You don’t just see an Oriental Shorthair and move along. You quite literally stop to stare at them: With their angled faces, expressive eyes, large ears, and slender frames, they make a statement.
At first, you might mistake them for a Siamese cat—and while there is history to explain how you got to this conclusion, the Oriental Shorthair is a separate breed prized for their loving nature.
These beautiful felines are often known as the “Rainbow Cat.” There are almost as many coat color variations as there are days in a year—up to 300 combinations—so you can never be sure of what you’ll see in a litter, thanks to their unique gene pool.
This cat breed is athletic and friendly. They want to spend time with their families, play fetch, and learn tricks to impress. (Make sure to give your natural entertainer a round of applause.) You will never be bored with an Oriental short hair cat around your home!
| Oriental Shorthair cat | ...at a glance |
|---|---|
| Personality | Entertaining, devoted, vocal |
| Life expectancy | 10-15 years |
| Weight | 5-12 lbs |
| Coat & colors | Short, sleek; 300+ color & pattern combos |
| Energy level | High |
| Affection level | High |
| Friendliness | High |
| Shedding level | Medium |
| Required grooming | Low |
Overview of the Oriental Shorthair cat
The Oriental Shorthair is a cat that stands out from others with their unique features and intimidating stares. Oriental Shorthairs are long and elegant, with long angular faces, tall ears, and lengthy limbs. They are notably muscular and toned, making them powerful, agile, and strong.
These felines are part of the Siamese breed group—and therefore, are incredibly and adorably vocal. If you are used to peace and quiet, you will quickly have to accept that your Oriental Shorthair is the opposite.
Weight
Oriental Shorthair cats range between 5 and 12 pounds, with males slightly on the heavier side. You might look at an Oriental Shorthair and think they are much bigger than they are, but that’s due to their height.
Length
Oriental Shorthairs can stand between 9 and 11 inches tall. Their long limbs award them additional height, giving the illusion that they are a large-sized cat breed. From the tip of their tails to their nose, they are usually around 18 inches long.
So, although they are tall and long cats, you might be surprised by their light weight when you pick them up!
Coat
The Oriental Shorthair’s coat is another feature that helps them stand out. They are called the “Rainbow Cat” because they can be born with up to 300 color combinations.
From lilac to ebony, from lavender to sable, from chocolate, white, blue, cream, red, brown, frost, platinum, fawn, chestnut, cinnamon, to champagne—this short hair cat has no rules when it comes to its coat’s appearance. Solid colors, parti-colors, bicolor with green or blue eyes… This cat is the cat’s meow!
Additional patterns that the Oriental Shorthair can display include calico, tabby, tortie, and more. If you want a cat that is going to be unique from their siblings, this is the one for you. You could guess what combination of color and pattern your cat’s litter would be, and you’d be unlikely to guess one correctly; there are just too many options!
Life expectancy
With proper care, nutrition, and exercise, your Oriental Shorthair can live a long and happy life. Their lifespan is typically between 10 and 15 years.
Your cat relies on you to give them the best quality care, and if you do, they can reward you with years of companionship.
History of the Oriental Shorthair
The Oriental Shorthair might remind you of the colorpoint Siamese cat, and there is a good explanation for that. Oriental Shorthair cats originated due to crossbreeding to revive the Siamese breed after World War II threatened to wipe out a variety of domestic cat breeds.
Breeders in Europe crossbred Siamese cats with British Shorthairs, Russian Blues, and Abyssinians, and then crossed those kittens back with Siamese cats. This resulted in kittens with pointed coats that became the backbone of the Siamese breed revival. Other variations of coats and colors set the foundation for Oriental Shorthairs.
When Siamese cats and Oriental Shorthairs were first separated, breeders wondered if all color and pattern combinations should be their own breeds. This idea was dropped when they realized just how many breeds that would be (about 300 too many!). Thus, the Oriental Shorthair became the main breed, with colors and patterns as variations of the breed.
Characteristics
Though these cats bring an almost intimidating presence to the room, you can rest assured they are anything but. Oriental Shorthair features have been described as extreme, including long, angular faces, large eyes, and flaring ears.
Their height makes them appear taller and thinner than they truly are. When given a blue-eyed inquisitive glance, you might feel as if they are staring into your soul.
And, well, they might be.
Lifespan
When it comes to how long you get to spend with your beloved cat, the goal is to have as many years together as possible. While the Oriental Shorthair cat is known for being generally healthy, you, as their favorite human, are required to set them up for success. You won’t be able to control genetic factors or certain conditions from arising, but you can provide them with an adequate lifestyle to prolong their time with you.
On average, an Oriental Shorthair cat will live between 10 and 15 years, with many surpassing that. Proper nutrition, regular exercising, and yearly trips to the vet can help maximize your Oriental Shorthair's lifespan and give them the best life possible.
If there is something wrong with your Oritental Shorthair, they will likely be vocal about it. (This is a cat that makes their presence and moods known.) Monitoring their health and picking up on abnormalities is the easiest way to keep your Oriental Shorthair healthy.
