Appearance , Personality , story , Care , & Helpful Information for Pet Owners

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The Oriental shorthair is a svelte computerized axial tomography with elegant features and a coating that comes in a rainbow of 300 colouring variations . Part of theSiamesefamily of cat breeds ( which also include theBalineseandOriental longhair ) , this beautiful " rainbow cat " is intelligent , athletic , and outspoken — and not shy about demanding attention . The Oriental shorthair craves affectionate interaction with their family line , both the human members and other pets .

Oriental Shorthair Cat laying on a bed in the sun

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Learn more abut the visual aspect , care , history , temperament , and wellness of the Oriental shorthair .

Breed Overview

Other Names : Rainbow cat , Ornamental , Honking cat

Personality : Affectionate , playful , sociable , and vocal

Weight : Up to 12 pounds

Spotted tabby oriental shorthair

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duration : Up to 18 inches

Coat Length : Short whisker

Coat colouring material : White , dark , grey / dispirited , brown , orange tree ( 300 variations )

Blue Oriental shorthair

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Coat Patterns : Solid , shaded , smoke , and tabby

Eye Color : Green , blue , amber , yellow

Lifespan : Up to 15 years

Black oriental shorthair in chair

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Hypoallergenic : Yes

Origin : England

Tip

The Oriental shorthair is often take a " hypoallergenic " cat . While no breed of computed axial tomography is truly hypoallergenic , this breed in the main produces less of the Fel d 1 protein that is responsible for actuate allergic reaction in world .

Oriental Shorthair Characteristics

Considered an first-class favourite , the Oriental shorthair is outgoing and fun . This cat is gregarious by nature and , unlike many other breeds , can become withdrawn and depressed when left alone for more than a few time of day at a time .

Most Orientals enjoy meeting Modern mass . now and then , a kat may become fixated on one person and be more evasive with other hoi polloi , but this is more of an exception than the rule .

It should be noted that vocalization is a key part of the Oriental shorthair ’s personality — a trait shared among most quat of the Siamese family . An Oriental will express excitement , interest , desperation , or other emotions with a broad compass of outspoken sounds . Many Oriental owner cover that their computed axial tomography carry on " conversations " with variousmeows and chirps . This breed is even referred to as the “ honking cat ” because one of their vocalizations is similar to the sound that geese make .

History of the Oriental Shorthair

The Oriental shorthair resulted from thecrossbreeding of several other cat breeds . In the backwash of World War II , many domesticated CT breed were in jeopardy . To revive the Siamese , English breeders introducedRussian blues , Abyssinians , andBritish shorthairsinto their line .

At first , each non - pointed hybrid received a unequaled breed differentiation , but breeder presently realized that the cistron pool of these cats harbored a vast regalia of color combinations . To simplify categorization , all non - pointed kittens became have sex as Orientals .

The Oriental was introduced to the United States in the seventies and quickly reach championship status from the Cat Fanciers ’ Association ( CFA ) in 1977 . Initially , the breed was only a shorthaired kind , but further crossbreeding in the U.S. led to both the Oriental shorthair and Oriental longhair strain varieties . The Oriental longhair received championship position from the CFA in 1995 .

Crossbreeding in the United States further expanded the stock ’s coating color combinations , leading to the approximate 300 varieties of semblance and patterns existing today . The Oriental is sometimes call the " rainbow African tea " for their colourful coating .

Oriental Shorthair Care

Caring for an Oriental shorthair is not complicated . Though these cats need a tidy sum of attending when it comes to exercise , they are wanton when it comes to grooming .

Grooming

The Oriental ’s short , slick pelage is lowly - maintenance , and this cat does an excellent job of self - training . However , your African tea might appreciate an occasional brushing to remove any loose hair and excite the skin .

