Chantilly-Tiffany Cat: All About This Breed

Sometimes, the accidental crossing between several breeds gives rise to a crossbreed of such beautiful characteristics that humans end up turning it into its own genetic line. This is the case with the Chantilly-Tiffany cat.

If you’re curious about the characteristics of this feline breed, in this article you have all the information you need to satisfy your curiosity. These felines need some specific care, so don’t miss any detail.

Origin of the Chantilly-Tiffany cat

This breed is originally from the United States, a region that recorded the birth of the first litter in the year 1969. However, the Chantilly-Tiffany cat existed before then, although it was considered extinct until two were discovered in an auction.

Among all the hypotheses regarding its origin, the most accepted one is that it’s a breed from a mixture between a Nebelung, Persian, Abyssinian, Havanese, and Somali. Some people say that it comes from a cross involving a long-haired Burmese, but this hasn’t been verified.

It wasn’t until the decade of the 70s of the twentieth century that the Chantilly-Tiffany cat was registered as a breed in its own right. The name Chantilly-Tiffany was given after discarding others, such as the Foreign Longhair (although it is sometimes referred to with this name) or Tiffany (which was already taken).

Characteristics of the breed

The Chantilly-Tiffany cat is medium-sized, with a weight of between 4 to 8 kilograms (8.8 to 17.6 pounds). Its body is stocky and strong, with thick bones and large muscles. The head is wedge-shaped and the ears are rounded, but adorned with tufts of long hair.

Certainly, the most noticeable feature of this feline is the fur, which is of a medium length and very silky. The Chantilly-Tiffany cat has a single coat of hair that thickens around the neck and chest. The tail also has thick fur.

The officially accepted coat colors are blue, black, lilac, silver, red, cream with solid patterns, tabby, spotted, ticked, and mackerel. However, the one most frequently found is the chocolate shade.

General character of the Chantilly-Tiffany cat

This is a breed with a balanced and sociable character. The Chantilly-Tiffany cat tends to choose a favorite human and follow them everywhere. Having said that, it isn’t a very demanding animal. These felines establish a strong emotional bond that they show through affection and play.

Chantillys aren’t overly active, but they are intelligent animals, so these cats will need mental stimulation and daily attention. They can’t be left alone for long periods of time and tend to get along well with strangers and even children.

Specific care

The Chantilly-Tiffany cat requires special care to ensure good mental and physical health. Their coat, environmental enrichment, ears, and food intake are the most important. We’ll go into them in more detail below.

Care of the coat of the Chantilly-Tiffany cat

Since their hair is longer than many other cats, you’ll need to brush it at least 3 times a week to prevent clumps from forming. These knots prevent the skin from breathing properly, making it prone to dermatitis and other problems.

It’s crucial that you increase the frequency of brushing during molting and in the summer, as these cats are very prone to trichobezoars (accumulations of hair in the intestine). It won’t be difficult to untangle their fur and remove dead hair at each brushing, as they have no undercoat.

Mental health

These cats are intelligent animals and, as mentioned above, very attached to their owners. They should be taught to play on their own and provided with all the environmental enrichment they need to prevent behavioral disorders.

On the other hand, make sure you spend quality time with your pet. This will keep them amused throughout the day and strengthen the bond you have with them. They shouldn’t spend the day alone, and you should only adopt one if there’s going to be someone with them all the time.

Chantilly-Tiffany cat ear hygiene

The Chantilly-Tiffany cat has very hairy ears, which favors the accumulation of earwax and dirt from the environment. This condition makes them more prone to ear infections, so you should clean their ears weekly.

Oral hygiene

This breed is prone to oral disorders, such as abscesses and gingivitis. To prevent these, try to clean your cat’s teeth regularly. This task may be rather difficult, depending on your cat’s personality, and so you may have to use a vet for regular cleanings.

Chantilly-Tiffany cat diet

Chantilly-Tiffany cats have a big appetite and tend to suffer from obesity. If your Chantilly-Tiffany cat isn’t very regular going to the toilet, then you’ll need to spread its daily ration over several feedings. Fresh water should also be available 24 hours a day.

Chantilly-Tiffany cat health

Like all cats, the Chantilly-Tiffany has an average life expectancy of 7 to 15 years. With good preventive care, they can enjoy good health throughout their lives, but they’re still prone to some diseases that they inherit from their original breeds. Below you can read about them:

• Polycystic kidney disease: Characteristic of Persian cats, this condition is characterized by the formation of cysts inside the kidneys, causing damage as they increase in size.
• Otitis: As mentioned above, the great capillary density of the ears of the Chantilly-Tiffany cat makes it prone to infections of the ear canal if they aren’t cleaned regularly.
• Trichobezoars: Since its hair is of medium length, this cat is prone to accumulate hairballs in the digestive tract if it isn’t brushed regularly.
• Chronic gingivostomatitis: This is a general inflammation in a cat’s mouth that spreads over time. It affects the gums, the oral mucosa, and sometimes the tongue and the soft palate.

Although their health can be compromised by certain hereditary diseases, the truth is that if you decide to adopt a Chantilly-Tiffany cat you won’t have big scares in this respect. You just have to give them proper care, take them for regular check-ups, and, above all, enjoy the bond you’re going to create with them throughout their life.