About Orientals.

HISTORY OF THE ORIENTAL SHORTHAIR CAT BREED
  
From the early history of the Siamese breeds illustrated in an ancient book The Cat Book Poems, written in Siam centuries ago, it shows the slender Asian breeds in many colours and patterns, not just the blue eyed colour pointed variety the West decided to adopt at the beginning of the 1900’s as the Siamese. The early imports to the UK from Thailand were not only colour pointed cats. Some also had white markings; some were solid colour and some semi-coloured similar to the Tonkinese or Burmese. So this ‘group’ of Asian breeds includes such as the Korat, Burmese, Siamese and what some believe to be the Havana. Many of these varieties vanished in the early western cat fancy because a decision was made that only the pointed with blue eyes would be accepted.

The Modern day Oriental Shorthair was redeveloped during the 1950s and 60’s by mating Siamese cats with a variety of solid coloured shorthair breeds such as the Russian Blue, domestic shorthairs and Abyssinians.

Full registration was accepted during the 1970’s for this solid variety at exhibition level.

TEMPERAMENT

Orientals make wonderful pets for the correctly suited home. This is ideally a home without small children but an adult home or one with teenagers is welcomed as they are extremely affectionate and intelligent cats. As wonderful as they are, do not be tempted to have too many as they often do not like to be shared too thinly. However, they are happy to share your home with other animals such as a dog.

The Oriental Cat thrives on human company and will be unhappy if left alone all the time. They often have a very close bond with their special person and will be depressed if separated for a long length of time. They like to entertain and have much energy and enthusiasm!

This is a very low maintenance cat breed that only needs a few minutes of hand grooming each day to look wonderful; however the coat will need more rigorous grooming when it is moulting. So when you are giving your Oriental attention, that hand is also helping its coat to gleam!

DESCRIPTION

The Oriental is an extremely elegant, long, slender cat, with long legs, a thin, long whip-like tail, a long, wedge shaped head, with large ears. The eyes are shades of green, almond shaped and the coat is very short and sleek.