Oriental Shorthair Cat

 The Oriental Shorthair cat can be an extraordinarily devoted and loving companion. More than anything else, they want a person, or family, to whom they can give their wholehearted devotion.

The Oriental Shorthair is a solid colored Siamese. From the beginning, breeders of pure Siamese saw the occasional solid colored kitten, frequently a deep seal brown. In the beginning, no one was very interested in them. A few of them were imported to the U.S., and became the foundation of the beautiful Havana Brown - a separate breed.

Later, solid colored cats with strong Oriental characteristics also came from breedings between Siamese and domestic shorthair cats. In the 1960s the public finally became interested in these beautiful creatures, and they became recognized as a breed of their own. In the U.S. they are referred to as Oriental Shorthairs. In Great Britain and other countries they are sometimes called Foreign Shorthairs or Oriental Shorthairs, depending on their color variety.

Oriental shorthairs come in every color of the rainbow including tabbies, smokes, tortoiseshell and ticked. (Some cat fancy organizations do not recognize the ticked colors, however). In Great Britain, a few breeders with the approval of the Cat Association of Britain have created a separate breed, The Seychellois, which is slightly longer haired and has a white coat with colored splotches, but is otherwise identical to the Oriental Shorthair.

Oriental shorthairs of all colors should have green eyes. The exception is the white oriental shorthair, which have the bright blue eyes of their Siamese relatives.

In physical appearance Orientals are slender, medium sized cats, with a short, fine, glossy and close lying coat. Their head should be wedge shaped with straight lines and a long nose. Their eyes are almond shaped and slanted and the ears are large and pointed. The body should be long and muscular, elegant and svelte. The legs are long and fine, in proportion to the body. Often the hind legs are longer than the front. The tail should be long and thin, tapering to a fine point. The overall picture is of a slender, elegant athlete.

Orientals are exceptionally intelligent. They are also known for their loud and expressive voice and will happily "chat" with their owners using a variety of vocal expressions. Playful and affectionate, they hate to be left alone for long periods. Orientals are known for having a "big" personality. They can be quite opinionated and will tell you all about it, too!

One of the few breeds that will accept learning to walk on a collar and leash, and even enjoying traveling with their humans, Orientals seem to be willing to accept anything that will allow them to be with their family as much as possible.

Although they have a reputation for being delicate, Orientals often live to be 20 years old or more. They enjoy good health when given proper preventative care and plenty of attention.

If you are considering acquiring a cat of any of the Oriental breeds (including Oriental Shorthairs, Siamese, Burmese, Tonkinese, etc.) the most important thing you must ask yourself, is if you are willing and able to return their absolute devotion.
About the Author

Artist, writer, and webdesigner, Summer Fey Foovay has the honor of being owned by Pearl, a Shorthaired Oriental, who has her own website at Pearlie the Psychic Kitty

 Summer Fey Foovay

More Articles 

Flea Control in dogs and cats - Niall Kennedy
Flea control can be a very hard thing to do especially if you live in areas where fleas are largely populated. Weather has a lot to do with fleas and trying to keep them outdoors and off of your pets can be very changeling. You can try many of the...

Ragdoll Cat History is Stranger Than Fiction - Louie Latour
The origins of Ragdoll cats are full of myth and controversy. This cat's history is often contradictory and confusing; some of the Ragdoll story is just not possible. Other parts we know to be factual. First things first: the Ragdoll cat breed...

How to Make a Smooth Move with your Pet - Moving with Cats - Alexey Kazaryan
You know how stressful a move can be, and now imagine how your cat can feel on seeing you packing boxes and movers wrapping the furniture and taking it away. Cats are territorial animals and feel the change of environment much stronger than dogs....

Training a Cat Around The Plants - Tony Robinson
Oh but kitty loves plants, Grow them one? Yes, cats love green grass or plants. Wheat, oat grass, catnip, or heather are just some of the plants that you can grow a garden for kitty indoors or outdoors. Going along with growing some grass...

Tips For Dog Behavior Modification - Tim Lee
When you have an anxious dog you may need a few tips for dog behavior modification. (1) If your dog is suffering from separation anxiety you may want to use a dog crate. This is a good idea if your dog likes her crate because it is a place where...

Feline Leukemia Virus Vaccination in Cats - Alfred M Legendre DVM
Feline leukemia virus (FeLV) is a common agent in cats that is usually transmitted through virus-infected saliva via cat fight wounds, mutual grooming, or sharing food and water dishes. The most hazardous situation for FeLV transmission is a...

Thyroid illness in cats and dogs - Nick Carmichael
Common clinical signs of hypothyroidism in dogs include weight gain, lethargy, reduced exercise tolerance and poor coat quality. However, the disease affects almost all body systems and as a result a wide variety of signs can potentially be...

Hyperthyroidism in Cats - Coastal Cat Clinic
Disease Hyperthyroidism is caused by a tumor, usually benign, of the thyroid gland that secretes excessive amounts of thyroid hormone. This has many effects on the body since the thyroid controls many basic body functions such as heart rate...

Cat Mailboxes Can Mean So Much - Carl Walker
We love our cats. Throughout the centuries, Cats have been revered, even worshipped. They can be our cuddly friends or fearsome hunters. Through it all, they are our beloved pets. For some, coming through the door at the end of a long day, being...

Falling in Unrequited Love with a Siamese Mix: Yoda, the Cat - Joy Cagil
Twelve years ago, after he started living on his own, my son adopted a Siamese mix and called him, "Yoda." Although a mix, Yoda has the temperament, large ears, huge blue eyes, and the cute, dark face of a true Siamese. He has also acquired their...