Characteristics...

This cat combines the Siamese body with a diversity of colorings and patterns.

Oriental Shorthairs can be found in solid colors (white, red, cream, ebony, blue, chestnut, lavender, cinnamon, or fawn), smoke (silver undercoat to any of the above except white), shaded (only the hair tips colored), parti-color (red or cream splashes on any of the above), tabby (striped) and bi-colored.

In total, there are over 300 color and pattern combinations possible. In addition to the colors accepted for competition, in CFA, a pointed cat from at least one Oriental Shorthair parent is considered an AOV (Any Other Variety).

In TICA, these cats are considered Siamese and can compete as Siamese.Oriental Shorthairs have expressive, almond-shaped eyes, a wedge-shaped head with large ears that fit in the wedge of the head. Their bodies are very elegant yet muscular. When seeing an Oriental Shorthair, one would never guess them to be as solid as they are.

The longhaired version of the Oriental Shorthair, Oriental Longhair, simply carries a pair of the recessive long hair gene.