Meet the Oriental Shorthair

Best Fur Friend

High Kitty I.Q.

Low-Maintenance Looks

Looking for a constant companion to show you love and make you laugh? I’m the breed for you! We Orientals are one of the most friendly and social kitties around and we crave the company of the whole family (kids and cat-friendly pets included). If you’re looking for a chill, independent cat, keep looking! I can’t be alone for long periods or I’ll get sad and destructive (and since I’m so smart, I will get into things that I shouldn’t).

I need a human who wants me by their side 24/7, wants to chat with me (I meow a lot), and loves to play. I’m athletic and full of energy and I love interactive playtime. My smarts make me great at learning fetch and other tricks, too! I may be high-maintenance in the attention department, but my furbulous looks require almost no upkeep – a weekly brushing I enough (and I’ll love spending that time with you). Even though my looks are breathtaking, it’s my big heart and fun-loving personality that make me one of the CFA’s most popular cat breeds!

About Me

Personality

  • Affectionate
  • Intelligent
  • Lively

Origin

  • England and United States

Life Span

  • 12-15 Years

CFA Breed Popularity

Length Range

  • 11-14 Inches

Weight Range

  • 6-12 Pounds

Coat Details

Type
    • Shorthair
Texture
    • Fine and Glossy
Colors
    • All
Patterns
    • All

Hypoallergenic

  • Yes

Cost to Buy

pumpkin

Get the pet insurance all the Oriental Shorthairs are purring about.

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My Many Looks

Chocolate Tabby

Tortie

Lilac Point

Blue

My Breed Characteristics

Playfulness
Intelligence
Energy Level
Health Issues
Affection Level
Grooming Effort
Pet-Friendly
Shedding
Kid-Friendly
Chattiness

Furbulous Fact

Even though we share the same body type as our Siamese cousins (triangle head shape, large ears, almond eyes, and tubular body) when it comes to colors, we’ve got way more to offer. We Orientals are sometimes called Ornamentals because we come in so many coat color and pattern combinations. There are over 300 coat colors accepted in our breed standard! We come in every solid cat color under the sun and every pattern, too! In addition to the colorpoint of the Siamese, we can also be bicolor, parti-color, tabby, tortie, and smoke.

As I Grow Up

As you can see, we Oriental Shorthairs age pretty gracefully. Here are a few key milestones in my growth & development to be aware of as I grow up from a kitten to an adult and senior!

Kitten3-9 Months

Get me used to teeth brushing early on – I’ll love the attention, and treats always help!

Adult2 Years

I’m a smart active breed and I love to play and climb. Make sure I have lots of toys and a cat tree to keep me occupied.

Senior10-11 Years

I’m slowing down so make sure to switch to a senior formula cat food and take me for twice yearly vet checkups.

History of My Breed

There’s a reason we Oriental Shorthairs are sometimes called Rainbow Cats – it’s what we were bred for! Though our closest ancestors, the Siamese, are an ancient breed from Thailand, we are pretty new. Siamese cats were incredibly popular in Europe, but after World War II they were in danger of becoming extinct. In the 1950s a group of breeders in England wanted to save my ancestors and started a breeding program that brought back the Siamese and developed a new and more colorful version.

English breeders crossed Siamese with other breeds like Russian Blues, British Shorthairs, and Abyssinians. Some of the litters had the traditional Siamese colorpoint pattern and blue eyes, which helped to increase the Siamese cat population. Other cats came out in a rainbow of solid colors and patterns, and when these cats were bred with more Siamese cats, Orientals were born! The introduction of these other breeds didn’t just bring color and pattern varieties – it also created my cousin, the Oriental Longhair. Some cat registries, including The International Cat Association, consider us separate breeds, but the Cat Fanciers’ Association considers us one breed.

Orientals were also developed in the United States in the 1970s. A group of American breeders in New York fell in love with the idea of a Siamese personality in a kaleidoscope of colors and started a breeding program. They bred Siamese with American Shorthairs, which introduced even more color and pattern varieties. Today, between the Shorthairs and Longhairs, we come in over 600 color combinations and patterns – more than any other cat breed in the world! The New York breeders brought us to the attention of the CFA who officially recognized us in 1977. Between our rainbow coats and colorful personalities, we’ve been one of the most popular cat breeds ever since!

