Oriental Shorthair
Also called Foreign Shorthair.
A Siamese in every colour except pointed. The build is identical and extreme — long, tubular, fine-boned — and the ears are the largest in proportion of any breed.
- Coat
- Short
- Build
- Long and fine-boned
- Head
- Wedge
- Weight
- 2.5–5 kg
- Origin
- United Kingdom
What it looks like
Extremely long and fine-boned with a very long wedge head, enormous ears, almond eyes usually green, and a whip tail. Any colour except pointed.
The characters that confirm it
- A long straight wedge from the nose to the ear tips, with no break in the line.
- Enormous ears continuing the wedge.
- Tubular body, fine bone, long whip tail.
- Any colour or pattern except colourpoint, which would make it a Siamese.
Temperament
Loud, demanding, highly intelligent and constantly involved.
Health
Shares the Siamese predispositions — progressive retinal atrophy, amyloidosis and asthma.
Confused with
Same cat, different coat pattern. Pointed with blue eyes is a Siamese; anything else is an Oriental.
The extreme wedge and ear size are unmistakable once seen. No moggy approaches them.
Questions about this breed
How do you recognise a Oriental Shorthair?
A long straight wedge from the nose to the ear tips, with no break in the line. Enormous ears continuing the wedge.
What is a Oriental Shorthair like to live with?
Loud, demanding, highly intelligent and constantly involved.
What health problems do Oriental Shorthairs have?
Shares the Siamese predispositions — progressive retinal atrophy, amyloidosis and asthma.