Regularear checksare important to guarantee they are clean and do n’t have a buildup of dirt , excess wax , or signs of contagion . you may mildly clean the ear weekly using a damp washrag . At - homedental cleaningscan be done with acat - specific toothbrushand toothpaste at least a few times a workweek , if not daily . Also , use a high - qualitynail clipperfornail trimsto keep your cat well - groomed .

Exercise

Oriental shorthairs thrive on synergistic stimulation and delight learning attainment such as walking on a harness , performing whoremaster , andplaying fetch . These cats are considered to be very synergistic and enjoy playing with human family members or other cats or even dogs . It ’s often advocate that you check that your Oriental has a furry companion .

Oriental have a go at it leaping and climb to high vantage points — like refrigerators or cabinets — to keep an eye on activity down below . you may advance safe ( and potentially less destructive ) climbing by providing a tall cat tree with set of horizontal surface for active romp .

Common Health Problems

With a genetic account nearly intertwined with the Siamese , Oriental shorthairs are predisposed to the same health problems as their pointed relatives . In general , however , the breed is turn over healthy .

Health conditions observe in Oriental shorthairs include :

Appearance

The Oriental shorthair is a medium - sized cat with a tenacious , lean figure and jolly overdo features ( ears , nose , and eyes ) . A tranquil , slick coat that lies close to the body accentuates their angular aspect , encompassing - set ears , and long legs .

play fact : Teddy , an Oriental shorthair , run viral on social medium for his resemblance to role player Adam Driver .

Diet and Nutrition

Keeping your Oriental shorthair healthy command feedinghigh - quality computerized axial tomography food . prey the appropriate amount of intellectual nourishment at schedule times to avoid extravagant snacking and weight profit . If you are n’t sure how much your big cat should be eat day by day , confer your veterinarian .

Although you might be entice to leave out a bowl of dry intellectual nourishment all sidereal day and dark ( known as free feeding ) , it ’s good to feed these cat multiple small meals throughout the day so they do n’t overeat , gain too much weight , and lose their characteristic skimpy shape .

In addition , your Oriental shorthair might enjoy various puzzle feeder . These intersection can keep your cat-o'-nine-tails mentally stimulate and alive while giving them a tasty reinforcement once they ’ve work the puzzle .

Where to Adopt or Buy an Oriental Shorthair

If you buy an Oriental shorthair from a stock breeder , the price might be $ 500 to $ 1,000 .

The Oriental shorthair gained rapid popularity after being imported to the United States , and today the breed enjoys a healthy fan base of operations . Because of this popularity , there are many Oriental shorthair breeders .

In addition , regional and national groups help re - home preempt Oriental shorthair cats , so if you ’d wish to borrow one of these beautiful cats , there are many options .

Some resourcefulness to checker out as you search for an oriental shorthair include :

Oriental Shorthair Overview

The Oriental shorthair looks lissome and elegant while retaining a playful personality . These cats love being with humans — nuzzle , walking , playing , and " verbalize " with their distinctive voice . The only problem with owning an Oriental is the fact that this cat expect attention . Almost pawl - like in personality , the Oriental loves being involved in their possessor ’s everyday life and will almost certainly become depressed if snub or left alone for too long .

Pros of Oriental Shorthairs

Cons of Oriental Shorthairs

More Cat Breeds and Further Research

If you ’re concerned in similar breed , fit out :

Otherwise , check out all of our othercat breed profiles .

An Oriental shorthair can cost anywhere from $ 500 to $ 1,000 , depending on the quality of the computed tomography ( favourite or rearing quality ) .

These cats grow to be about 12 Ezra Pound at maturity .

Oriental shorthairs were created in England in the 1950s by crossbreeding Tai cats with other breeds like the Russian blue and British shorthair .

Satorina , J. , Szalai , K. , Willensdorfer , A.et al . “Do Hypoallergenic Cats Exist ? purpose of Major Cat Allergen Fel d 1 Production in Normal and Hypoallergenic Cat Breeds . “Clin Transl Allergy4 ,   P11 ( 2014 ) .