Winter has really set in as we’re writing this, and we’re spending our days dreaming of snuggling up to a soft, long-haired cat. Particularly one with a fluffy tail that we can wrap around our necks like a fuzzy scarf! If you feel the same, you’ll be happy to know that there are plenty of cats with bushy tails out there.
Here’s an ode to the brush-tailed cat, with 12 totally fluffy breeds to choose from.
1. Norwegian Forest Cat
It really doesn’t get much fluffier than this. This northern European breed is perfectly adapted to the cold climate of its homeland, and that includes a super-fuzzy bottlebrush tail. Strongly built and larger than most other cat breeds, they have a dense undercoat covered with glossy, water-resistant fur. Quite difficult to resist burying your face in!
The Norwegian Forest Cat’s history isn’t entirely clear. The prevalent theory is that it all started around 1000 AD with shorthaired cats brought to Norway by the Vikings from Britain in order to help keep their ships free of mice. These later mixed with longhaired cats introduced by the Crusaders around the 14th century, producing a semi-feral sort of barn cat that wasn’t standardized until much later.
Some other sources associate this breed with the Turkish Angora, another hugely fluffy number that we’ll discuss below. Whatever the Norwegian Forest Cat’s true origins, it’s now one of the most popular cat breeds around. Thanks to its beautiful looks, intelligence level and friendly, playful disposition, today it’s not just beloved in its native Scandinavia but around the world.
2. Maine Coon
Don’t you just love the Maine Coon’s powerful, almost cranky facial features? A perfect example of looks being deceiving, because this ultra-fluffy breed is actually known for being highly social and loyal to its human family. It’s often described as almost “dog-like”, with a playful and vocal personality. It’s certainly more dog-like than cat-like in size: this is the largest cat breed around.
It was long thought that the Maine Coon was a descendant of the aforementioned Norwegian Forest Cat and maybe the Siberian Forest Cat (#11 on this list), but science has uncovered that it actually originated from European cats brought to the US by settlers around the 17th-18th centuries. Once introduced to the chilly Maine climate, over time, the cats naturally began to develop cold-proof traits like longer coats, bigger feet, and hairy toes.
It’s easy to recognize a Maine Coon. Aside from their typical strong jawline, you can tell them apart from other long-haired cats by their fluffy ear tufts, big paws, and their incredibly bushy tails. One of the origin myths for this breed is that they’re cat-raccoon hybrids, and our guess is those fluffy tails are probably the reason for that.
3. Ragdoll Cat
Sooo fluffy! When it comes to cats with bushy tails, the ragdoll is one of our favorites. This large breed has a long, silky coat consisting mostly of guard hairs without much of an undercoat, which means ragdolls are wonderfully soft but don’t shed as much as some other long-haired cats.
The ragdoll is a young breed, produced in the 1960s by a woman named Ann Baker using a feral cat and her offspring. As the male she was bred to had the colorpoint gene, so did some of the kittens, which explains why ragdolls still have this pattern today. Baker eventually trademarked the breed name, which refers to the early ragdolls’ tendency to go limp when picked up. Others eventually brought the breed into mainstream recognition.
Today, ragdolls are among the most popular purebred cats worldwide. Cat owners love their social and affectionate nature, playfulness, and “dog-like” tendencies—plus, of course, their soft coats and bushy tails.
4. Persian Cat
Also known as the Persian longhair, the Persian cat is one of the most well-known and popular cat breeds in the world. Not surprising given its exceptionally long, thick and soft coat, mellow nature and friendliness! As far back as the 1600s, Europeans in West Asia marvelled at the beautiful, long-haired cats they encountered there, which eventually resulted in exports to Europe and further development of the breed.
As beloved as it is, the Persian is also a controversial breed. Traditionally, compared to other cats, Persians have always had relatively short muzzles. Over time, the practice of breeding cats with flatter and flatter faces (brachycephaly) became the standard. As a result, these “peke-faced” Persians are now at risk of health issues like excessive tear production and difficulty breeding. We love the breed, but we do prefer the traditional Persians with less smushy faces!
If you don’t mind brushing your cat on the daily, a Persian might be for you. Their lush coats and bushy tails make them high-maintenance, but it comes with the advantage of being able to snuggle up to what might be the fluffiest cat of all!
5. Himalayan Cat
If you feel like the Himalayan’s flat face is suspiciously reminiscent of the aforementioned Persian, you’re totally right! The result of crossing Persians with Siamese cats, the Himalayan pretty much matches all of its Persian ancestor’s characteristics. The difference is the color: Himalayans have the colorpoint gene, which means they have patches of color on their extremities.
If you like the Persian’s long, lush coat and incredibly bushy tail, then you’ll also love Himalayans. And don’t worry if you’re not into the smushy-face type of cat: like Persians, Himalayans also come in a “traditional” (normal-faced) version. In fact, as with short-faced dogs like pugs, there’s a noticeable trend towards returning to the traditional type in recent years, with breeders moving away from extreme brachycephaly. As long as they keep the fluffy tails, we’re all good with that!
6. Birman Cat
Also known as Sacred Birmans or the “Sacred Cat of Burma”, Birman cats derive their name from a common origin myth for the breed. This myth states that it originates from the temples of Burma, the country now referred to as Myanmar. Whether that’s true or not is unclear, but what we do that they first arrived in Europe from Asia by way of France.
