Oriental Shorthair Cat
Cat Facts

The Oriental Shorthair cat is one of the most popular cat breeds. Originally, these cats had the same breed standard as the Siamese cat, but in 1920's the British Siamese Club amended the breed standard to exclude any cat without a pointed coat and blue eyes. It is for this reason that the Oriental is often regarded as a Siamese with a different coat color. Sadly, the number of 'Siamese' with self or solid color coats dwindled post their expulsion from the Siamese group.

In the 1950's, cat breeders Baroness von Ullmann and Mrs Hargreaves were working on producing a cat with a foreign-type body (Siamese look alike) and solid brown coat. They did this by crossing Siamese cats with Abyssinian cats, Burmese Cats, Russian Blue cats and American Shorthair cats. They finally achieved success and named the cat the 'Chestnut Brown Foreign' but the name was later changed to 'Havana' (not to be confused with the Havana Brown).

The Havana resembled the Siamese in every way apart from coat color. In Britain the Havana signaled the beginning of Foreigns that included all solid colored cats. In the 1990's, with the inclusion of other colors and patterns, Foreigns were renamed Oriental Shorthair which was the name adopted by the Cat Fanciers Association in the United States in the 1970's.

The Cat Fanciers Association and The International Cat Association accept the Bi-Color under the Oriental Shorthair breed, but in Europe, the Federation International Feline (FIFe) sees this as a separate breed named the Seychellois.

The Oriental Shorthair body is medium sized, fine boned with firm muscles and tubular in shape with sleek lines. The body is graceful, long and lithe. The legs are slim and long and the back legs are longer than the forelegs and the paws are oval in shape, small and dainty. The tail is also long and thin and tapers to a fine pointed tip.

The Oriental Shorthair cat has a medium sized head, shaped like a long tapering wedge or isosceles triangle. The nose is long and straight, the muzzle wedge-shaped and fine and the chin and jaw is medium sized. As expected, the neck is long and slender.

The ears are described as large and are set well apart and are wide at the base with pointed tips. The eyes are medium in size, almond-shaped and set at a slant towards the nose. The preferred eye-color for all coat colors is green, but gold is accepted. Part-color and self white coats may have green, gold, blue or odd-eyes (1 blue, 1 gold). Eye-color should always be vivid. It is most important that the eyes should be uncrossed i.e. have no squint.

The Oriental Shorthair cat comes in two coat lengths:

Shorthaired: The coat is fine, but dense and silky and lies close to the body. It has a beautiful satin-like glossy sheen.

Longhaired: The coat is medium-long and lies close to the body. Unlike many longhaired cats the coat does not have a downy undercoat. Like the shorthaired variety, the coat is dense, but fine and silky.

These domestic cats are come in an array of over 300 colors and patterns. Solids (or Self-colors), Shaded, Smoke, Bi-Color, Parti-Color and Tabby.

Oriental Shorthair Cat Information

Would they suit a home with Children and other Pets?

These cats are ideal for children. Younger children need to be taught how to handle cats. All cats prefer gentle handling. They adapt well to other pets. New pets need to be introduced gradually and owners need to respect the rights of existing pets. These cats get on well with other cats and cat-friendly dogs.

Personality and Temperament

This domestic cat loves human company. They are sociable cats that do not tolerate solitude and would do better in a home where there is company the best part of the day.

The Oriental Shorthair cat is an intelligent cat that displays a keen interest in its environment and in household activities. They are very lively, active and playful and their owners often describe them as dog-like. Like the Siamese cat, they are very vocal and demanding.

When they tire of play, the Oriental cat loves to cuddle up next to you or on your lap. They are affectionate, loving cats who can be very possessive of their owners.

A loyal and devoted cat that demands attention.

Indoor or Outdoor Cats

The Oriental Shorthair cat is suited to indoor living. They are sensitive to cold due to a lack of an undercoat. Any indoor cat should be supplied with sufficient toys and cat trees to keep them entertained.

Cat Grooming and Cat Care

These domestic cats are low maintenance in the grooming department. Weekly grooming for shorthair cats and twice a week for long haired cats is recommended.

Our cat care pages provide excellent tips on grooming.

Cat Health Concerns

The Oriental Cat is a healthy breed, however, some cats are prone to heart disease.

Do consider cat insurance for your cat.

Cat Diet and Nutrition

They are not fussy eaters and do not require a special diet. Visit our chapters on cat dietary requirements for great information on the types of cat food available and the importance of cat nutrition Your cat should always have access to fresh drinking water.

The Average Weight of the Oriental Shorthair cat

The average weight for these cats is 4.0 - 6.5 kg (8.8 - 14.3 lbs)

Life Expectancy

The Oriental Shorthair cat has a long life expectancy of between 12 - 15 years.

* Before purchasing a cat, always do thorough research into the bloodlines and genetics of your cat and always buy from reputable Oriental Shorthair cat breeders.

Cat Related Pages:

Javanese Cats - Semi-longhaired Oriental-type

Balinese Cat - Longhaired Siamese Cats

Cat Photos Courtesy of:

© Theresa Fouche

Top: Westwoods Zin Zan Oriental Owner: A Roberts ; Breeder: Gail Nel

Center: Seal Calico Point Oriental female, Owner/Breeder: Lucy Arends-Wagner- Taigha Samarah Dawn

Bottom: Kioko Juno Bug Owner: Nicole Barratt