Oriental Shorthaired Cats

History

The original colour was lilac, however other colours soon became possible, and today the Oriental cats are recognized in ten colours and the seven colours of Tortie.

As the popularity of the Oriental cats increased, and breeders became aware of the genetic possibilities of different coat patterns, a new programme was started. This gave rise, by mating black to Tabby-point Siamese, to Spotted, Classic and Mackerel Tabbies, in a variety of different colour variations. The Ticked Tabby arrived by crossing a Seal-point Siamese with an Abyssinian. It is also possible to breed Oriental cats with a smoke coat, and these are available in many colours. Genetically, this section could produce an almost unlimited variety of colours and patterns.

Character and Temperament

Oriental cats are the same as Siamese cats without the Himalayan pattern in their coats. They have the same type and conformation as the Siamese, and their temperament is the same too: outgoing personalities that demand a lot of attention.

Orientals have very loud voices and will often investigate the conversation - they are not like well brought up children who speak when they are spoken to. They want to be involved in all activities. Like dogs, they love to play retrieving games and get hours of please from a piece of screwed up paper. They do not like to be left on their own, and would benefit from living with another cat, if you work all day

Type and Standard of Points

Whatever the coat colour or pattern, the standard needs the shape and type of the cat to be the same as the Siamese. This means the Oriental cat is a medium sized cat that should feel firm and muscular. It is slender and elegant, but despite its shape and size should feel heavy. Orientals should never be overly skinny or feel too light.

The eye colour should compliment the coat, and the shape should show the typical Oriental slant. The ears should be wide apart and from the front should look like a triangle from the top of the ears to the nose. In profile the nose should be straight.

Coat Colours - Havana

This is a warm brown with brown on the nose and pinky-brown paw pads. The eyes should be green.

Coat Colours - White

A clear, white is required, with pale-pink nose and paw pads and bright sapphire blue eyes.

Coat Colours - Black

A jet black is required, with paw pads and nose leather the same and bright green eyes.

Coat Colours - Blue

This should be a light to medium blue, with nose leather and paw pads the same, and green eyes.

Coat Colours - Lilac

A pinkish grey, with nose leather and paw pads lavender and the eyes green. New colours include red, cream, cinnamon, caramel and fawn.

Coat Patterns - Tortie

The sex-linked red gene will give rise to the Tortie, which is normally only female. The Tortie is a mix of red, cream and brown, with black or pink paw pads and nose, with green eyes. Torties can now be seen in other colours including chocolate, cinnamon, caramel and fawn; it is important for the colours to be well mixed and the eye colour the same as for the dominant colour for the coat.

Coat Patterns - Tabby

Tabbies are available in four patterns: classic, spotted, mackerel and ticked. Tabbies are available in more than thirty different colours. The coat and eye colour should be the same as for the main colour.

Coat Patterns - Smokes, Shaded and Tipped

With these varieties the coat is not visible patterned; each single hair has a different amount of colouring giving a uniform effect. In the Tipped there is only a small amount of colour visible at the tip of each hair; in the Smoke it is the reverse, with the coat colour extending almost to the skin. The Shaded is in-between these two. It is possible to breed this cat in all colours.

Angora Cats

Angora cats are to the Oriental what the Banlinese is to the Siamese; a longhaired version of what is seen as a shorthaired breed. The fur is neither as long or as dense as the Persian and is easier to groom. In all other respects, including character and temperament, it is essentially Oriental. Angoras can be bred in all the variations of colour and pattern acceptable for the Orientals.