Oriental shorthairs do n’t just enter a room : They command it . From their large ears and angulate faces to their foresighted , slender systema skeletale , these stunning cats onlylooklike they ’d be standoffish . Their friendly , loving personality is quite the opposite .
The Oriental shorthair ’s sleek coat means dress is a small easier than with his cousin cat , the Oriental longhair . And this big - eared strain run to delight a long life-time — it ’s not strange for an Oriental shorthair to live more than 15 years .
Though their looks are unusual and many might not be conversant with these felines , Oriental shorthairs are n’t asrare as alien cat breedslike theKhoa ManeeorAmerican Bobtail . But while you may find some Oriental shorthair kittens or computed axial tomography useable for adoption , a reputable stock breeder is the more common boulevard to bringing one habitation .
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Tina Gonzalez , majestic pet parent to multiple Oriental shorthair computed axial tomography who ’ve become properYouTubeandInstagramcelebrities , describe a typical day : " You will be subjected to carry them around the theater and , of line , leaving your lick available at all times for nest and napping . Your bed is their bed and many dearest to catch some Z’s under the covers , so exit the door at night is not advise . "
Appearance
While the Oriental shorthair is technically a medium - sized cat at 8–12 pounds , their recollective , narrow-minded frame contribute them a much taller mien — and it also return a soupcon about their chronicle .
" Look tight and you ’ll see that [ his ] body construction is almost superposable to theSiamese , " says Teresa Keiger , editor program at the Cat Fanciers ' Association .
The big difference of opinion between the two breed ? The unbelievable variation in colour and normal . Oriental shorthairs come in about every hue from blue and lavender to ebony and with pattern including tortoiseshell and smoke . And as their name suggests , their coat is little , silklike , and shiny whenbrushed on a regular basis . And while a completelyhypoallergenic catisn’t exactly a realness , the Oriental shorthair can be a good pick for some allergy sufferer , alleviating sneezing and sniffles .
If that all was n’t appealing enough , the Oriental shorthair has one of the most unforgettable font you ’ll see . Their hero sandwich - mold head create an interesting distribution of facial features , with a long nose , almond eyes , and prominent cheekbones . And at the very top of that noggin ? enceinte , erect auricle reminiscent of aChihuahua … or Dobby the theatre elf from " Harry Potter . "
Temperament
Up for a chat ? An Oriental shorthair is always in a talkative temper , with an unusual vociferation that ’s commonly refer to as a honk . " They talk when they want something , desire to eff what ’s work on , what you ’re doing , or where you are , " Keiger says .
As you could probably guess , these cats areverysocial animals . Intelligentand affectionate , Oriental shorthair African tea love to be around their families and other pets , particularly fellow felines . They ’re total " Velcro puss , " and often act as your second vestige .
" [ They ’ll ] get very affiliated to you , so that even if you walk to any part of your home , they will follow you flatly , " Gonzalez says .
While their restrained Department of Energy level do n’t make them the kind of lap cat that spends the day watching the world go by , they ’ll definitely essay out that lap when the modality attain . These kitties are adequate region snuggly and on - the - go .
Living Needs
Oriental shorthair big cat can flourish in both rest home and apartments . Their independent living needs align with their societal nature and activity point — Oriental shorthairs always want a friend in muckle and love to dally and explore . This is mainly why Gonzalez recommends getting your cat a sidekick : " ensure to get more than one ! They hate to be alone , and be very fain to give up any free clip to their caprice and needs . They take ceaseless arousal and playtime . "
While busy households may provide the excitement that ’ll appeal to the curious Oriental shorthair , it ’s not the best agreement if you ’ll be frequently out of the house for foresighted periods of prison term . Thesekitties get lonely ! Conversely , if you ’re a stay-at-home who take a unruffled atmosphere , the Oriental shorthair ’s honk and adorably chipper chatter may be a bit too " extra " for you .
As social butterflies , Oriental shorthairs are well-disposed andget along well with dogsand kiddos . But happy - go - lucky as they are , you should always superintend any pet with smaller youngster andteach your kids how to properly interact with animals .
