Oriental Shorthair Cat Breed

History

The Oriental Shorthair is best characterised as a colour remake of the original "black and white" Siamese. The cat breed was developed using Siamese as the foundation breed and then crossing them with other cat breeds.

The original motive was to widen the Siamese gene pool in the United Kingdom because so many breeding programs had been ravaged during World War II. Crosses with British Shorthairs, Russian Blues, Abyssinians and domestic shorthair cats produced litters without the pointed Siamese pattern. These cats were then bred back to Siamese.

In a few generations, cat breeders produced cats that looked precisely like Siamese, excluding the variety of colours and patterns they have and cats with the traditional pointed pattern. Cats with Siamese points were used in Siamese breeding programs, but the non-pointed cats became the basis for a new cat breed – the Oriental Shorthair.

When these cats started to be imported into the United States in the 1970s, crosses with American Shorthairs were produced with more colours and patterns. A longhaired cat variety was also developed during this time.

Today, Oriental Shorthairs come in around 300 colours and patterns, including the pointed varieties. However, pointed Orientals are not recognized by all cat associations, and some even require them to be shown as Siamese.

Oriental Shorthairs were recognized by the Cat Fanciers' Association in 1977 and received championship status in 1995. 

Personality

The Siamese and the Oriental Shorthair might be different in colour, but under their skin, they are alike. The Oriental Shorthair is chatty and opinionated and will tell you precisely what they think in a loud, raspy voice.

Oriental Shorthairs are incredibly affectionate with their family. This cat breed likes to be "helpful" to their human companion and follows them around from room to room to supervise them. When their human companion is sitting down, they will be in their lap, and at night, they will be in their bed, perhaps under the covers with the cat's head on the pillow.

Do not get an Oriental Shorthair if living with a chatty and demanding cat would drive you nuts. On the other hand, if you adore having a cat to talk to all day, an Oriental Shorthair can be your best pal. Just make sure you have time to spend with this friendly cat. Oriental Shorthair cats do not like being left alone for long periods of time. It is best to get two of this breed to keep each other company if you work during the day.

Many of these energetic cats are fetchers as they love a game of fetch with their human companion. They have their favourite toys like catnip sacks, rattle mice and wads of crumpled paper. They can also entertain themselves for many hours with an empty cardboard box. These playful felines remain kitten-like all their lives as they do not outgrow their love of playing.

Oriental Shorthairs are excellent jumpers and enjoy heights. Because of this, perches and tall cat trees must be provided. No furniture or high shelf is left undiscovered or unexplored from these curious, high leaping cats.

Oriental Shorthairs enjoy playing and adore toys around the house for their entertainment and pleasure. Though their coat needs little care, the Oriental Shorthair links brushing with affection and will therefore enjoy being groomed.

As sophisticated as the Oriental Shorthair looks, they can be quite a lap cat. They are incredibly loving and will sleep next to their human companion in bed.

Choose an Oriental Shorthair if you want to spend quality time with your cat. These affectionate and approachable cats are very sociable and loving cats that get deeply devoted to their human companion. If given the right home, they will thrive for many years. 

Coat & Care

The Oriental Shorthair’s short, fine coat is easily cared for and maintained. Brush or comb it every couple of weeks using a soft bristle brush to eliminate dead hair, then polish it with a soft cloth to make their coat shine.

For their dental hygiene, remember to brush their teeth at least once a week to keep periodontal disease at bay. In addition, keep their nails short by trimming them twice a month or when needed. Wipe the corners of their eyes with a soft, damp cloth to eliminate any discharge. Make sure to use a separate part of the damp cloth for each eye to avoid spreading any infection.

Check your cat’s ears weekly. If their ears look dirty, wipe them out with a cotton ball or soft damp cloth moistened with a vet-approved ear cleaner.

Lastly, their litter boxes should always be clean as they are precise about bathroom hygiene. If it is left unclean, they may use other places in the house to do their business. 

Children & Other Pets

The outgoing and friendly Oriental Shorthair enjoys endless play sessions, making them an excellent choice for families with children. They will play fetch as well as any retriever and learn tricks effortlessly. They also love getting attention from children of all ages, providing they treat them well. Always supervise younger kids to ensure they don’t accidently hurt the cat by pulling their fur or twisting their tail.

Because they are so social, Oriental Shorthairs enjoy living with other cats and cat-friendly dogs. In fact, we recommend getting a play buddy for your Oriental Shorthair sooner rather than later as they require almost constant companionship. Generally, the younger they meet other pets, the deeper the bond they will build. Still, as always, introduce pets gradually and in controlled environments.