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Let’s learn more about these massive lap cats!

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Learn All About the Himalayan Cat, a Mix of Siamese and Persian Cats

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Himalayan cats—crosses of Persian and Siamese breeds—are sweet felines with silky hair. They’re great pets if you’re willing to care for their coat.

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British Longhair Cat Breed Information| Purina

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Discover one of the genial tempered of all cat breeds. The British Longhair is known to be a fairly relaxed breed, that’s prone to laziness. Learn more here.

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The oriental shorthair is a svelte cat with elegant features and a coat that comes in a rainbow of 300 color variations. Part of the Siamese family of cat breeds (which also includes the Balinese and oriental longhair), this beautiful "rainbow cat" is intelligent, athletic, and vocal-it is not shy about demanding attention. The oriental shorthair craves affectionate interaction with its family, both the human members and other pets.

Breed Overview

Other Names: Rainbow cat, Ornamental

Weight: Up to 12 pounds

Length: Up to 18 inches

Coat Length: Short hair

Lifespan: Up to 15 years

Hypoallergenic: Yes (somewhat)

Origin: England

Hypoallergenic?

Oriental Shorthair Characteristics

Considered an excellent pet, the oriental shorthair is outgoing and fun. This cat is gregarious by nature and, unlike many other breeds, can become withdrawn and depressed when left alone for more than a few hours at a time.

Most orientals enjoy meeting new people. Occasionally, a cat may become fixated on one person and be more evasive with other people, but this is more of an exception than the rule.

It should be noted that vocalization is a key part of the oriental shorthair's personality, a trait shared among most cats of the Siamese family. An oriental will express excitement, interest, despair, or other emotions with a wide range of vocal sounds. Many oriental owners report that their cats carry on "conversations" with various meows and chirps.

History of the Oriental Shorthair

The oriental shorthair resulted from the crossbreeding of several other cat breeds. In the wake of World War II, many domestic cat breeds were in jeopardy. To revive the Siamese, English breeders introduced Russian blues, Abyssinians, and British shorthairs into their lines.

At first, each non-pointed hybrid received a unique breed distinction, but breeders soon realized that the gene pool of these cats harbored a vast array of color combinations. To simplify classification, all non-pointed kittens became known as orientals.

The oriental was introduced to the United States in the 1970s and quickly gained championship status from the Cat Fanciers' Association (CFA) in 1977. Initially, the breed was only a short-haired variety, but further crossbreeding in the US led to both the oriental shorthair and oriental longhair breed varieties. The oriental longhair received championship status from the CFA in 1995.

Crossbreeding in the United States further expanded the breed's coat color combinations, leading to the approximate 300 varieties of colors and patterns existing today. The oriental is sometimes called the "rainbow cat" for its colorful coat.

Oriental Shorthair Care

The oriental's short, silky coat is low-maintenance, and this cat does an excellent job of self-grooming. However, your cat might appreciate an occasional brushing to remove any loose hair and stimulate the skin.

Regular ear-checks, dental cleanings, and nail trims are also important parts of keeping any cat well-groomed.

Oriental shorthairs thrive on interactive stimulation and enjoy learning skills such as walking on a harness, performing tricks, and playing fetch. These cats are considered to be very interactive and enjoy playing with human family members or other cats or even dogs. It's often recommended that you make sure your oriental has a furry companion.

Orientals love leaping and climbing to high vantage points-like refrigerators or cabinets-to keep an eye on activities down below. You can encourage safe (and potentially less destructive) climbing by providing a tall cat tree with lots of levels for active play.

Common Health Problems

With a genetic history closely intertwined with the Siamese, oriental shorthairs are predisposed to the same health problems as their pointed relatives. In general, however, the breed is considered healthy.

Health conditions observed in oriental shorthairs include:

Bladder stones

Liver and kidney amyloidosis

Mast cell cancer

Crossed eyes

Appearance

A smooth, silky coat that lies close to the body accents the breed's angular face, wide-set ears, and long legs. The oriental shorthair is a medium-sized cat with a long, lean build and somewhat exaggerated features (ears, nose, and eyes).

Diet and Nutrition

Keeping your oriental shorthair healthy requires feeding high-quality cat food. Feed the appropriate amount of food at scheduled times to avoid excessive snacking and weight gain.

Where to Adopt or Buy an Oriental Shorthair

The oriental shorthair gained rapid popularity after being imported to the United States, and today the breed enjoys a healthy fan base. Because of this popularity, there are many oriental shorthair breeders. In addition, regional and national groups help re-home displaced oriental shorthair cats.

