Chantilly-Tiffany: The Chocolate Cat That Almost Disappeared
This semi-longhaired chocolate beauty was thought extinct twice — but dedicated breeders saved it. Gentle, quiet, and deeply loyal to one person.
Trait
| Trait | Chantilly-Tiffany | Similar Breeds |
|---|---|---|
| Coat | Semi-longhaired, silky, chocolate brown (also lilac, blue, cinnamon, fawn) | Burmese (short, sleek), Havana Brown (short, solid brown) |
| Temperament | Quiet, gentle, devoted to one person; not demanding | Burmese (more vocal, social), Ragdoll (more floppy, family-oriented) |
| Energy Level | Moderate — playful but not hyperactive | Burmese (high), Persian (low) |
| Grooming | Weekly brushing; minimal matting despite semi-long coat | Persian (daily), Burmese (minimal) |
| Rarity | Very rare — few breeders worldwide | Havana Brown (rare), Burmese (common) |
Chantilly-Tiffany Breed History
Is a Chantilly-Tiffany Right for You?
| Want a quiet, gentle cat that bonds deeply with one person | |
| Can provide moderate play and attention — not demanding but needs interaction | |
| Okay with a rare breed that may have a breeder waitlist | |
| Prefer a cat that's not constantly vocal or demanding | |
| Want a cat that's friendly with everyone equally (they tend to pick one person) | |
| Need a hypoallergenic cat (no cat is truly hypoallergenic) | |
| Want a cat you can find easily at any shelter (extremely rare) |
The Chantilly-Tiffany is sometimes confused with the Burmese, Havana Brown, or even a poor-quality Persian. The key identifiers: semi-long silky coat, rich chocolate color, golden-amber eyes, and a quiet, gentle temperament that bonds intensely with one person.
Because the breed is so rare, finding a reputable breeder is challenging. Expect a waitlist. Be wary of anyone selling 'rare chocolate cats' without registration papers — they may be selling mixed-breed cats at purebred prices.
The Chantilly-Tiffany (also called the Foreign Longhair or Chantilly) is a semi-longhaired cat breed that originated in the United States in the 1960s from a pair of chocolate-colored cats of unknown origin. The breed was nearly extinct by the early 1980s, revived through careful breeding efforts, and recognized by TICA though it has never achieved wide popularity. It is known for its silky, non-matting semi-long coat, its signature chocolate coloration, and its quiet, devoted temperament.
An Unusual Origin
The breed traces to a pair of cats -- Jinx and Thomas -- purchased by breeder Jennie Robinson in 1967 in New York. Both were chocolate-colored, and their offspring reliably produced chocolate kittens, suggesting a recessive gene for chocolate coloration was fixed in their ancestry. Robinson and later breeder Sigyn Lund developed a breeding program, calling the cats "Foreign Longhairs."
The cats attracted minimal attention and by the early 1980s the breeding program had essentially stopped. Tracy Oraas and Jan Kops independently located surviving descendants in the mid-1980s and restarted the program, renaming the breed Chantilly/Tiffany to distinguish it from the British Tiffanie breed. TICA granted it championship status.
Appearance
The Chantilly-Tiffany is a medium-sized cat with a semi-foreign body -- between cobby and elongated. The coat is semi-long, silky, and notably non-matting compared to most longhaired breeds. The traditional color is chocolate, though the breed now comes in blue, cinnamon, fawn, lilac, and various tabby patterns. The tail is plumed and the ruff around the neck is full. Eyes are gold and dramatic against the chocolate coat. Weight: 6--12 lbs.
Temperament
The Chantilly-Tiffany is devoted and people-oriented -- affectionate without being clingy, quiet without being aloof. They tend to select a primary person within the household to bond most closely with and follow that person throughout the day. They are described as curious and moderately playful but not hyperactive. They do well in quieter households and are not as demanding for attention as Siamese-derived breeds.
Care
The coat, despite being semi-long, is lower-maintenance than most longhairs -- the absence of a dense undercoat reduces matting. Brushing 2--3 times per week is sufficient. Ear cleaning monthly is recommended as the breed is prone to ear wax accumulation. They are indoor cats.
Health
The breed population remains small with limited health data. No breed-specific heritable conditions have been formally documented. Standard feline health screening (HCM echocardiogram for breeding cats; dental care; parasite prevention) is appropriate. Lifespan: 12--15 years. The small gene pool makes genetic diversity a priority for responsible breeders.
Sources: Oraas T (1993) Chantilly/Tiffany breed history; TICA Chantilly breed standard; Hartwell S, Messybeast breed history archive; Cornell Feline Health Center standard health screening protocols.