Glossary

Domestic longhair

A long-coated cat of mixed or unknown ancestry rather than a recognised breed, such as a fluffy shelter or household cat.

Also called: DLH, mixed-breed longhair, long-haired cat

Domestic longhair, or DLH, describes a cat with a long coat and no known pedigree. Like its short-coated counterpart, the domestic shorthair, it is a coat label used by shelters, vets and show halls and not a breed. Domestic medium hair is used for cats between the two.

Long hair is a recessive trait. A kitten gets a long coat only when it inherits the long-hair gene from both parents, though neither parent needs to look long-haired. This is why two shorthair cats sometimes have a fluffy kitten. Long coats are also found in breeds such as the Maine Coon and Persian, but a DLH is not one of those breeds and may look quite different.

Long coats need regular brushing, often several times a week, to prevent mats, especially at the armpits, belly and behind the ears. Matted fur can pull painfully on skin, so ask a groomer or vet for help rather than cutting mats out yourself. Long-haired cats may also be more prone to hairballs. Mixed-breed longhaired cats are often found in rescue, and each has its own temperament.

Last reviewed November 7, 2026

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Related terms

Domestic shorthair The everyday short-coated cat of no particular breed, the most common type of pet cat in the world and in shelters. Moggy A British word for an ordinary non-pedigree cat of mixed ancestry, usually short-haired and often a tabby. Pedigree A cat whose parents, grandparents and earlier ancestors are recorded by a registry, showing it belongs to a recognised breed. Landrace A local population of cats that developed over centuries in one region with little planned breeding, before any registry wrote a standard for it. Tabby A coat pattern of stripes, swirls or spots with a dark M-shaped mark on the forehead, found in many breeds and in mixed-breed cats.