Oriental Cat (Oriental Shorthair): Breed Profile, Personality, Care, Price & Breeders

Once you’ve seen this cat, you’ll never forget her! The Oriental cat: does she smell like roses, and why did the whole world fall in love with this breed?

Breed History

The “Eastern cat,” which is what the breed’s name means, can boast a very branching family tree. The first official mentions of Orientals appear in the manuscript “Smud Khoi” (the “Cat-Book Poems,” 1358–1767). For a long time, the Oriental’s homeland (Thailand) kept its meowing beauty at home, and the world didn’t know about cats of this breed.

But somehow, in the 19th century, Oriental cats made it to the Old World. A male named Master Timkey Brown and a female named Granny Grumps first tried to win over the English in 1894, at a show in London, but without success. A description of the cats from that landmark event has survived: “solid chestnut Siamese cats with blue-green eyes.”

The next attempt came two years later. At another British show, a supposed Siamese cat in solid blue was disqualified for the “wrong” color.

In other words, the Oriental’s road to fame wasn’t easy! The way a typical cat of this breed looks confused everyone for a very long time. The British Siamese Cat Club even wanted to officially ban breeding these “not-quite-Siamese.” Only in the 1960s did breeders (including Baroness Edith von Ullmann) get serious about the breed and turn its differences from the Siamese into strengths! The Oriental breed was officially registered in 1974.

Oriental Personality and Traits at a Glance

Oriental Cat Breed Overview

Siamese-Oriental cats are known for being especially “fluid.” The long, refined lines of their bodies are very graceful and elegant.

1. The head is medium-sized and shaped like a perfect equilateral triangle:

• the nose is long and straight, continuing the line of the forehead, with no hint of a snub nose. The tip of the nose and the tip of the chin should form a straight line;
• the ears are a breed trait you can spot from a distance! They’re large (compared with the head), wide at the base, and slightly rounded. It’s important that the line of the ears continues the wedge of the head. Oriental kittens belong to the Eastern group, so their ears grow early. That is, the ears grow during the first three months of life, which makes an Oriental kitten look a lot like a little gremlin. Then the ears stop growing while the rest of the cat keeps developing, the proportions even out, and you end up with a very harmonious creature;
• kittens start looking at the world with wide-open eyes as early as the third day after birth. Orientals have almond-shaped eyes with no dip between them, and crossed eyes are a disqualifying trait. In nearly all Oriental colors (about 299 of them!), the eyes are green (or odd-eyed), and only the white Oriental has blue eyes.

2. The body of these cats is stately and long. The breed standard calls for fine (but not tiny) bones and strong muscles.

• The belly should be tucked up.
• The cartilage on the chest is noticeable.
• The legs are slim, with the front legs shorter than the hind legs. The paws are small and oval.
• The tail is thin and long.
• Oriental males usually weigh about 10–14 lb, and females up to about 11 lb.

3. Coat

Oriental cats can be shorthaired or longhaired. Either way, their coat must be glossy. The fur should lie close to the body, just like a Thai cat’s.

4. “A cat in every color of the rainbow!” That’s what people who get interested in the breed often hear. And it’s true: the Oriental can boast a palette of about 300 colors. It’s one of the most color-varied breeds. Any colors in any combination: spots, stripes, polka dots, even something like pictures on the back now and then show up in a litter.

The basic colors are:

• havana (chocolate). An even coat color, with a nose leather matching the main brown tone and pinkish-brown paw pads;
• lilac (lavender). The coat is gray with a “frosty” sheen and no blue tint. The nose leather and paw pads are pale lilac;
• blue. It should be even, from the blue nose leather to the blue tail;
• cinnamon. A light brown color, with a pink nose tip and pink paw pads;
• fawn. A beige or light gray coat combined with a pink nose leather and paw pads;
• red. A red coat with no dark hairs, and pink paw pads and nose leather.

A key trait of the breed: with all these colors, the eyes must be green only. Solid black or white Orientals are just as popular. There are also mackerel, spotted, classic, and ticked tabbies.

Oriental Shorthair Personality

Who’s at the center of the universe? The Oriental cat, of course! How can you tell a cat is an Oriental? The world, the house, and everyone in it revolve around one big-eared creature. And if this creature doesn’t like something, or likes something a lot, or is sad, or happy, or has just eaten, or just run around… in short, Oriental cats comment on every move and mood with a pleasant “Mrrow.”

They also constantly need attention and suffer a lot if they don’t get it.

