Orienal cat
My favourite oriental cat
Oriental shorthairs are friendly, intelligent, and inquisitive cats that love being around people and fellow furry friends. Learn more about living with this eye-catching breed.
The Oriental is a cat of extremes with a long head, tall ears and long, slender legs.
Weight range:
Male: medium: 8-12 lbs.
Female: small: <8 lbs.
Eye color:
Blue, Green, Odd-eyed
Expectations:
Longevity Range: 8-12 yrs.
Social/Attention Needs: Moderate
Tendency to Shed: Moderate, High
Coat:
Length: Medium
Characteristics: Smooth, Straight
Colors: White, Blue, Ebony, Cream, Red, Brown, Frost, Platinum, Fawn, Chocolate, Chestnut, Cinnamon, Lavender, Champagne, Seal
Pattern: Solid Color, Tortoiseshell, Bicolor, Tricolor/Calico, Tabby, Ticking, Smoke, Shaded, Points
Less Allergenic: No
Overall Grooming Needs: Moderate, High
Club recognition:
Cat Association Recognition:
CFA, ACFA , FIFe, TICA
Prevalence: Rare
Oriental shorthairs don't just enter a room: They command it. From their large ears and angular faces to their long, slender frames, these stunning cats only look like they'd be standoffish. Their friendly, loving personality is quite the opposite.
Behaviour and personality
The Oriental is an intelligent, loving and loyal cat who is very fond of their human family and can live with just about anyone and anything, so long as they’re respected.
They’re a vocal breed who will follow you around the house and commentate on everything you’re doing as if they’re trying to offer their opinion on how to do it best. Their running commentary will come in a raspy voice that will be ever present in your house and must be responded to.
Their love of companionship matched with their curiosity means they will follow you around the house and will be on your lap as soon as you sit down. Don’t worry, you don’t need to worry about missing them when you go to bed because they will follow you their and sleep on the bed with you.
They’re intelligent and curious beings and many will quickly learn how to overcome small obstacles like a closed draw or bag so they can get their paws on the contents. Unfortunately, if you don’t provide them with plenty of entertainment in the form of games, cuddles and puzzle toys, you can expect said drawers and bags to be quickly emptied of their contents.
The Oriental cat is a very affectionate breed who quickly becomes attached to their family. This attachment can make it very difficult for them to adjust to new situations and surroundings, especially with new people. You will want to socialise them from an early age by regularly introducing them to new people, pets and places. This will make it much easier if you ever have to leave them somewhere like a veterinary clinic for treatment or someone else’s house to cat sit when you’re on holiday.
Grooming
One attractive feature of the Oriental Shorthair is their fine, silky coat which requires very little grooming compared to other breeds and has very little shedding. Generally, all you will need to do is comb or brush their coat every week or two to remove dead head and distribute skin oils.
As with all cats, you must trim the nails as needed, which is usually weekly to prevent them painfully breaking if/when they get caught in carpet or furniture. Make this job easier for both you and your cat by getting them used to having their nails clipped when they're a kitten.
Check their ears weekly for infection which will show itself as unusual redness, bad odour and sometimes discharge, among other symptoms. To avoid infection, clean them with a cotton ball dampened with a gentle cleanser recommended by your vet.
Finally, to reduce the risk of trips to the veterinary clinic for costly dental treatment, brush their teeth frequently to avoid tartar build up and gum disease.
