Domestic Longhair

Also called moggy, mixed breed, DLH.

The long-coated equivalent of a domestic shorthair, and just as much not a breed. A large fluffy cat is far more likely to be one of these than a Maine Coon, which is the breed it is most often promoted to.

Coat
Long
Build
Ordinary cat shape
Head
Round
Weight
3.5–7 kg
Origin
Everywhere

What it looks like

Moderate build with a long or semi-long coat, a ruff around the neck in winter, and a plumed tail. Any colour.

The characters that confirm it

  • Long coat without the specific build of any longhaired breed.
  • Moderate head and body — not the rectangular frame of a Maine Coon or the flat face of a Persian.
  • Coat often seasonal, with a heavy winter ruff that thins in summer.

Temperament

Individual. No breed traits apply.

Confused with

Maine Coons are much larger and rectangular, with a squared muzzle, heavy boning and lynx tips on the ears. Size alone is the usual giveaway.

A straight profile from brow to nose and a triangular head. Domestic longhairs have a rounder face.

Questions about this breed

How do you recognise a Domestic Longhair?

Long coat without the specific build of any longhaired breed. Moderate head and body — not the rectangular frame of a Maine Coon or the flat face of a Persian.

What is a Domestic Longhair like to live with?

Individual. No breed traits apply.