If you like the look of a traditional (long-faced) Himalayan cat but the idea of daily brushing seems daunting, a Birman may be just the thing for you. Unlike Himalayans and Persians, their fur lacks a thick undercoat. It mostly consists of long guard hairs, which are much less prone to matting and only need brushing about twice a week.
These beautiful cats are appreciated for their gentle nature. They love hanging out with their human family and are playful but not hyperactive. Perfect if you’re looking for a cat to snuggle up to on cold winter days! And of course, like all breeds on this list, they have delightfully bushy tails.
7. Somali Cat
You may have heard of the Abyssinian cat before, a well-known breed with reddish-brown fur. Well, meet its long-haired cousin: the Somali! Although this is by no means the longest-haired cat on the list, the fur on its tail tends to be longer than the fur on its body, giving it a lusciously plumed look. Additionally, the breed’s hairs are thinner than usual, giving its coat an extra-soft feel.
The Somali cat breed dates back to the 1950s, but its ancestor, the Abysinnian, is a good bit older. Despite its name and origin myths, it doesn’t originate from what is now Ethiopia. Rather, it was found to have been introduced to this country and others from Southeast Asia.
Both the Somali and the Abyssinian are known for their energetic and sociable nature.
8. Turkish Angora Cat
Now here’s a breed with some history. The Turkish Angora has been around for a very long time, having developed naturally (without selective breeding by humans) in Anatolia. These cats were used in the development of a good bunch of other breeds, particularly the Persian. Not surprising given their beautiful coats and wonderfully brushy tails!
Although Turkish Angoras originally only existed in white, more colors are accepted nowadays. The breed is appreciated for its intelligence and playful nature. They’re quite energetic and known in particular for their tendency to always seek out the highest spots in the house. They can spend hours perched on a high shelf, watching the activity around the home.
Tip: If you like the Turkish Angora, check out its sister breed, the similarly fluffy Turkish Van.
9. Nebelung Cat
Ever heard of the Russian blue cat? Known for its beautiful steel-grey coat, this classic Russian breed was the inspiration for a long-haired version developed in the 1980s: the Nebelung. This name refers to the German word for mist, which makes sense given the cats’ long, grey, almost “foggy-looking” coats!
Although the Nebelung is not quite as popular as some of the other breeds discussed here, it’s slowly becoming more widely available. They’re known for being energetic, vocal, and social, although they do apparently have the tendency to choose a favorite person. If you’re looking for an unusual cat breed with a wonderfully bushy tail, the Nebelung may be for you!
10. British Longhair
Another cat resulting from efforts to create a long-haired version of a classic breed, the British longhair is, of course, the British shorthair’s fuzzy counterpart. The whole thing started more or less by accident when British shorthair breeders began to Turkish Angora and Persian stock in their lines for their face shape, which resulted in shorthairs sometimes producing long-haired kittens.
The long-haired version was considered undesirable at first, but it seems like cat breeders just couldn’t resist its beautiful coats and bushy tails. After all, British longhair is now in the process of being accepted as a breed of its own.
British longhairs retain the personalities of their short-haired cousins. They’re not really lap cats, although they do like being a part of the family and keeping an eye on the goings-on in the house. The breed is generally laid-back and friendly.
11. Siberian Forest Cat
We’ve discussed a lot of very fluffy cats so far, but one of the overall winners in terms of cats with bushy tails is this one: the Siberian Forest Cat. As its name suggests, this type of cat originates from Russia, where it appears to have been around for centuries. Today, after efforts to formalize it, the Siberian is officially recognized as a standardized breed.
The Siberian is known for being a sturdy cat, similar to the Norwegian Forest Cat in terms of looks. It’s a good jumper with a powerful posture. Don’t let that intimidate you, though: these cats are fun to be around and are often praised for their almost dog-like dispositions. They love to play and are highly energetic, but they’re also easy-going and friendly.
The reason Siberian forest cats are so fluffy is that they’ve got a whopping three different types of hair to protect them from their homeland’s cold climate. This does mean they need frequent brushing, and you can expect heavy shedding after winter in particular. Those huge bottlebrush tails make it all worth it, though!
Tip: if you like colorpoint cats (which are white with patches of color on their extremities), check out the Neva Masquerade. It’s the colorpointed sister breed to the Siberian Forest Cat. All the same fluffiness, but with different colors.
12. Domestic Longhair
Yep, you don’t need to go purebred if you’re looking for cats with bushy tails. “Standard issue” domestic cats come in longhaired versions, and some of these can be incredibly fluffy. Some of them are the results of crosses with purebreds like Persians, and their coats can be just as lush.
We’re huge proponents of adopting rather than shopping, so if you’re looking for a long-haired cat to add to your family, why not have a look at your local shelter? Domestic longhairs are usually easy enough to find, and they come with the added advantage of being less prone to genetically inherited health problems because they have a much wider gene pool than purebred cats.
Conclusion
If you’re looking for fluffy cats with bushy tails, there are plenty of breeds to choose from. Owning a long-haired cat means you’ll have to do regular brushing and deal with more shedding, but it’s all worth it when you plop down on the couch after a long day and get to snuggle your super-soft furry housemate.
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