Some resources to check out as you search for an oriental shorthair include:

Oriental Shorthair Overview

The oriental shorthair looks svelte and elegant while retaining a playful personality. It loves being with humans-cuddling, walking, playing, and "talking" with its distinctive voice. The only trouble with owning an oriental is the fact that this cat requires attention. Almost dog-like in its personality, the oriental loves being involved in its owner's daily life and will almost certainly become depressed if ignored or left alone for too long.

More Cat Breeds and Further Research

If you're interested in similar breeds, check out:

Otherwise, check out all of our other cat breed profiles.

How much does an oriental shorthair cat cost?

An oriental shorthair can cost anywhere from $500 to $1,000, depending on the quality of the cat (pet or breeding quality).

How big do oriental shorthair cats get?

These cats grow to be about 12 pounds at maturity.

Where did the oriental shorthair originate?

Oriental shorthairs were created in England in the 1950s by crossbreeding Siamese cats with other breeds like the Russian blue and British shorthair.

The Spruce Pets uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

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Meet the Elegant and Playful Oriental Shorthair

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The oriental shorthair is a svelte cat with elegant features and a coat that comes in a rainbow of 300 color variations. Part of the Siamese family of cat breeds (which also includes the Balinese and oriental longhair), this beautiful "rainbow cat" is intelligent, athletic, and vocal-it is not shy about demanding attention.

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Everything that you want to know about the cute, loving, and well-natured American Shorthair cat, including care, appearance, and personality.

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Mischievous, outgoing and most famous for its lack of a fur coat, the Sphynx cat is a highly affectionate cat breed that loves a cuddle! Learn more here.

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Persian Cat Facts: History, Personality, and Care | ASPCA Pet Health Insurance

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Persian cats have been a family-favorite cat for centuries. Learn about their traits and caretaking needs from the ASPCA Pet Health Insurance program.

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A North American original, back from near extinction

The Maine Coon's behaviour, personality, and loyalty are particularly doglike for a cat. A relatively modern breed, the Maine Coon goes back just over two hundred years. It is one of the largest breeds of domestic house cat, with males growing up to 18 pounds at maturity, and it is the only cat that can be claimed to be truly North American in origin.

Personality and Look of the Maine Coon

Originating in the American Northeast, it's personality made it a popular house pet, and its hunting skills let it earn its keep as a mouser. It is a long-haired breed, having evolved to survive cold eastern winters. The coat is coarser than other longhaired breeds so it doesn't tangle as readily, and thus requires less frequent grooming. The dense, bushy tail, roughly the length of the body, is used for both balance and agility while hunting and as insulation to stay warm while at rest.

The Breed's History

Despite its current popularity, the Maine Coon's true origin remains uncertain, although many myths have arisen to account for its appearance. The Genetic Impossibility theory suggests it arose from crossing local domestic cats with bobcats (or, as the name suggests, raccoons, presumably explaining the breed's large size, pointed ear tips, and bushy tail.) The Romantic theory would posit a French connection suggesting Marie Antoinette attempted to escape France during the Revolution, packing her belongings, including several longhaired cats, on a New England-bound ship. This theory has the ship arriving without her (decapitation having caused her to rethink her travel plans), but carrying her cats, which presumably proceeded to breed with the local short-haired cat population.

A more likely explanation is that the Maine Coon is a result of evolution and natural selection at work: the survival of the fittest. Cats have been popular and useful pets for centuries, both onboard ships and on farms as mousers. The arrival in New England of people from all across Europe blended larger, short-haired cats from mainland Europe with stockier, longhaired varieties from Scandinavia and the north. Generations of evolution produced a cat well equipped to survive harsh winters.

The Maine Coon's popularity skyrocketed in the late 1800s, where it won many Best in Show categories at major cat shows in New York, Boston, and Chicago. But its popularity dwindled at the turn of the century with the introduction of exotic long-haired breeds like the Persian and Himalayan, to a point where it was labelled extinct in the 1950s. Yet cat fanciers managed to resurrect the breed and restore it to its previous levels of popularity, making it now the second most popular breed in North America. No wonder it's said cats have nine lives!

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A North American original, back from near extinction The Maine Coon's behaviour, personality, and loyalty are particularly doglike for a cat. A relatively modern breed, the Maine Coon goes back just over two hundred years.

