The Oriental: The Ornamental Cat

by Shawna L. Krautheim & Debbie Moore

A man-made breed, the beautiful Oriental is the end result of selective breeding that was done in England and the United States, with breeders attempting to take the Siamese cat and broaden the color spectrum of those fascinating felines. Not so much a separate breed, so much as a hybrid of the Siamese family, this wonderful cat possesses many of the outstanding traits of the Siamese and yet has a brilliant, satiny coat that comes in just about every color imaginable.

Oriental Cat and Kitten Central is pleased to offer this insightful Oriental Cat Facts and Information article to assist you in learning about the Oriental cat breed and deciding if a Oriental cat or kitten is the right choice for your family. Enjoy!

The History of the Oriental Cat

Oriental Breed Information, Oriental, Oriental Cats

Oriental Cat Breed Facts:

Origin: Britain
Weight: 7-12 pounds
Average Litter Size: 3-5
Grooming Needs: Low
Life Expectancy: 15-20 years
Good With Kids: Tends to bond
with one person
Good With Other Animals: Yes

It is said that the Oriental Shorthair, sometimes known as either the Oriental or the Ornamental cat, was created for the sole purpose of exploring all of the different possibilities of cat colors and patterns. Developed during the 1950’s, the Oriental Shorthair was the result of British cat breeders crossing cats of the Siamese bloodline with breeds such as the Russian Blue cat and other domestic shorthairs, in an attempt to broaden the color spectrum of these magnificent cats. American cat breeders would catch on during the 1960’s and create their own mixes by breeding the Siamese cat to their own domestic shorthairs, as well as to the beautiful ruddy-coated Abyssinian cat. While they worked on expanding the color variety of this unique breed, they were careful not to compromise the beautiful svelte body type of the Siamese, and would frequently cross back to the parent breed in order to preserve the Siamese type and personality in the Oriental breed.

Many cat breeders and fanciers weren’t too pleased with the new changes. The Siamese had been used for far too many outcrosses throughout the years and the breed had undergone it’s own changes, veering away from the compact body and round apple-head of the traditional Siamese and adopting the lithe frame and wedge-head of the modern variety. Nevertheless, Oriental fans would not give up and eventually won over the opposition - few could resist the rainbow of colors that the Oriental was found in or his winning temperament. In fact, not only was the breed accepted for registration with the CFA in 1972, but many Siamese breeders would try their hand at breeding Orientals and fall in love with them.

While it was originally just the Oriental Shorthair who was accepted by the breed standard, in 1995, the CFA agreed to accept the Oriental Longhair as the same breed, combining the two to simply refer to them as “Oriental cats.” This would allow for the occasional longhaired kitten, that would crop up in litters from time to time, and see him accepted as something other than a pet quality animal. Now, not only was he capable of being shown, but he could also be used for breeding and, regardless of whether his offspring were short or long haired, all would be eligible for registration.

Oriental Cat Appearance

photo of chocolate oriental cat kitten photo pic The Oriental comes in two distinct varieties: the Oriental Shorthair and the Oriental Longhair. The shorthaired variety is the most common of the two and is known for his sleek, almost satiny coat and brilliant array of colors. The longhair variety on the other hand, is actually a cat of a medium-length coat and a bushy tail. Neither cat possesses an undercoat to their fur, resulting in an extremely slick and beautiful coat that is often referred to as having an almost glass-like sheen. The coat of this breed is truly unique and must be stroked to be appreciated.

The Oriental can be found in more than 300 different colors and are allowed in a variety of classes which include solids, shaded, smoke, tabby, parti-color and, the most recent addition to the Oriental standard, the bicolor. Due to the popularity of the breed and the vast colors that can be found, many breeders choose to specialize in particular colors or patterns, rather than breeding across the board. This helps to strengthen the richness of color in the Oriental bloodlines and is completely acceptable amongst cat fanciers.

Also interesting to note is that the Oriental cat may have either brilliant emerald green eyes or they may possess the stunning sapphire blue eyes of their Siamese ancestors. Some Orientals, depending on coat color, are even allowed to have odd-eyes, meaning that they can have one green eye and one blue eye. Such occurrences are completely natural and does not indicate any kind of vision problem or poor breeding.

