Oriental Shorthair Cat

Oriental Shorthairs are like the Siamese in body type and personality. They share the long, fine-boned legs and tail, tubular body, wedge-shaped head and large ears.

The breed was created in the 1970s to create a Siamese-type cat with a wider variety of colors and patterns, not restricted to colorpoint patterns.

Some Oriental Shorthairs do come in pointed varieties. These pointed cats cannot be shown in all associations; in some other associations, pointed Orientals are shown as Siamese. It was accepted for championship status in 1977 by CFA.

Like the Siamese, the Oriental Shorthair is an outgoing, people-oriented breed. They are talkative, playful, acrobatic, and energetic.

Interesting breed fact: The Oriental breed is available in the widest array of colors and patterns of any breed. In fact, Orientals are sometimes nicknamed "Ornamentals" because they can be bred in over three hundred posssible color and pattern combinations.

Associations: The Oriental Shorthair is accepted in all major cat registries. Acceptance of certain colors and patterns for championship status varies from association to association.

Provided with permission of Barbara French
Copyright © Fanciers Breeder Referral List Breedlist.com