Oriental Shorthair
A Siamese in every colour except the points, which is how the breed was designed. Loud, busy, and it wants a part in whatever you are doing.
Photo by Lil Shepherd, CC BY 2.0
Overview
The Oriental Shorthair is a Siamese in every colour except the points. It was created in Britain in the 1950s by crossing Siamese to other shorthairs and then breeding back to Siamese type, deliberately to widen the colour chart.
The result is the most extreme cat outline in the fancy: a long wedge head, enormous ears, a tubular body and a whip tail, in solid, tabby, smoke, shaded and bicolour.
Temperament
Extremely vocal, extremely attached and extremely clever. An Oriental Shorthair comments on everything and expects the household to keep up.
They bond hard, dislike closed doors, and get into things. They are affectionate to the point of being intrusive, they train easily, and they are genuinely poor at being alone.
Care and grooming
A rub down with a rubber brush once a week is the whole of the coat routine.
The same oriental group conditions apply: rdAc progressive retinal atrophy with a DNA test, amyloidosis in some lines, and a marked tendency to dental disease. They are also lean, fine boned cats that feel cold and appreciate a heated bed.
Living and exercise
An involved household with company most of the day, plus shelves and height, because these cats climb everything.
They are excellent with children who can cope with a cat that talks back. Twelve to fifteen years is the usual expectation, and they are active almost throughout.
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