercoat, so they aren’t as apt to have mats in their fur as other cat breeds. However, they do still need to be brushed a few times a week to get any loose hairs out of their coat. Brushing your cat also gives you bonding time, something this breed loves.
Brush your cat’s teeth regularly and consider taking them to the groomers at least once a month for special grooming and treatment.
Health and Conditions 🏥
With an average lifespan of around 15 years, you can tell these cats are relatively healthy. However, as with any breed, there are a few serious and minor health conditions to watch out for as they age. Some of these conditions include the following:
Minor Conditions
Food allergies (Usually as they get older)
Serious Conditions
Heart conditions
Renal failure
Periodontal issues
Male vs. Female
There aren’t very many differences between male and female Asian Semi-longhair cats. The male will usually be a little bigger than the female, but that’s pretty much where the differences end. Any differences in temperament or attitude will usually be taken care of by getting your pet spayed or neutered.
Conclusion
If you’ve been considering giving this breed a forever home, this guide should tell you everything you know to make an informed decision. These are loving, sweet, dependent cats who need to go to a home where they will feel pampered and loved in return.
If you’re away from home a lot, then this might not be the right breed for you, as they do form close attachments with their family and need to be showered with attention. However, if you have family that will be there most of the time and loves spending time with their pets, you should be just fine with this breed.
Also, it’s essential to note that owning any cat is a huge responsibility, so make sure you’re up for the challenge before giving an Asian Semi-longhair Cat a forever home. On the other hand, if you’re ready for the challenge, then this breed is the perfect choice for you and your family!
