Introduction

The Oriental Shorthair is one of many cat breeds who have been developed by breeding the regal Siamese cat with other breeds which in this case are mostly the Abyssinian, British Shorthair and Russian Blue.

The overall aim behind this breeding process was to revitalise the Siamese gene pool after a significant decrease in the population after World War 2. Crossing with the aforementioned domestic cat breeds created varied litters of kittens, some of which had the Siamese's traditional pointed coat and some that were virtually identical but in a range of colours with the pointed features noticeably absent.

It took only a few generations for a new breed to be created who had the same features as the Siamese but were distinguishable by their range in colours. Nowadays, the Oriental cat’s coat can come in more variations than any other breed with more than 300 colours and patterns including pointed varieties. The pointed variations are not accepted by all professional bodies and will require the cat to be officially shown as a Siamese.

Other than their colour, their features are essentially the same as their Siamese cousins. They have a medium sized muscular body that is covered with a beautifully silky svelte coat that can either be long or short. They have a wedge-shaped head which is long and tapered from the tip of their nose to their unusually large, triangular pointed ears. They stand on long, slender legs with their hind legs standing taller than their front and their paws are small, dainty and oval.

Another defining feature is their almond shaped eyes which can be green, blue or odd (one green and one blue eye).

Light coloured Oriental Shorthair cat with green eyes

12 - 15 Years

Lifespan

2.25 - 4.5kg

Weight

5/5

Affection

4/5

Child friendliness

1/5

Grooming difficulty

5/5

Intelligence

5/5

Dog friendly

1/5

Shedding

Family of white Oriental Shorthair cats with one kitten biting its mothers ear

Behaviour and personality

The Oriental is an intelligent, loving and loyal cat who is very fond of their human family and can live with just about anyone and anything, so long as they’re respected.

They’re a vocal breed who will follow you around the house and commentate on everything you’re doing as if they’re trying to offer their opinion on how to do it best. Their running commentary will come in a raspy voice that will be ever present in your house and must be responded to.

Their love of companionship matched with their curiosity means they will follow you around the house and will be on your lap as soon as you sit down. Don’t worry, you don’t need to worry about missing them when you go to bed because they will follow you their and sleep on the bed with you.

They’re intelligent and curious beings and many will quickly learn how to overcome small obstacles like a closed draw or bag so they can get their paws on the contents. Unfortunately, if you don’t provide them with plenty of entertainment in the form of games, cuddles and puzzle toys, you can expect said drawers and bags to be quickly emptied of their contents.

The Oriental cat is a very affectionate breed who quickly becomes attached to their family. This attachment can make it very difficult for them to adjust to new situations and surroundings, especially with new people. You will want to socialise them from an early age by regularly introducing them to new people, pets and places. This will make it much easier if you ever have to leave them somewhere like a veterinary clinic for treatment or someone else’s house to cat sit when you’re on holiday.

Ideal owner / home

Children

Other pets

Company

Are you someone who enjoys a quiet, relaxing household? If you are then you may want to consider getting another breed because the Oriental Shorthair can be known to be a very chatty busy body. They will follow you throughout the house and give their opinion on everything you do. When they’re not following you, they will demand plenty of attention in the form of love and cuddles.

Their connection with their humans means they do not suit someone who will leave them home alone for more than an hour or two each day. When they’re left alone, they can get bored which will quickly materialise in negative behaviour like emptying drawers and tearing up toilet roll. If you absolutely must have an Oriental cat but you can’t commit to always being home, you should consider getting another cat or dog who can keep them company.

This green-eyed feline has an athletic and agile build, their highly intelligent and they love to play, so you must keep them busy with plenty of games and toys them stimulate them both mentally and physically. Invest in puzzle toys, cat trees and potentially another pet who can keep them entertained.

They love to be part of a large, lively family and will get on well with children, cats and even cat friendly dogs so long as they treat them with respect.

Majestic looking Oriental Shorthair lying down and looking at the camera

Grooming

One attractive feature of the Oriental Shorthair is their fine, silky coat which requires very little grooming compared to other breeds and has very little shedding. Generally, all you will need to do is comb or brush their coat every week or two to remove dead head and distribute skin oils.

As with all cats, you must trim the nails as needed, which is usually weekly to prevent them painfully breaking if/when they get caught in carpet or furniture. Make this job easier for both you and your cat by getting them used to having their nails clipped when they're a kitten.

Check their ears weekly for infection which will show itself as unusual redness, bad odour and sometimes discharge, among other symptoms. To avoid infection, clean them with a cotton ball dampened with a gentle cleanser recommended by your vet.

Finally, to reduce the risk of trips to the veterinary clinic for costly dental treatment, brush their teeth frequently to avoid tartar build up and gum disease.

Health

The Oriental Shorthair will usually live a long and healthy life, but they can be prone to certain conditions including Progressive Retinal Atrophy, Glaucoma and Amyloidosis.

Common health issues

Amyloidosis

Amyloidosis is a rare condition that occurs when a substance of abnormally folded proteins called amyloids are deposited in various organs and cause damage by displacing normal cells.

Primarily the condition affects the kidneys, but it can also be present in other organs including the spleen, intestines, stomach and heart.

The main symptoms can be linked to kidney failure which include lethargy, dehydration, gingivitis, lack of appetite and weight loss. Kidney failure occurs because the kidneys become enlarged and inflamed as normal tissue is displaced by the amyloids and so they can no longer filter toxic waste from the body or reabsorb valuable amino acids and proteins.

The condition is rarely reported but it is more commonly found in Abyssinian cats than in any other cat breed. If you’re considering buying an Abyssinian, you must check that the cat’s family has no history of amyloidosis as it can be inherited.

Amyloidosis is generally developed between the ages of one and five with progression varying in each case from slow to rapid.

Progressive Retinal Atrophy

Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) is a family of eye diseases that causes the gradual deterioration of the retina.

Affected cats become night-blind early in the disease with the loss of sight during the day occurring as the disease progresses.

Unfortunately, there is no treatment, but it’s known that the condition doesn’t cause any pain or discomfort.

Most cats will adapt well to their limited or lost vision, so long as their surroundings and environment stay the same.

Glaucoma

Glaucoma is a condition that causes pressure on the eye, causing inadequate fluid drainage in the eye. If untreated, or it becomes chronic, it can cause permanent damage to the optic nerve, eventually resulting in blindness.

Unfortunately, 40% of cats with Glaucoma become blind in the affected eye within the first year, regardless of treatment.

Oriental Shorthair

Introduction

Behaviour and personality

Ideal owner / home

Grooming

Health

Common health issues

Other Breeds

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