How to Identify An Oriental Shorthair Cat

The Oriental Shorthair cat is a very old species derived from the Siamese breed. It is from this breed which the Balinese and Javanese species were created. They were originally bred to create a greater diversity of color in a cat, yet retain the Siamese form. The Oriental Shorthair is classified as a "foreign body type" though it is becoming very popular in Europe and the United States for its lithe, statuesque form and loving demeanor.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Cat
• Your Eyes

Identifying An Oriental Shorthair

1. Begin by looking at the cat’s general shape and size. The cat should be elegant, fine boned, and lithe. The cat’s lines should be slightly angular and taper down the legs and neck. This is a small species and the males rarely weigh more than ten pounds, the females eight. The tail should be long, thin, and nearly hairless.

2. Examine the cat’s fur. It should be very fine and silky. The fur should be so short as to appear as a fine fuzz underneath which the cat’s skin should be visible. This short fuzz means the muscles and the bones of the cat should be plainly visible, making it seem angular and delicate. There are over three hundred color variations on record and accepted for the Oriental Shorthair. So the cat’s color is no help in identifying the species. But the cat’s pattern might help narrow down the possibilities. An Oriental Shorthair can only have a striped tabby or plain single color coat. If the cat has any other pattern then it is most definitely not an Oriental Shorthair.

3. Look closely at the cat’s head. It should have slanted green eyes, though a pure white cat will have blue eyes. The neck will be long and angular, the muzzle too. A strong jaw will keep the muzzle from looking odd, though it will still seem very thing. The head and ears will present a long, tapering wedge, when viewed from the front, in good proportion to the body. The total wedge starts at the nose and flares out in straight lines to the tops of the ears, forming an isosceles triangle with no break at the whiskers. The ears themselves will be strikingly large, very long and pointed. If the cat meets these criteria then you’re looking at An Oriental Shorthair.

Tips & Warnings

• Oriental Shorthairs share the temperament of the Balinese and Javanese. They can be loving and devoted, but can be loud and demanding if ignored. They have no trouble interrupting you if they want to be fed or played with. This species is moderately playful and can be destructive in order to get attention. This species is fine around older children, but they will not tolerate being handled improperly so they should be kept away from small children and babies. They are not aggressive around other animals, but will not back down or run if threatened and will likely come out the winner if pitted against an animal up to twice it's size.