Does a Oriental Shorthair's color change with age?

It can: Brown can turn Copal, Black can turn Russet, Tabby can turn Solid and White can turn Shaded.

Which clubs recognize the Oriental Shorthair?

The Oriental Shorthair is recognized by The International Cat Association, Cat Fanciers’ Association, Fédération Internationale Féline and Governing Council of the Cat Fancy.

Oriental Shorthair

The Oriental Shorthair is a sleek, vocal cat bursting with personality, deeply affectionate and devoted to its chosen people.

Size: Medium
Lifespan: 12–15 years
Origin: United States
Temperament: Affectionate
Standard colors: Black, White and Blue and 12 more

Key Traits

AffectionateVocalIntelligentEnergeticPeople-oriented

Find a Oriental Shorthair Breeder Browse All Breeds

Characteristics

Energy Level2

Trainability2

Good With Kids3

Good With Pets2

Grooming Needs2

Coat and grooming

How the Oriental Shorthair coat is built, and what that means when you groom it.

Coat layers: Single coat
Coat texture: Smooth
Coat length: Short
Shedding: Low shedding

Oriental Shorthair colors and patterns

What each club's breed standard says about every Oriental Shorthair color and pattern. Point at a ruling to see the club's own wording.

Breed standards describe the Oriental Shorthair in Black, White, Blue, Lilac, Silver, Brown, Chocolate, Seal, Cinnamon, Caramel, Red, Gold, Cream, Fawn and Apricot. Standard patterns: Solid, Bicolour, Harlequin, Pointed, Tabby, Mackerel tabby, Classic tabby, Spotted tabby, Ticked tabby, Tortoiseshell, Calico, Torbie, Van, Smoke, Shaded, Chinchilla and Caliby.

Coat: rulings by club
Color or pattern	TICA	CFA	FIFE	GCCF
Black	Standard	Standard (“Ebony”)	Standard (“Ebony”)	Standard (“Oriental Black”)
White	Standard (“solid white”)	Standard (“White”)	Standard (“white”)	Standard (“Oriental White”)
Blue	Standard	Standard (“Blue”)	Standard (“blue”)	Standard (“Oriental Blue”)
Lilac	Standard	Standard (“Lavender”)	Standard (“Lavender”)	Standard (“Oriental Lilac”)
Silver	No ruling	Standard (“Ebony Silver”)	Standard (“silver”)	Standard (“Black Silver”)
Brown	No ruling	Standard (“Ebony Tabby”)	Standard (“black tabby”)	Standard (“Brown”)
Chocolate	Standard	Standard (“Chestnut”)	Standard (“Havana”)	Standard (“Havana”)
Seal	No ruling	Standard (“Seal”)	No ruling	No ruling
Cinnamon	Standard	Standard (“Cinnamon”)	Standard (“cinnamon”)	Standard (“Oriental Cinnamon”)
Caramel	No ruling	No ruling	No ruling	Standard (“Oriental Caramel”)
Red	Standard	Standard (“Red”)	Standard (“red”)	Standard (“Oriental Red”)
Gold	No ruling	Standard (“Ebony Golden”)	No ruling	No ruling
Cream	Standard	Standard (“Cream”)	Standard (“cream”)	Standard (“Oriental Cream”)
Fawn	Standard	Standard (“Fawn”)	Standard (“fawn”)	Standard (“Oriental Fawn”)
Apricot	No ruling	No ruling	No ruling	Standard (“Oriental Apricot”)
Charcoal	No ruling	Disqualifying (“charcoal”)	No ruling	No ruling
Patterns
Solid	Standard (“solid colored coats”)	Standard (“Solid”)	Standard (“solid”)	Standard (“Oriental Selfs”)
Bicolour	Standard (“particolors”)	Standard (“Bi-Color”)	Standard (“bicolour”)	No ruling
Harlequin	No ruling	No ruling	Standard (“harlequin”)	No ruling
Pointed	Not recognised	Standard (“Pointed”)	No ruling	No ruling
Tabby	No ruling	Standard (“Lynx Point”)	Standard (“tabby”)	No ruling
Mackerel tabby	No ruling	Standard (“Mackerel Tabby”)	Standard (“mackerel”)	Standard (“Mackerel Pattern”)
Classic tabby	No ruling	Standard (“Classic Tabby”)	Standard (“blotched”)	Standard (“Classic Pattern”)
Spotted tabby	No ruling	Standard (“Spotted Tabby”)	Standard (“spotted”)	Standard (“Spotted Pattern”)
Ticked tabby	No ruling	Standard (“Ticked Tabby”)	Standard (“ticked”)	Standard (“Ticked Pattern”)
Tortoiseshell	No ruling	Standard (“Parti-Color”)	Standard (“tortie”)	Standard (“Oriental Tortie”)
Calico	No ruling	Standard (“Calico”)	Standard (“tortie with white”)	No ruling
Torbie	No ruling	Standard (“Patched Tabby”)	Standard (“tortie tabby”)	Standard (“Tortie”)
Van	No ruling	Standard (“Van”)	Standard (“van”)	No ruling
Smoke	No ruling	Standard (“Smoke”)	Standard (“smoke”)	Standard (“Oriental Smoke”)
Shaded	No ruling	Standard (“Shaded”)	No ruling	Standard (“Oriental Shaded”)
Chinchilla	No ruling	No ruling	No ruling	Standard (“tipped”)
Caliby	No ruling	Standard (“Calico”)	Standard (“tortie with white”)	No ruling
Rosetted	No ruling	Disqualifying (“rosetted pattern”)	No ruling	No ruling
Mink	Not recognised	No ruling	No ruling	No ruling
Sepia	Not recognised	No ruling	No ruling	No ruling

