Oriental Shorthair

The Oriental Shorthair is basically a green-eyed Siamese in another coat – just about any other coat, as the range of colours possible appears to be more or less infinite, from the plain Self colours to all kinds of Tabbies and Torties, but excluding Siamese coat pattern or bi-colours.

The Oriental Shorthair has the same overall shape as the Siamese, medium in size with a long slender body, medium bone and small feet; the balancing tail is equally long and slender. For all his elegance, the Oriental is a muscular cat and feels heavy when carried.

This is not a cat for those who prefer a quiet, decorative addition; they are vocal and insistent on taking part in whatever you are doing. Curious, intelligent and active they make their presence felt and refuse to be ignored. Numbers have shown a gradual rise over the last 10 years or so; in 1994 1,195 Oriental Shorthairs were registered with the GCCF and in 2003 the numbers had shown a small increase to 1,300.

Although Orientals have no particular health problems, it makes good sense to insure your cats.  Many breeders sell their kittens with six weeks free insurance cover.  More and more owners are now insuring their pets as advances in veterinary medicine, plus the soaring costs of drugs can mean astronomical bills.

Oriental Shorthair Breed Clubs and Rescue

• Caramel & Apricot Federation
• Foreign White Cat Society
• Oriental Cat Association

Oriental Shorthair Breeders

Contact the Breed Clubs who will have lists of Breeders and may have Kitten Lists.