Pawesome Cats to Parent

In addition to purebred Oriental Shorthairs like me, there are tons of prrrfectly sweet mixed-breed Orientals that are looking to find their furever homes. You can learn where to find your next pet below!

Oriental Shorthair & Abyssinian



Find One Near You

Oriental Shorthair & Bombay



Find One Near You

Oriental Shorthair & Domestic Shorthair


Find One Near You
1

Don’t leave your Oriental alone for too long.

Orientals crave company, so they’re best suited to a home where they’re not left alone for long periods of time. If you work long hours, they may not be the cat for you. Alternatively, keeping Oriental cats in pairs can help with this issue as long as they are socialized with each other early.

2

Be proactive about your Oriental’s dental health.

Dental disease can be a painful condition that cats suffer without showing obvious signs of discomfort. Subtle signs include weight loss, salivating around food, reduced appetite, chewing on one side of the mouth only, or a change in preference from biscuits to soft food. Tooth brushing, dental water additives, and prescription dental diets are ways of reducing the rate of dental decay.

3

Orientals can be fussy about their litter box.

In addition to keeping your Oriental’s litter box clean, you should have at least one extra litter box per cat in your home. If you find your Oriental does not use the litter box it may be related to the height of the walls of the box, the position in the home, or the substrate (material) of the litter. Try and play around with options until you find the perfect combination for your cat, which can take time.

Why Get Cat Insurance? from Pumpkin®

While Oriental Shorthairs are a generally healthy breed, cat-astrophes can happen to any cat at any age. If your kitty gets hurt or sick, pet insurance can help you say ‘yes’ to the best care, even when it’s costly. When it comes to shopping for this breed, you’ll want to choose an insurance plan like Pumpkin plan that covers hereditary conditions Orientals are prone to developing, and that can be costly to treat. While a reputable breeder will conduct genetic testing on your kitty’s parents to help minimize the chances of passing down hereditary conditions, they can’t always be avoided. Let’s look at some common ones, and how Pumpkin Cat Insurance plans could help cover the cost of care!

Bladder Stones

Orientals are prone to developing bladder stones. This condition occurs when minerals build up and form stones that make urination extremely painful to impossible, depending on their size. While smaller stones can be removed via catheter, larger stones must be surgically removed.

  • Pumpkin Pays Back*
  • $450-$3,150

Asthma

A common condition found in Oriental Shorthair cats, bronchial asthma occurs when the airways to the lungs (bronchial tubes) become inflamed and constrict, which in turn causes difficulty breathing. Feline asthma can be treated and managed medicinally with corticosteroids to help reduce the inflammation.

  • Pumpkin Pays Back*
  • $450-$2,700

Periodontal Disease

Periodontal (gum) disease occurs when plaque builds up, forming a layer of tartar that inflames the gums. Left untreated, gums weaken and separate from teeth. While routine brushing, cleanings, and antibiotic gels help treat milder cases, severe ones require surgery.

  • Pumpkin Pays Back*
  • $360-$1,080

Glaucoma

This eye condition occurs when the aqueous fluid in the eye does not drain properly. This causes pressure within the eye that can lead to structural damage or blindness. Glaucoma is most often treated medicinally but in severe cases surgery may be necessary.

  • Pumpkin Pays Back*
  • $180-$900

*Sample shows 90% reimbursement of covered vet bill assuming $250 annual deductible has been met.

About Me

Personality

  • Affectionate
  • Intelligent
  • Lively

Origin

  • England and United States

Life Span

  • 12-15 Years

CFA Breed Popularity

Length Range

  • 11-14 Inches

Weight Range

  • 6-12 Pounds

Coat Details

Type
    • Shorthair
Texture
    • Fine and Glossy
Colors
    • All
Patterns
    • All

Hypoallergenic

  • Yes

Cost to Buy

pumpkin

Get the pet insurance all the Oriental Shorthairs are purring about.

Fetch My Free Quote