Oriental
Discover the Oriental Shorthair's history, physical traits, and over 300 possible coat patterns, plus how its personality compares to the Siamese.
More than 300 coat colour and pattern combinations are theoretically possible for the Oriental Shorthair, though specific registries limit which are actually accepted. This vast variety exists because the breed was developed to maintain the Siamese body type while removing the genetic restriction that limits colour to the points.
The breed is a Siamese in disguise
The Oriental Shorthair is not a distinct wild lineage but a deliberate development from the Siamese cat. While the foundation stock came from Siam (now Thailand), the breed was formally established in the US by New York area breeders in the early 1970s. They selectively bred solid-coloured cats with the "oriental-type" body of a Siamese, creating a cat that looks like a Siamese but comes in a rainbow of colours rather than just the traditional point pattern.
Physical traits define the type
Conforming Orientals share the modern Siamese head and body structure: a triangular head shape, large ears, and almond-shaped eyes. Their bodies are elongated, slender, and muscular, described as sleek but strong. While they are a medium-sized breed, the weight difference between sexes is notable: males typically weigh between 3.5 and 5.5 kg (8–12 lb), whereas females are smaller, usually weighing less than 3.5 kg (8 lb). Unlike the blue-eyed Siamese, Orientals usually have green eyes.
Coat genetics allow extreme variety
The genetic mechanism behind the coat diversity involves recessive genes that allow colour to appear across the entire body rather than just the extremities. Under breed standards, the base colours include black, chocolate, cinnamon, red, and white, with modifiers creating dilutions like blue, lilac, fawn, and cream. The coat can also be silver, shaded, or smoke, where the hair shaft has a narrow band of white at the base.
Patterns are equally diverse, ranging from solid coats where every hair is uniform, to tabby variants including classic, mackerel, spotted, and ticked. Tortoiseshell and parti-colour (bi- or tricolour) are also recognized, created by adding a white spotting gene to other accepted colours. A true tricolour cat will display white on the belly, legs, and an inverted "V" on the face.
Recognition varies by registry
The breed's acceptance has evolved over time. The Cat Fanciers' Association (CFA) accepted the Oriental Shorthair for championship competition in 1977, and the bicolour variant was recognized in 1985. The UK-based Governing Council of the Cat Fancy (GCCF) granted recognition in 1997, though their coat conformation policies differ slightly from the CFA. The World Cat Federation (WCF) also recognizes the breed but notably opposes white cats, accepting all colours and patterns without white and without points.
Some specific colour varieties have unique names in certain registries. The solid chocolate variety is often called the Havana Brown, while solid white cats may be recognized as Foreign White. In the CFA, point-coloured offspring are sometimes considered "any other variety," whereas in the TICA and other associations, they are typically classified and compete as Siamese.
Personality matches the Siamese
Despite the visual differences, the Oriental Shorthair's behaviour is virtually identical to the Siamese. They are highly social, intelligent, and natural conversationalists that prefer living in pairs or groups. These cats have high locomotion levels and remain playful into adulthood, often enjoying games of fetch. Their slender appearance belies their athleticism; they are capable of leaping to high places and are intensely curious about their surroundings.
The longhair variant exists
The Oriental Longhair is a distinct but closely related breed that differs only in coat length. It is recognized by the CFA since 1995 and carries a pair of recessive long hair genes. Otherwise, the body type, head shape, and personality remain consistent with the shorthaired version of the breed.