According to owners, Oriental cats are very energetic. Actually, it would be more accurate to write VERY energetic!!! They aren’t the type to spend hours warming the couch. Orientals are always on the move, chasing toys, children, sunbeams, and dust specks only they can see. That’s why there are so few photos of Oriental kittens: you just can’t talk them into posing for the photographer!

Until about six months old, you’ll constantly have to fetch your pet down from yet another Everest, since they seem to be able to walk on walls. At the very least, climbing curtains and conquering curtain rods are telltale signs of an Oriental in a good mood.

So it’s a good idea to protect the plants on your windowsill. They risk being knocked off by accident or becoming an extra bathroom for a clever kitten who’ll quickly figure out, “Why else is there dirt here?”

For all their obvious strengths (friendliness and sociability), the Oriental is easily offended. She inherited that from her Siamese grandmother.

Health

Though generally healthy, Oriental cats are prone to a few diseases:

• gingivitis. This disease is caused by an infection from tartar. Symptoms include bad breath, refusing food, and heavy drooling. Prevention is simple: regular cleaning of your pet’s mouth;
• hereditary amyloidosis of the liver;
• progressive retinal atrophy. This disease can strike at any age, and the symptoms go unnoticed: only a special exam at the vet can detect it;
• flat-chested kitten syndrome. This condition only affects kittens. A mild form gives the kitten a chance, since the chest straightens out as the kitten grows, but a severe form is fatal;
• cardiomyopathy (heart disease).

Forewarned is forearmed. Just keep an eye on your pet and don’t forget regular vet visits.

Orientals also need to be kept away from drafts. They have no undercoat, so they really get cold in cooler climates. That also means they’re not suited to living outdoors. But indoors, with proper care, Orientals live 15–17 years.

Care and Living Conditions

Owners may have to court this Eastern beauty, sing her serenades, and bring her flowers, but the standard care for this breed is very simple. Brushing with a rubber grooming glove, not often but regularly, will keep an Oriental’s coat beautifully sleek.

• Cleaning the ears (gently, without going deep into the ear canal) is a must in caring for this cat.
• Having the vet remove tartar is a must!
• Preventive treatment for worms and fleas.

Oriental cats have quite a manicure. To keep your pet from turning into a mini Freddy Krueger, you’ll need to trim an Oriental’s claws more often than with other breeds.

And by the way, these cats don’t smell like roses. They don’t have any particular smell at all! That makes them extremely appealing!

Feeding

These slender kitties love to eat and don’t worry about their figure at all. But they should, since Oriental cats tend to gain weight. The owner’s job is to protect that figure and give the kitty a balanced diet.

It’s very hard to get the diet right with natural food, so breeders recommend premium dry and canned commercial food. But if you’re firmly against that kind of diet, keep in mind that Orientals need fats for a beautiful, shiny coat. Add a tiny bit of butter (about 1 gram) to each serving. Daily calories should be up to 300 kcal for males and 250 kcal for females.

You can give an Oriental milk, and many handle it well, but remember that milk isn’t a main course, and it’s better to offer it about two hours after a main meal. If it upsets your cat’s stomach, skip it.

Experts also note that food for this breed should be comfortably warm, and they should be fed in a calm setting so their excitable nervous system doesn’t get in the way of eating.

Photos

One of the names for this breed is “Havana,” probably because in the past someone thought its color looked like Cuban cigars.

Where to Buy an Oriental Kitten in the US

The Oriental Shorthair is well established in the US: both CFA and TICA recognize the breed, and the Oriental Longhair received CFA championship status in 1995. Many catteries that breed Siamese also breed Orientals.

How Much Does an Oriental Cat Cost?

In the US, a pet-quality Oriental Shorthair kitten from a reputable breeder usually costs about $600–$1,500, and some catteries start at $1,800. Show and breeding-quality kittens from proven lines cost about $1,500–$3,000. The price usually includes the paperwork. Each cattery sets the price for each kitten individually.

Kittens from random online ads are cheaper, but are they really purebred? Where should you buy a kitten? Somewhere you’re sure the kitten is purebred, and where you’ll be met by “that” look from a pair of green (or blue) eyes.

Oriental Cat Catteries

• CFA (Cat Fanciers’ Association) Find a Breeder – https://find-a-breeder.cfa.org/;
• TICA (The International Cat Association) breeder listings – https://tica.org/find-a-cat/find-a-cat-breeder-listings/;
• Blue Sky Cattery (Missouri; CFA) – https://blueskycattery.pages.dev/;
• Oriental Shorthair Abbey – https://orientalabbey.odoo.com/.

The Oriental is a cat you can’t live without. Once you’ve had one, you’re hooked!