This medium-sized cat is known for its striking appearance and it has an intriguing history. In 1967, a woman named Jennie Robinson purchased two semi-long haired chocolate cats with golden eyes (Thomas and Shirley) at a New York estate sale. These cats mated and the first litter was identical; all six kittens were a beautiful, all chocolate color. Robinson was so amazed that she began a breeding program, and in the early 1970s, these cats were registered by the ACA as “Foreign-Longhairs.” All American cats of this breed are descended from Thomas and Shirley.
Some of Ms. Robinson’s kittens were sold to a Florida Burmese breeder who coined the term “Tiffany” because of its connotation with elegance and class and also because “Foreign Longhair” was too general a name. Although advertised as a Burmese variant, none of these kittens were ever registered as such, and the public never heard about the New York estate sale purchase. In any case, it is believed that the beautiful Tiffany (later changed to Tiffanie) cat is an amalgam of the many cross breeding efforts between Foreign Longhairs, Angoras and Abyssinians done in England. It is sometimes referred to as the Chantilly/Tiffany in order to avoid confusion with other breeds that have Chantilly as part of their nomenclature.
At first these cats only came in solid chocolate brown but outcrosses have expanded the palette of their colors to include solid black, cinnamon, fawn, blue and lilac. Coats are soft and smooth and easy to groom. This is a breed of loyalty and affection, but not overly demanding or mischievous. They usually develop an affinity to one person in a home with whom they bond. They do not meow, but rather chirp or trill. Interaction and company are a must for these cats, and without it they may become sad and lonely. They will follow their owners about and respond well to their names. Whether you prefer your chocolate light or dark, these animals are a joy to behold and to know.
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