Felis catus
Chantilly-Tiffany
Featured photochantilly-tiffany.jpgThe Chantilly-Tiffany is a semi-long-haired breed founded on a 1967 New York pair acquired by Jennie Robinson. The original chocolate-coated breed was first registered as Foreign Longhair, then renamed Tiffany, and ultimately Chantilly-Tiffany to avoid confusion with the British Tiffanie. The American Cat Fanciers' Association recognized the breed in 1979. CFA accepted the breed in the 1970s but suspended recognition in 1992 due to declining numbers. The standard describes a medium-sized, semi-foreign cat with a chocolate or other rich-coloured semi-long coat.
Quick facts
- Origin country
- United States
- Origin period
- 1967 New York foundation pair (Jennie Robinson); ACFA recognition 1979; CFA suspended recognition
- Coat type
- Long
- Coat colors
- Chocolate (the original and most common), Black, Blue, Cinnamon, Lilac, Fawn, Each available in solid and tabby variants
- Size category
- Medium
- Average lifespan
- 7-16 years
- Recognition
- —
Origin
In 1967 Jennie Robinson of New York acquired a pair of chocolate semi-longhair cats — Thomas and Shirley — from a Manhattan estate sale. The foundation pair's pedigree was unknown. Robinson bred the pair and produced consistent chocolate semi-longhair offspring, establishing the breed under the name Foreign Longhair. The breed was later renamed Tiffany, and finally Chantilly-Tiffany in the late 1980s to avoid confusion with the unrelated British Tiffanie.
Recognition
The American Cat Fanciers' Association (ACFA) recognized the Chantilly-Tiffany in 1979 under the original Tiffany name. CFA accepted the breed in the 1970s but suspended recognition in 1992 due to declining numbers; the breed remains rare today. ACFA, CCA, and TICA continue to maintain Chantilly-Tiffany standards. CFA and FIFe do not currently recognize the breed.
Standard
The ACFA standard describes a medium-sized, semi-foreign cat with a moderately long body, slim legs, and a long plumed tail. The head is a moderate wedge with rounded contours, full cheeks, and almond-shaped yellow to gold eyes. The coat is medium-long, fine, and silky with a slight ruff at the neck — shorter and less dense than the Persian's coat. The original and most common colour is chocolate; black, blue, cinnamon, lilac, and fawn are also recognized in solid and tabby variants.
Sources & further reading (3)
- encyclopedia — accessed 2026-04-30
- registry-standard — accessed 2026-04-30
- tica-standard — accessed 2026-04-30
Frequently asked questions
How is the Chantilly-Tiffany different from the British Tiffanie?
The Chantilly-Tiffany and the British Tiffanie are unrelated breeds with separate origins. The Chantilly-Tiffany is an American breed founded in New York in 1967 by Jennie Robinson, with chocolate as the foundation colour. The Tiffanie is a British breed developed from 1981 Burmese x Persian crosses by Baroness von Kirchberg. The two breeds were named independently; the Chantilly-Tiffany was renamed in the 1980s specifically to avoid confusion with the British Tiffanie.
Is the Chantilly-Tiffany still recognized?
ACFA, CCA, and TICA continue to maintain Chantilly-Tiffany standards. CFA accepted the breed in the 1970s but suspended recognition in 1992 due to declining numbers. CFA and FIFe do not currently recognize the breed. The Chantilly-Tiffany remains rare worldwide.
What is the foundation lineage of the Chantilly-Tiffany?
The breed was founded on a chocolate semi-longhair pair, Thomas and Shirley, acquired from a Manhattan estate sale in 1967 by Jennie Robinson. The pair's pedigree was unknown; Robinson bred them and produced consistent chocolate semi-longhair offspring, establishing the breed line. No documented ancestry exists prior to the 1967 estate-sale acquisition.
