Tiffanie Breed History

The Tiffanie was developed in the United Kingdom in the 1980s, and should not be confused with the “Tiffany” (also known as the Chantilly), which is an American cat. The Tiffanie is a long-haired variant of the Asian Shorthair. The original pairings to create the breed were between a Burmese and a longhaired cat. The breed is very similar to the Burmilla, so that the two are often confused. In Australia, however, the “Tiffanie” name applies to a line of cats that are considered to be long-haired Burmillas. They developed from the accidental mating of a Burmese and a Chinchilla. In Australia, the cats are bred more along the line of the Burmilla standard.

The Tiffanie is an active breed with a curious frame of mind, but gentle and affectionate.

Breed Traits

The Tiffanie is an active breed with a curious frame of mind, but gentle and affectionate. They dote on their humans, but they don’t get along well with other cats and are given to overt displays of jealousy. They do not do well in multi-cat households, but are spirited and loving companions when they have their people all to themselves. A Tiffanie will tolerate children, and simply disappear when he’s had enough. These cats can be quite loud, in keeping with their Asian heritage, and might not be right for life in apartments. Leave a Tiffanie alone for too long, and the neighbors will hear the cat’s opinion about the state of things. Tiffanies are equally demanding when they think they are being ignored, and if spoken to, they will answer, often emphatically. Due to their high level of curiosity, a Tiffanie should be strictly indoor cats. They do have a high level of sensitivity to their owner’s feelings, and can be quite comforting at the end of a long hard day.

Overall Description

The Tiffanie is a cat with a medium build. It’s head has a wedge shape, with medium to large ears set in line with the face. The eyes are vaguely oval, and placed well apart, appearing in a range of colors from yellow to green. These cats have a muscular, firm body and are very straight along the line of the back. Their legs are sturdy, and of medium length ending in neat oval paws. The Tiffanie’s long tail is elegantly plumed.

Colors

A wide range of colors and patterns are acceptable including Black, Chocolate, Red, Blue, Cream, Caramel, Lilac, and Apricot. Tortie patterns are an accepted variation, as are Tabby markings, although both will be less distinct in these cats due to their long hair. Shaded markings give more of the appearance of the breed’s Oriental heritage.

Grooming Requirements

Like all long-haired cats, the Tiffanie does require regular grooming to keep their semi-long coat looking silky and free of mats and tangles. Fortunately, the Tiffanie is usually receptive to this process, especially if their favorite person is the one doing the brushing or combing.

Photo credit: Heikki Siltala/Wikipedia Commons; melanie cook/Flickr