Chantilly-Tiffany Cat
Updated July 19, 2026
The Chantilly-Tiffany was a rare North American semi-longhaired breed known for a silky, low-undercoat chocolate coat, plumed tail, golden eyes, and gentle voice; no well-documented active pedigree population remains.
Affectionate, Gentle, Moderately playful, Soft-voiced, Potentially reserved with strangers
6-12 pounds
12-16 years
At a Glance
Maintenance Level
Affection Level
Energy Level
Good with Kids
Vocalization Level
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About Chantilly-Tiffany Cat
The Chantilly-Tiffany was a rare North American semi-longhaired breed known for a silky, low-undercoat chocolate coat, plumed tail, golden eyes, and gentle voice; no well-documented active pedigree population remains.
Coat Length
Long Hair
Breed Group
Longhair
Weight
6-12 pounds
Great For
What Makes Chantilly-Tiffany Cats Special
Historical Chantilly-Tiffany cats were described as balanced, silky-coated companions with a full neck ruff, plumed tail, and rich chocolate color.
Accounts emphasized a gentle, devoted temperament and soft chirping voice, but no modern population is large enough to support reliable behavioral or health estimates.
Chantilly-Tiffany Cat History & Origin
The documented story begins in New York in 1967, when Jennie Robinson acquired two unknown-ancestry chocolate semi-longhaired cats named Thomas and Shirley. Their descendants were shown first as Foreign Longhairs and later as Tiffanys. Canadian breeder Tracy Oraas led a revival from the late 1980s and adopted the name Chantilly to avoid confusion with Britain's Tiffanie, but numbers remained too low for a durable population.
Thomas and Shirley produced chocolate longhaired offspring but had no documented Burmese pedigree.
The name changed from Tiffany to Chantilly and then Chantilly-Tiffany because Tiffany or Tiffanie already referred to other cats in some registries.
TICA later retained Chantilly in registration-only listings rather than active championship status.
Chantilly-Tiffany Cat Characteristics
Individual Variation
Cats are individuals and not all cats, even those of the same breed, will exhibit all the same qualities.
Care Requirements
Exercise Needs
Grooming Needs
Shedding Level
Chantilly-Tiffany Cat Appearance
The breed standard described a medium, semi-foreign cat with moderate muscle, a silky semi-long coat, and a full tail plume.
Chocolate was the original and signature color, paired with oval gold-to-amber eyes that could show a green halo.
Physical Features
Ears
Medium, broad at the base, rounded at the tips, and often furnished.
Eyes
Oval, wide-set, and slightly angled, historically described in yellow, gold, or amber tones.
Nose
Medium in length with a gentle stop rather than an extreme break.
Coat & Build
Tail
As long as the body and heavily plumed, broad at the base and tapering.
Chantilly-Tiffany Cat Temperament
Historical Chantilly-Tiffany cats were described as balanced, silky-coated companions with a full neck ruff, plumed tail, and rich chocolate color.
Accounts emphasized a gentle, devoted temperament and soft chirping voice, but no modern population is large enough to support reliable behavioral or health estimates.
Temperament Traits
Good With
Health
Reliable breed-specific disease data are unavailable because the Chantilly-Tiffany population remained extremely small and the organized breeding program appears to have ended. Historical claims of exceptional health are not a substitute for evidence.
Common Health Issues
Preventive Care
For any cat represented as Chantilly-Tiffany, independently verify pedigree and medical records, obtain a full veterinary baseline, maintain dental and coat care, keep the cat lean, and avoid breeding undocumented or closely related animals.
Caring for Your Chantilly-Tiffany Cat
Grooming Requirements
Historical descriptions emphasize a silky semi-long coat with little undercoat, making it less prone to dense mats than many longhaired breeds.
Brushing
Comb once or twice weekly, paying special attention to the ruff, belly, armpits, trousers, and tail plume.
Bathing
Bathe only when dirty. Use a gentle cat-safe shampoo, rinse completely, and dry without roughening the fine coat.
Eye Care
Check the eyes weekly and wipe minor discharge with a separate soft, damp cloth for each eye; persistent redness or discharge needs veterinary care.
Nail Care
Every 2-3 weeks.
Essential Grooming Tools
Exercise & Play
Historical accounts describe a moderately active, playful cat that enjoyed interactive games without the intensity of highly athletic breeds.
Daily Requirements
Provide about 30 minutes of interactive play daily, divided into two or three sessions, and adjust to the individual cat's age, health, and actual ancestry.
Mental Stimulation
Rotate toys and food puzzles, provide window perches and hiding places, and use short reward-based training sessions.
Recommended Activities
Nutrition & Feeding
Feed a complete-and-balanced life-stage diet. Historical breed identity does not create a special nutritional requirement.
Daily Amount
Use the food manufacturer's feeding guide as a starting point, measure the total daily ration, divide it into two or more meals, and adjust with a veterinarian to maintain ideal body condition.
Special Considerations
Use measured portions, support hydration with wet food and several water sources, and manage swallowed hair through regular combing rather than unprescribed supplements.
Living Environment
Space Requirements
Historical temperament suggests good apartment adaptability when provided with companionship, stable cat furniture, scratching surfaces, hiding places, and daily play.
Climate Preferences
The semi-long coat offers moderate insulation, but indoor climate control and protection from high heat, severe cold, and damp conditions remain essential.
Ideal Lifestyle Match
Care should be matched to the individual cat. A seller's use of this rare historical name should never replace pedigree verification, veterinary assessment, and direct temperament evaluation.
Colors & Patterns
Chocolate was the original defining color; later standards added diluted and warm related colors, usually with minimal tabby marking in adults.
Solid Colors
Patterns
Eye Colors
Yellow, gold, or amber, deepening with age and sometimes showing a green halo
Fun Facts About Chantilly-Tiffany Cat
The original documented cats were named Thomas and Shirley.
Their ancestry was unknown, so claims that they were Burmese are unproven.
Chocolate was the breed's original signature color.
The name changed partly to avoid confusion with Britain's unrelated Tiffanie.
The silky coat was described as having little undercoat.
Canadian breeders attempted to revive the breed from the late 1980s.
TICA later listed the Chantilly for registration only rather than championship competition.
No well-documented active pedigree population is currently established.
Training Tips
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Chantilly-Tiffany extinct?
No current, independently documented pedigree breeding population is widely available, and the breed is often described as extinct. Registration-only references may persist, but they do not demonstrate an active population.
Is the Chantilly-Tiffany the same as the Tiffanie?
No. The Tiffanie or Asian Longhair is the longhaired member of the Burmilla or Asian group in British registry systems. It has a different breeding history.
Was the Chantilly-Tiffany a longhaired Burmese?
Early accounts speculated about Burmese ancestry, but the original cats' ancestry was undocumented and later breed advocates rejected classification as a longhaired Burmese.
Specialized Care Guides
Kitten Care
Independently verify identity and medical history, provide positive socialization, introduce combing, toothbrushing, and carriers early, and avoid purchasing based only on a rare-breed label.
Senior Care
Arrange veterinary checks at least every 6-12 months as advised, monitor heart, kidneys, teeth, weight, joints, and coat, and adapt climbing while maintaining gentle play.
First-Time Owner Tips
The historical care profile is manageable, but this is not a practical breed-selection target because active pedigreed lines are not reliably documented.
Looking for a Chantilly-Tiffany Cat?
Connect with responsible breeders, rescue organizations, and pet adoption services in your area.