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Your Oriental shorthair will make good utilisation of scratching and stretchingon a cat treeand might enjoy ahigh - up cat shelf , too . He loves to search so much that you postulate to give him appropriate retail store to do so , otherwise you might find him on top of your icebox or opening kitchen storage locker to see what ’s inside .
Care
Oriental shorthair cats may be more popular than their longhair first cousin due to their easy - to - care - for coat . everyday brushing will show off that flowing fur and serve ease shedding , which find yr - round . An occasionalcat bathor rub - down also bring out the good in their coating .
Their boastful grooming need is n’t their short pelt , but their big ears . You ’ll need to do a hebdomadal arrest for wax and anything unusual . Your veterinarian can take the air you through the task of preferred ear - houseclean methods , but generally , a few pearl of affectionate water supply on a cotton musket ball can be enough to lightly swab those squash racket - like capitulum unobjectionable .
Then there ’s the typical CT care all breed need : Trim their nailsregularly ( if you see them tap the floor , they ’re too recollective ) and make trusted theirlitter corner appease clean . And keep up withregular ex-serviceman appointmentsto make certain your Oriental shorthair kitten stay healthy .
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Regular play seance withinteractive cat toyswill help stimulate an Oriental shorthair ’s pauperism to research while also keeping boredom at bay . ( call back , these cat-o'-nine-tails are very fresh and need to work out their genius as well as their legs . ) suffer lots of one - on - one playtime is also an crucial societal wall plug for your cat — and , let ’s be literal , for you too . Bonus : These play sessions are often come by kitten cuddle .
Health
The Oriental shorthair life-time is typically 12–15 year , but some can live well past that milestone . However , as with all strain , there are some specific wellness exit to watch out for .
Like theAbyssinian , Siamese , andBalinesebreeds , Oriental shorthairs can be susceptible to Amyloidosis . grant to the Oriental Cat Association , this is a serious condition where amyloid ( an abnormal protein ) make deposits in tissues and organs . The deposits then take to organ failure or last . symptom tend to develop before a cat is 5 geezerhood old , and it ’s believe to be an transmissible condition . alas , there are n’t presently any non - incursive or genic tests to detect amyloidosis .
Another inherited shape that affects Oriental shorthairs is progressive retinal atrophy , a gradual form of visual modality loss that result in blindness . Cats who have this condition wo n’t have any vision trouble at birth but will start showing sign of vision going at seven month and lose their pile completely between the ages of 3–5 . Though genetic tests are useable , there ’s no handling .
The average Oriental shorthair is typically the most preoccupied withobesityand dental issue . Regularexercise , keeping treats to a minimum , brush your computerized tomography ’s teeth , and taking him to your vet forregular dental examswill help your khat live a happy and goodish life .
History
While it ’s easy to imagine these purple , Junoesque cat hanging out with Cleopatra , the Oriental shorthair is actually a relatively novel breed . They arrive about in the 1950s , when English breeders start cut across Siamese with other family cats ( due to the decline of Siamese cats after World War II ) .
It ’s believe that the first Oriental shorthair big cat can be trace to black hybrids ( a solid black cat with both Siamese and non - Thai ancestry ) andRussian blues , according to the CFA Oriental Breed Council . Siamese cats continued to be paired with different breeds , producing so many interesting colors and radiation pattern that each consider their own unparalleled stock . However , there shortly became so many unequaled vividness and patterns that the cats were grouped into one single stock : The Oriental shorthair .
Oriental shorthairs did n’t cross the pool until the 1970s , but it did n’t take long for them to make an impression . Just a few eld after arriving in the U.S. , the Oriental shorthairexploded in popularity . They were recognized by the Cat Fanciers ' affiliation in 1977 .
Fun Facts
Ear Care Basics . Feline Forum .
Amyloidosis – A veridical Danger to our Breeds . Oriental Cat Association .
Progressive Retinal Atrophy in Cats . Oriental Cat Association .
Oriental Shorthair . CFA Oriental Breed Council .
