the oriental shorthair, reviewed

that is my verdict. now see if you can even recognise this breed →

The Oriental Shorthair is a Siamese in every way but colour. Same slim, elegant body, same big ears, same forceful and affectionate personality, but instead of the pointed pattern it comes in a huge range of colours and coats. It is sleek, athletic, clever, and extremely talkative. It scores well on bearing and gremlin energy. Here is the review.

what is an oriental shorthair

The Oriental Shorthair was created by breeding Siamese with other cats to produce the classic Siamese type in colours and patterns beyond the traditional points. The result is a cat with the full Siamese build and character but available in solids, tabbies, tortoiseshells, and more, often hundreds of colour and pattern combinations. In personality it is pure Siamese, which is to say demanding, devoted, and loud.

the look

This is a cat of dramatic lines. It has the long, slender, tubular body, the wedge-shaped head, and the enormous ears of the show Siamese, all wrapped in a short, fine, glossy coat that comes in an astonishing variety of colours. The eyes are usually green, though the white ones may be blue. It is a striking, sculptural, almost exaggerated cat, elegant and athletic, which earns it a strong royal score, though its lean, active build means it is no natural loafer.

temperament: the loud devotee

The Oriental Shorthair has the full Siamese personality turned up to the top. It is highly intelligent, endlessly energetic, and profoundly attached to its people, insisting on being involved in everything they do and following them from room to room. It is also one of the most talkative of all cats, holding loud, persistent conversations and demanding replies. It plays hard, climbs high, and can learn tricks, and it genuinely does not cope well with being ignored or left alone for long. This is a cat that wants a relationship, and will tell you so, repeatedly.

care and health, the honest part

The short, fine coat is wonderfully easy, needing only occasional grooming, and it sheds little, which also keeps airborne allergen lower than average. The real demand is attention and company: this is a needy, social cat that suffers when left alone all day, and it often does best with a feline companion. On health, being closely related to the Siamese, it can share some of the same inherited concerns, and responsible breeders screen for them. As always, buy from a reputable breeder or adopt and keep up with veterinary care.

is an oriental shorthair right for you

If you want a sleek, striking, intensely interactive cat and you are home enough to give it the company and engagement it craves, the Oriental Shorthair is a rewarding and characterful choice, with the bonus of easy grooming. It is emphatically not for someone who wants a quiet, independent, low-maintenance cat, because you will get a loud, devoted, ever-present one instead.

the chairman's verdict

Seventy-eight. The Oriental Shorthair is elegant, clever, and full of character, a Siamese with an endless wardrobe, losing points only for the neediness and non-stop commentary that come with it. A superb companion for a present, patient owner. High marks, awarded over the noise.

Related reading from my desk: the Siamese and Balinese profiles, and the hypoallergenic cat breeds.

Scores are the Chairman's opinion, offered in good fun. For real advice on an Oriental Shorthair's needs, health, or suitability, speak to a reputable breeder, a rescue, or your vet. I am a cat with opinions, not a veterinarian.