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The British shorthair cat is a medium-to-large-sized cat breed with a short, dense coat and a distinctive rounded head and face that make it look a lot like a cuddly teddy bear. The British shorthair cat is sweet and affectionate without being needy or clingy. This breed hails from the United Kingdom where it developed naturally and was the region's original domestic shorthaired cat. Originally, many British shorthairs were blue colored (a gray hue), but today's British shorthair comes in a veritable rainbow of colors and patterns, including solid, bicolor, tabby, tortoiseshell, calico, and more.

Breed Overview

OTHER NAMES: British blue.

LENGTH: About 22 to 25 inches.

LIFE EXPECTANCY: 12 to 16 years.

HYPOALLERGENIC: No.

ORIGIN: United Kingdom.

Characteristics of the British shorthair Cat

The British shorthair is a big cat-not massive like the Maine Coon or Siberian cat -but some male British shorthairs can weigh as much as 17 pounds (females usually top off at 12 pounds or less). The British shorthair is a wonderful family cat-the breed has an easy-going personality and generally gets along with everyone, including kids and other animals living in the house. They are active without being hyper, tend to be quiet, and can live happily in almost any size house, including apartments.

History of the British Shorthair Cat

The British shorthair is possibly the oldest cat breed in Great Britain. The most agreed-upon theory of this breed's development is that British shorthairs started out as shorthaired street cats, but breeders refined and standardized the cats until they resembled the British shorthair we know and love today. British shorthairs were among the breeds exhibited at England's first organized cat show in 1871. Back then, the breed was called the British Blue, owning to the fact that blue (gray) was very common color in the breed, especially early on.

Although blue British shorthairs are still popular today, they come in many different colors and patterns. The British shorthair was first brought to the United States in the early 1900s, but they were called domestic shorthairs. The British shorthair was formally recognized by the Cat Fanciers Association in 1980. Today, this popular breed can be found throughout the world.

British Shorthair Cat Care

As the breed name suggests, the British shorthair has a short coat that needs only minimal grooming. Brush your British shorthair once a week using a soft slicker brush. Brush more frequently during periods of seasonal shedding to remove loose hair before it ends up all over the house.

Trim the nails every other week and check inside the ears weekly. If you see a little debris in the ears, use a pet-ear cleaner and cotton balls to clean the ears using a cotton ball (never use a cotton swab). If your British shorthair's ears look red or excessively dirty, make an appointment to see your veterinarian.

British Shorthairs are playful well into adulthood, but they are not hyper or excessively active. They can get plenty of exercise by exploring the house and playing with you a few times a day. Engage your British Shorthair with feather wands, toy mice, and any other favorite toys. Make sure your cat has plenty of things to climb and perch upon like cat trees, cat-friendly bookshelves, and kitty condos. Cats can also get exercise and enrichment through scratching. Set up several acceptable scratching places in the house, including vertical scratchers (such as tall posts or cat trees) and horizontal scratchers (such as cardboard or sisal scratchers that lie flat on the ground).

Common Health Problems

British shorthairs are a notably healthy breed that are rarely affected by genetic disease. Among genetic illnesses, they are most prone to heart disease-specifically hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Of course, any can become sick, injured, or develop a health condition. For that reason, it's important to visit your veterinarian at least once a year for a physical exam to ensure your cat is healthy and to stay on top of any developing health concerns.

Appearance

The British shorthair is a medium-to-large-sized cat with a compact, well-balanced, and powerful body. Female British shorthairs are slightly smaller than males. One of the hallmarks of the breed is its round head, with round cheeks, a firm chin, medium-sized ears, and large, round eyes. The British shorthair's coat is short and dense. The British shorthair has a single coat, with no undercoat. Although blue (gray) British shorthairs are common, the breed can some in many different colors and patterns.

Diet and Nutrition

British shorthairs are solidly built, but it's best to keep them at a lean, healthy weight in order to prevent weight-related health issues, such as diabetes and heart disease, which can affect any cat but may be compounded by excess weight. Feed your adult British shorthair measured meals twice a day (three times a day for young kittens). Don't free feed (leave food out all day). This practice can lead to overeating and weight gain. Talk to your veterinarian or the breeder you worked with for advice about the best food for your cat.

Where to Adopt or Buy a British Shorthair Cat

The British shorthair is a somewhat popular cat breed. The Cat Fanciers Association and The International Cat Association both list active British shorthair breeders on their respective websites.