Potential health-related problems
The Oriental Shorthair typically lives a healthy life but is prone to certain conditions. Oriental Shorthairs can be affected by respiratory issues as well as kidney issues. They are prone to developing amyloidosis, a condition where the abnormal protein amyloid forms deposits in tissues and organs that can lead to organ failure. Kidney disease as a result of amyloidosis is also more commonly seen in Oriental Shorthairs than some other breeds.
Personality
Even though these cats can look intimidating, they really are sweethearts that enjoy spending time with their families. Oriental Shorthairs even greet their pet parents at the door when they arrive home.
The Oriental Shorthair wants you to commit to them the way they commit to you. They will be a very loyal companion to you, as long as you return their loyalty and love.
You know those days where you just need to vent all your problems? So do Oriental Shorthairs. They are extraordinarily conversational and always have something to talk about with their family members.
If you are looking for a cat that will be quiet and solitary for long periods of time, that is not the Oriental Shorthair. They are vocal and spunky and want all of your attention.
The Oriental Shorthair can get lonely and depressed when left alone for too long. If you work a lot, getting your Oriental Shorthair a furry friend can really change how they feel during the day. They get along great with other cats and will even play with dogs.
Playtime and training
The Oriental Shorthair cat loves to learn new things. They will want you to play games with them, learn how to fetch, chase a mouse on a string, or even do simple tricks like sit and spin.
When taught from a young age, they can adapt well to being on a leash, allowing them to safely explore the outdoor world. These felines are curious, so they may get into things (aka, trouble) when they become bored.
To give your Oriental Shorthair the best life, they should have plenty of toys to keep them entertained. They can climb and jump gracefully, making your refrigerator and the top of your cabinets very enticing locations to perch on. (That’s why you should encourage them to use cat trees.)
Caring for an Oriental Shorthair
Oriental Shorthairs are typically a healthy and happy cat. To prevent health issues, you should take them to the veterinarian at least annually and feed them nutritional, portion-controlled meals.
Their coats are short and sleek, making grooming a bit easier than required by their cousins, the Oriental Longhairs. For the low-maintenance shorthair, you’ll want to brush their coat every week to keep shedding to a minimum, and provide occasional baths.
While they do a pretty good job of grooming themselves, you may need to stay on top of your Oriental Shorthair’s ears. Their ears are large and can trap wax very easily. You will want to check for wax build-up regularly. One method for cleaning cat ears is a few drops of water on a soft cotton ball. Keep in mind that using cotton swabs can be harmful to ears (for cats and people alike).
Oriental Shorthairs are particular about their bathroom space and, like most cats, prefer to use a clean litter box. And if you have one Oriental Shorthair, it’s likely that you have another (because being lonely is not fun).
In order to keep up with the litter box, try a self-cleaning litter box like Litter-Robot. This automatic litter box ensures your cat has a clean place to go every time, and you won’t have to worry about accidents around the house (or scooping constantly).
Ample playtime
Oriental Shorthairs need plenty of playtime. Active play helps them build confidence in their space, burn energy, and maintain their weight. The Oriental Shorthair is typically long and slender, with long thin legs. This means that they aren’t built to hold a lot of weight. They will become fatigued and lazy if they can no longer move around gracefully.
Playtime can ensure that they get energy out and receive some healthy physical activity. Your Oriental Shorthair might even be apt to learn how to walk on a leash, allowing for plenty of exercise and lots of safe exploring. Having cat trees and toys around the house can help keep your Oriental Shorthair occupied when you can’t give them all of your attention.
Proper nutrition
As much as exercise is important, so is diet. You'll want to be feeding your cat nutritious meals in healthy portions. It will be easy to tell if your Oriental Shorthair gains weight because their belly will protrude over their thin legs.
Be aware of how many treats you give them a day, because the calories can add up! (They might try to trick you into rewarding them with treats by using their affection and intelligence.)
Veterinarian check-ups
The most straightforward way to ensure your Oriental Shorthair lives a long and healthy life is to take them to the vet regularly. This will help you monitor any changes in their health or personality and learn ways to improve the quality of their life.
If you ever have any concerns, you should reach out to the vet right away.
Adopting an Oriental Shorthair cat
The Oriental Shorthair cat is a loving and intelligent breed that is determined to be your loyal companion. You should want to be this cat’s person just as much as they want to be your favorite feline.
And, if you adopt only one Oriental Shorthair, you’ll probably be ready to adopt another soon. You’ll love them immensely, and they’ll love you for giving them a friend!
Oriental Shorthair Price
On average, Oriental Shorthair price may range from $500 to $2,000 or more. The price of Oriental Shorthair kittens can be influenced by factors such as pedigree, breeder reputation, geographic location, and even coat color.
For example, fawn, ebony, or cinnamon-ticked tabby kittens are rare colors and are very sought after.
Sources:
- Shorthair Cat Breeds | Britannica
- Renal Amyloidosis | Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine
- Progressive Retinal Atrophy in Cats | Oriental Cat Association
- Instructions For Ear Cleaning In Cats | VCA Animal Hospitals
Photo credits
- Manuel Keller via Unsplash
