Tiffany

Blue / slate grey, chocolate, sable, lilac, red, cream, tortoiseshell
All colours are recognised except white.

Solid / plain, ticked tabby, sepia, silver, smoke
The recognised patterns are diverse, and similar to those of the Burmese and Asian breeds.

Mid-length

Golden yellow, green
The eye colour depends on the coat pattern: golden yellow for solid or sepia patterns, and green for silver patterns.

Medium in size, they have a heavy body with a strong frame, ending with a tail that is fairly thick at the base and quite furry. Their legs are thin, with the hind legs being higher than the front ones. Their fur clings to their body and is longer at the collar, belly, breeches and tail. The head is shaped like a short triangle, medium in size, has large cheekbones and a slightly rounded snout. Their eyes are large and well spaced and their ears are medium-sized, broad at the base and rounded at the ends.

Soft and affectionate, these are cats that love to be cuddled.

They aren’t the biggest fans of playing, but they will enjoy one or two interactive sessions a day to use up their energy.

Owing to their Persian heritage, the Asian Longhair is happy to take a bit of time out when they feel the need to.

Being curious and moderately active, they are not averse to discovering new forms of stimulation from time to time.

These cats are known for being very sociable. They adapt to strangers very well if they are introduced gently.

Tiffanies show an equal appreciation for the presence of their humans and for periods of solitude.

Just like their cousin, the Burmese, they won’t hesitate to use their voice to get your attention.

In terms of their need to get rid of energy, they are about average. A couple of interactive play sessions per day will be enough to keep them in good shape.

These are cats that adapt very well to indoor living, but they can easily be tempted by life outside.

Asian Longhairs will quickly compensate for a lack of attention or stimulation with a voracious appetite.

An introduction that is done in the right way will be the determining factor of a happy cohabitation between a Tiffany and other feline friends.

If they’ve been well socialised with the canine species while still a kitten, they can have a beautiful relationship with dogs, perhaps even playing together eventually. Just be sure to provide high spots where the cat can take refuge if they aren’t in the mood to deal with a dog.

They will willingly interact with children as long as they respect the cat’s needs for solitude and calm.

Being both calm and playful, the Tiffany will enjoy the company of a tranquil person who makes sure to provide them with the stimulating activities they need to stay occupied between cuddling sessions.

Although it will increase during malting periods, the hair loss in this breed is generally not very pronounced.

The life expectancy of a Tiffany is between 12 and 15 years. Although it’s not uncommon for them to live to be as old as 17.

Since they have little undercoat, these cats are better equipped for temperate climates than cold ones.

Their mid-length coat can often hide a little extra weight. It’s important to ensure that you control their caloric intake and their level of activity.

These cats are fairly robust, but they can have a predisposition to polycystic kidney disease, a hereditary condition originating from the Persian. The disease causes the development of liquid-filled cysts in the kidneys, ultimately causing incurable renal failure. Tiffanies can also develop the same conditions as other cats, such as oral diseases.

Beyond pairings with other Tiffanies, crosses are also allowed with some other breeds - this includes the Asian, the Burmilla and the English Burmese.

In the UK in 1981, Baroness Miranda von Kirchberg’s cats - a European Burmese and a Chincilla Persian - had a litter of kittens. They had the features of a Burmese, but the silver coloring of the Chinchilla Persian, which inspired the Baroness to create the Burmilla breed. The breeding programme then proceeded to develop and other English breeders produced kittens of colours other than silver (chocolate, blue, tabby, etc.), or kittens with long hair, thus creating two new breeds: the Asian (for the short-haired variety) and the Tiffany (for the long-haired variety).