A fun way to meet British shorthair breeders and see cats of many different breeds is attending a local cat show. Newbies are very welcome at cat shows, and breeders enjoy educating people about their breed. To find a local cat show, search the internet for "cat show near me." British shorthairs rarely end up in animal shelters, but you can ask local British shorthair breeders if they know of any adult British shorthairs in need of new homes.

Breed Overview

The British shorthair is slow to mature, both physically and mentally. These cats generally don't achieve their final size and weight until somewhere between 3 and 5 years old. British shorthairs may continue to display kitten-ish energy and playfulness until they reach maturity, but once fully mature, this breed is calm and well behaved.

They are affectionate without being needy and are accepting of strangers, though they may be a bit aloof until they get to know you better. British shorthairs are wonderful companions for gentle and considerate children and tend to get along well with other friendly household pets.

More Cat Breeds and Further Research

If you like the British Shorthair cat, you might also like these cat breeds:

· American Shorthair

· Russian Blue

· Scottish Fold

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Meet the Sweet and Loving British Shorthair

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The British shorthair cat is a medium-to-large-sized cat breed with a short, dense coat and a distinctive rounded head and face that make it look a lot like a cuddly teddy bear. The British shorthair cat is sweet and affectionate without being needy or clingy.

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Orange Tabby Cats: Facts, Lifespan & Intelligence - Cats.com

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Orange tabby cats occupy a special place in many peoples’ hearts, click here to read all about these mysterious cats.

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Siamese cats are best known for their sleek, distinctive appearance. Although many Siamese cats are a silver-gray color with blue eyes, these pretty kitties' coats can also be orange, brown, cream, and even blue or lilac-colored, among other coat variations. However, there's much more to Siamese cats than their mysteriously good looks.

Here are 10 fascinating facts about the Siamese cat.

Their Coats Can Be a Wide Range of Colors

Siamese cats' coats can be an incredible range of colors-and those colors aren't only determined by genetics. The color of a cat's coat is determined by several sets of genes, and the patterns of their coats are determined by modifier genes. Siamese cats have a special modifier gene that inhibits pigment from developing in the fur, resulting in albinism. But, thanks to the magic of science, the modifier gene for albinism can only affect the cat's fur above a certain temperature-or between 100 and 102.5 degrees, to be more precise.

Once a Siamese cat's body drops below approximately 100 degrees-or the cat is in a colder environment-her genes for coat color turn back on and carry pigment to her fur. Because a cat's body is cooler around her nose, ears, paws, and tail, that's where pigment is most commonly deposited on Siamese cats.

Most Siamese cats are born completely white and develop their markings in the weeks following birth. Why? Because the womb is very warm and blocks the cat's color gene from reaching her fur. Following birth and being exposed to the cooler atmosphere for a few weeks, Siamese kittens will start to develop pigment around their faces, tails, and paws.

They Have Some Quirky Physical Traits

For a long time, many Siamese cats had crossed eyes and crooked, kinked tails. Although these traits were undoubtedly the result of certain genetic factors, many legends offered alternate explanations for Siamese cats' interesting appearances.

According to one legend, a group of Siamese cats was tasked with guarding a golden, royal goblet. Performing their duties, the cats stared at the goblet with such intensity that their eyes crossed. And because they wrapped their tails around the goblet for extra security, their tails became permanently bent.

There are still Siamese cats with crossed eyes and crooked tails today, but it's not nearly as common. These traits were determined "undesirable" by cat fanciers and selectively bred out. We say the cats are just performing their security guard duties!

They're Movie Stars

Oldies, but goodies, like The Incredible Journey, The Lady and the Tramp, and That Darn Cat! starred Siamese cats. In fact, the entire plot of That Darn Cat! is centered on a Siamese named DC (or Darn Cat) who helps stop a kidnapping.

While DC from That Darn Cat! helped prevent a fictional kidnapping, two real-life Siamese cats helped foil espionage back in the 1960s. When two Siamese kitties living at the Dutch embassy in Moscow, Russia began scratching at a wall, their owner suspected they were reacting to a noise that couldn't be detected by the human ear. He was right-30 small microphones were discovered behind the wall.

They're Highly Trainable

Yes, it's possible to train a cat. Siamese cats are intelligent, active, and curious, which makes them great candidates for training. You can even clicker train them to perform different tricks or fetch toys-another way to increase your bond with your cat.

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Siamese cats are one of the oldest breeds in the world. Get more fascinating facts about these mysterious and beautiful cats.