Oriental Cat Temperament

The Oriental Cat (Learning About Cats)

The Oriental cat is a very vocal and personable individual who enjoys human contact. Not possessing the same aloof qualities of the Siamese breed, the Oriental seems to want to always be right beside her human and to stick her nose into everything that’s being done. Naturally, to any Oriental fancier, this is understood that this is not the cat being a nuisance or a pest, but that she is helping. Orientals love to help.

Additionally, while most Orientals get along with children, they generally tend to avoid the smaller ones. They aren’t prone to biting or scratching, but noisy creatures that slap and pull tails will often send an Oriental into hiding and, as with any animal, they may still bite if they feel cornered or threatened. The Oriental can often be the same way with other animals; if acclimated at a young age, he may accept dogs and other animals but, on the whole, the Oriental prefers it to be just himself and her human or, on occasion, she might enjoy the company of another Oriental such as herself.

Orientals are also notorious for being one-person cats. Bonding very tightly with their owners, they think nothing of following their human from room to room, and will often mewl and reach under the door if they are closed out of the room where their human is (they never seem to understand why you have to close the door to use the bathroom). Because of this, many Orientals suffer from problems such as separation anxiety or conditions where they lose their hair when they stress. It’s also not unheard for Orientals to refuse food when separated from their human.

Oriental Cat Grooming Requirements

Due to the lack of matting undercoat in this breed, the Oriental doesn’t require much brushing to keep him looking beautiful. Still, it’s usually a good idea to spend time with your feline friend and give him a brushing at least once a week; not only will this help to put a real gleam on his coat, but it also provides you with some quality hands-on time with your cat and helps you to take note of various problems that may occur with your cat. Your cat will enjoy the time, if done properly, and will look forward to his weekly grooming session.

Grooming your Oriental is very easy. First, you will always want to check the nails and clip them as necessary. The large ears of this breed should also be cleaned, using a cotton swab but just as if you were cleaning human ears, be sure to only clean the outside and never stick anything down into the ear canal. A buildup of dark matter in the ears or a foul odor can be signs of a serious problem - regular cleaning will allow you to nip any potential problems in the bud.

Using a solid rubber curry, lay the brush in the palm of your hand with the curved side facing out. Then, using a gentle stroking motion, brush your Oriental as if you were petting him, using long sweeping strokes. Always be sure to go with the grain of the hair and you will find this an excellent method of removing dead hair and dander from your cat’s coat. A steel comb will work well for the Oriental Longhair’s bottle-brush tail.

Oriental Cat Health Concerns

The Oriental is generally a very robust and healthy breed of cat. Like many purebreds, however, they are still prone to a few genetic problems and due to all the crossing that has been done, between this cat and the Siamese, they are prone to the same genetic problems that plague the Siamese. Some of the health concerns of the Oriental cat include:

Prone to problems such as Gingivitis and tartar build up on the teeth
Cardiomyopathy
Liver amyloidosis

Is the Oriental the Right Breed For You?

picture of tabby oriental cat kitten photos pics The Oriental is probably one of the easiest cats to groom and tend for in al of the world. This does not mean, however, that they are perfect for everyone or that they are the ideal pet for your household. True, while not having to groom as much is a definite plus, it’s important to note that the Oriental kitten is, by nature, very inquisitive and very mischievous. As they grow older, they lose a bit of this tendency, but not much. Additionally, the Oriental (OSH and OLH both) becomes very attached to their human friends - being separated from them for an extended period of time can cause the cat to suffer from separation anxiety and turn to destructive behaviors, such as chewing and clawing furniture. If left alone for an extended period of time, they are known to literally mourn their humans and will often stop eating or become so upset that they vomit and become seriously ill.

If you are looking for a good, all-around family cat, the Oriental may not be the cat for you. Time and time again, they are noted for being a one-person cat and they prefer one person to a whole household. The Oriental kitten is not a wise choice for the person who works all day and then likes to go out at night. If, however, you’re looking for a snuggly and lovable companion who will greet you at the door and vocalize his worries about you, then the Oriental is about as personable and loving as you can get.

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