Oriental

Weight: 7 - 12 pounds
Life span: 15 - 20 years
CFA rank: 10

Breed History | Background:

The breed’s beginnings can be traced back to a baroness named von Ullman of Roofspringer Cattery in England. In 1950, she crossed a seal point Siamese with a Russian Blue. Several generations later produced the Oriental, a new breed with a Siamese body, but sporting a solid, rich, chestnut color.
In the United States, this breed was originally called the Foreign Shorthair. The name was changed to Oriental Shorthair at a meeting of breeders in New York City in the early 1970s.
Earned championship status by the Cat Fanciers Association in 1977.

Cat Look:

Identified by its triangle-shaped head, almond-shaped, expressive eyes that slant upward, a sleek, tubular body and whippy tail.
Eye colors can be green, blue, or even odd (one blue and one green).
Resemble a feline version of a Greyhound or Chihuahua in color.
Comes in short and long length coats.
Short coat lies close to the body and feels silky to the touch.
Features a full color palette, the Oriental comes in more than 300 colors and patterns.

Behavioral concerns:

Smart and social cats who enjoy close friendships with their favorite people.
Extremely outgoing, a feline extrovert.
Makes no apologies for being active or even rowdy.
Highly talkative and demanding.
Enjoys perching on high places, even on top of refrigerators or doors.
Benefits by being paired with another Oriental or breed equal in energy and intelligence.
Needs regular exercise to prevent from becoming bored and destructive.

Grooming:

Easy-to-care-for coat can be kept looking its best by occasionally running a rubber cat brush through it.

Suggested Nutritional Needs:

Usually can be free fed because they are so active and burn off excess calories.
Rarely at risk for being overweight.

Medical conditions seen:

Fun Facts:

By definition, Oriental Longhair is due to the presence of a pair of recessive longhair genes.
Orientals are deceptively muscular and they appear lighter than they actually are.

Glossary