Fluff level: maximum.
Domestic Longhair
Felis catus
Also called DLH, Domestic Long-Haired, Longhaired Household Pet, Moggy (UK), Non-pedigree longhair
From Worldwide; a non-pedigree cat of mixed ancestry with a long coat rather than a formal breed. Long-haired cats reached Europe from Western Asia by the 16th century.1
At a glance the quick version
Coat and looks how to spot one
long coat, texture and density vary
There is no set look: body shape, size and head type depend on the cat's mixed family tree, ranging from slender and rangy to compact and fluffy. What they share is a long coat, which can reach about 15 cm on some cats and may be silky, dense or fine. Long hair comes from a recessive version of the FGF5 gene, which keeps the hair in its growing phase for longer.134
Personality what they are like
Personality varies from cat to cat because there is no breed type behind them. Cats raised around people are generally mild-mannered and adapt well to home life, making friendly companions, while cats with a feral start may take longer to settle.3
Grooming and care the hands-on bits
The long coat needs regular brushing to stay tidy and tangle-free; getting a cat used to gentle grooming from a young age makes this easier.3
Company who they like around
Well-socialised domestic cats generally take to household life and human company readily.3
The story where it all began
Domestic longhairs are simply everyday cats that happen to carry long fur. Long-haired cats were brought into Europe from Western Asia during the 16th century and were recorded in Italy by 1521. Long hair is recessive, so crossing with short-haired cats first gave short-coated kittens, but in later generations more long-coated cats appeared, and a thicker coat was an advantage in cooler European climates. The first formal longhaired breeds, the Persian and the Angora, were named after the regions these cats were linked to. Long-haired cats without a pedigree have continued alongside them as household pets, and in the US cats are thought to have arrived with early European ships, including Columbus's voyage in 1492, where they earned their keep catching pests on farms.13
Fun facts for the dinner table
- 1
Pedigree cats are a small minority: an estimated 98-99% of cats worldwide are non-pedigree moggies like the DLH.1
- 2
Long fur is caused by recessive variants of the FGF5 gene. At least four different variants are known, and the most common one turns up in most or all longhaired breeds.4
- 3
Because long hair is recessive, two longhaired parents usually produce longhaired kittens, while a longhaired cat can hide among the ancestors of short-haired ones.4
- 4
Long-haired cats were documented in Italy as early as 1521.1
- 5
The GCCF runs show classes for non-pedigree pets, and a moggy can earn titles all the way up to Olympian Imperial Grand Master Cat.5
- 6
A DLH can come in every colour and pattern cats can genetically have, with fur up to about six inches long.1
Recognised by the official bits
- GCCF
- Not a breed; non-pedigree cats can be shown in the Household Pet section, split into long or semi-longhaired and shorthaired classes and judged on presentation, condition, temperament and personality5
- Cat fancy (general)
- Not a recognised breed; some associations offer household pet classes for non-pedigree cats3
The care rhythm Furry Diary remembers it for you
A typical home-care rhythm for a Domestic Longhair. It is our own starting plan, not a vet's advice, and you can change every line in the app.
- Brushingevery 2 days
- Deshedding springBrush more while sheddingevery day
- Nail trimevery 3 weeks
- Teeth brushingDaily brushing is idealevery 2 days
- Litter scoopevery day
- Litter changeevery week
- PlayAbout 30 minutes of play a dayevery day
- Flea, tick and worm protectionSchedule as your vet recommendsas your vet recommends
- Vet check-upSenior years usually start around age 11every year
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Where this comes from
Every breed page shows where each fact comes from. If we got something wrong, sorry, we are pet people, not a science magazine. Tell us at [email protected] and we will fix it.
- Wikipedia - Moggy en.wikipedia.orgused for definition, other names, history of long-haired cats, colours, prevalence fun fact
- Wikipedia - Cat en.wikipedia.orgused for general domestic cat weight and average lifespan
- PetMD - American Domestic petmd.comused for coat variety, temperament, grooming, lifespan upper bound, US history
- Wikipedia - Cat coat genetics en.wikipedia.orgused for FGF5 long hair genetics
- GCCF - Household Pets gccfcats.orgused for show classes and judging for non-pedigree cats
Checked 2026-09-30. Text is written in our own words from these sources.