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THE TIFFANY/CHANTILLY CAT FAQs

Tiffany/Chantilly Breeders

Q: What is a Tiffany/Chantilly cat?

A: This is a wonderful semi-long haired cat of rich solid chocolate or agouti color, with a silky feel to its coat. Soft, smooth and lacking any undercoat makes the coat easy to groom. Tracy Oraas, Head of the TCA. Inc. Breed Council, calls them the "Chocoholic's Delight" It has a glorious plumed tail, a neck ruff and ear furnishings that accent its striking, medium sized body. In maturity hair in the hind legs forms "petticoats". The adult coat is slow to develop, often coming into full length by 24 months. There is little shedding and it can be easily groomed. Just to clarify it must be mentioned that in some places this breed is called the Chantilly/Tiffany. Either way it is the same breed. Their first breed name, "Tiffany", was chosen from the famous Tiffany Theater, who's name was connected with elegance during the Roaring "20's". As new breeders became involved with the breed the name was changed to "Chantilly" to preserve the connection with the "Tiffany" name and to avoid confusion with other breeds already using the word "Tiffany" as part of their breed names. The breed is now referred to by either name.

Q: What colors do they come in?

A: In the beginning, the breed only came in solid chocolate brown.  However, outcrosses to other breedss have expanded the color palette. The breed now comes in solid black, cinnamon, blue, lilac and fawn.  Their solid Chocolate color is rich with lightening occurring towards the underside.  The neck ruff and ear furnishings are in lighter shades. Patterned colors include mackerel, ticked and spotted tabby. Eye color varies from Gold to deep yellow.

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Q: What is their genetic background?

A: Right from its US beginnings in 1967 the breed has always bred true. Burmese cats were NEVER used in their breeding program. Research has revealed that English breeders had crossed Foreign Longhairs (Angoras), Abyssinians and Havana Browns in an attempt to recreate an Angora type cat. It is suspected, but can not be confirmed, that the Tiffany/Chantilly was a product of these efforts.

Q: What is the personality of the Tiffany/Chantilly?

A: They have a loving, gentle, devoted and intelligent personality with a distinctive soft voiced way of conversing. They use a characteristic soft and sweet sound like pigeons cooing and a chirping sound. They have moderate temperaments-not too active, not too docile.

Q: How much care is required?

A: Since the Chantilly/Tiffany is a "semi-longhair", this breed requires considerably less upkeep than some of the longhaired breeds such as the Persian.  The semi-longhair is silky, soft, smooth, and resists matting.  The lack of downy undercoat reduces shedding and makes grooming easier. "Due to the long ear streamers," says Tracy Oraas, "ears should be regularly checked for wax and correctly swabbed as necessary." Plan one good grooming session per week.

Q: Is it different from the "Tiffanie" ?

A: Yes.  The Tiffanie is really a long-haired version of the Burmese. A striking cat with a silky semi-longhaired coat and a Burmese body and head type.  The Tiffanie is recognized by Britian's Governing Council of the Cat Fancy (GCCF) and is not related to North America's Chantilly/Tiffany.  The Tiffanie and its shorthaired version, the Burmilla, got their start in 1981 in London.
        The Burmilla and the Tiffanie are members of what's called the Asian group that includes the Asian, Burmilla, Tiffanie and Bombay (significantly different from the breed of the same name in North America). Though shaded silver is the best-known color, other colors and patterns are also available. None of the Asian breeds are recognized by the North American cat associations, although fans do exist in this country.

 

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© Copyright 1999-2000 by J. Anne Helgren, and Tracy Oraas.  Portions of this appeared in the January 2000 issue of Cats Magazine.

J. Anne Helgren is a contributor to CATS MAGAZINE since 1992, Author of ABYSSINIAN CATS, A COMPLETE PET OWNER'S MANUAL, HIMALAYAN CATS, A COMPLETE PET OWNER'S MANUAL, BARRON'S ENCYCLOPEDIA OF CAT BREEDS, IT'S SHOWTIME! and
COMMUNICATING WITH YOUR CAT.  Member of the Cat Writers' Association, and Instructor for the Long Ridge Writers Group.

Q: Where can I find a Traditional cat?

A: TCA, Inc. has two different sections of our Breeders List. You are most welcome to check the Breeders Directory Section of the TCA, Inc. Home Page for detailed information and then check the Breeders List for a breeder close to you. If you wish a Breeders List mailed to you, please send $2.00 to:

TCA, Inc.
18509 N.E. 279^th. Street
Battle Ground, WA. 98604-9717

Checks can be made out to TCA, Inc.

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Last Updated: 02/06/24