Eyes: rulings by club
Color or pattern	TICA	CFA	FIFE	GCCF
Blue	Standard (“blue”)	Standard (“blue”)	Standard (“deep blue”)	Standard (“blue”)
Gold	Standard (“gold”)	No ruling	No ruling	No ruling
Green	Standard (“Green”)	Standard (“green”)	Standard (“vivid, luminous green”)	Standard (“green”)
Yellow	No ruling	No ruling	Fault (“eye colour more yellow than green”)	No ruling
Patterns
Odd-eyed	Standard (“odd-eyed”)	Standard (“odd-eyed”)	Standard (“odd”)	Standard (“one green and one blue”)

Nose: rulings by club
Color or pattern	CFA	GCCF
Black	Standard (“black”)	Standard (“Solid black”)
Blue	Standard (“blue”)	Standard (“Solid blue”)
Lilac	Standard (“lavender-pink”)	Standard (“Pinkish lilac”)
Slate	Standard (“slate-colored”)	No ruling
Brown	No ruling	Standard (“Brown or pinkish brown”)
Chocolate	Standard (“chestnut”)	No ruling
Seal	Standard (“seal brown”)	No ruling
Cinnamon	Standard (“cinnamon”)	Standard (“Cinnamon brown”)
Brick red	Standard (“brick red”)	No ruling
Fawn	Standard (“pale fawn / fawn”)	Standard (“Pinkish fawn”)
Pink	Standard (“pink”)	Standard (“Pink”)

Paw pads: rulings by club
Color or pattern	CFA	GCCF
Black	Standard (“black”)	Standard (“Solid black”)
Blue	Standard (“blue”)	Standard (“Solid blue”)
Lilac	Standard (“lavender-pink”)	Standard (“Solid pinkish lilac”)
Brown	Standard (“brown”)	Standard (“Solid brown or solid pinkish brown”)
Seal	Standard (“seal brown”)	No ruling
Cinnamon	Standard (“cinnamon”)	Standard (“Pink to cinnamon brown”)
Fawn	Standard (“pale fawn”)	Standard (“Pinkish fawn”)
Pink	Standard (“pink”)	Standard (“Pink”)

What the rulings mean

Standard: Described by the club's breed standard.
Fault: Named by the club's breed standard as a fault: the animal can be shown but is penalised.
Disqualifying: The club's breed standard disqualifies an animal of this colour or pattern.
Not recognised: The club does not accept this colour or pattern for the breed.

Color changes

How a Oriental Shorthair's colors can change over its life.

Brownchanges toCopal
Coat · With age · from 0 to 52 weeks
Blackchanges toRusset
Coat · Progressive
Tabbychanges toSolid
Coat · With age · from 0 to 39 weeks
Whitechanges toShaded
Coat · With age
Whitechanges toChinchilla
Coat · With age
Tabbychanges toShaded
Coat · With age · from 0 to 6 weeks
Tabbychanges toChinchilla
Coat · With age · from 0 to 6 weeks
Bluechanges toTortoiseshell
Coat · With age
Blackchanges toBrown
Coat · With body condition · can change back
Blackchanges toBrown
Coat · In the sun · can change back
Blackchanges toBrown
Coat · Progressive
Creamchanges toFawn
Coat · Progressive
Whitechanges toPointed
Coat · With age · from 1 to 52 weeks
Solidchanges toSmoke
Coat · With age · from 3 to 104 weeks
Bluechanges toGreen
Eyes · With age · from 4 to 17 weeks
Bluechanges toYellow
Eyes · With age · from 4 to 17 weeks
Bluechanges toGold
Eyes · With age · from 4 to 17 weeks
Bluechanges toCopper
Eyes · With age · from 4 to 17 weeks
Bluechanges toOrange
Eyes · With age · from 4 to 17 weeks
Bluechanges toHazel
Eyes · With age · from 4 to 17 weeks
Bluechanges toAmber
Eyes · With age · from 4 to 17 weeks
Pinkchanges toSeal
Nose · With age · from 1 to 52 weeks
Pinkchanges toBlue
Nose · With age · from 1 to 52 weeks
Pinkchanges toChocolate
Nose · With age · from 1 to 52 weeks
Pinkchanges toLilac
Nose · With age · from 1 to 52 weeks
Pinkchanges toSeal
Paw pads · With age · from 1 to 52 weeks
Pinkchanges toBlue
Paw pads · With age · from 1 to 52 weeks
Pinkchanges toChocolate
Paw pads · With age · from 1 to 52 weeks
Pinkchanges toLilac
Paw pads · With age · from 1 to 52 weeks

Sources

Each ruling comes from the club's published breed standard or color list.

About the Oriental Shorthair

The Oriental Shorthair is a medium-sized, short-coated cat known for its sleek frame, large ears, and deep bond with its people. It is affectionate, clever, and notably chatty.

The Oriental Shorthair is a medium-sized cat built on the same long, fine-boned frame as the Siamese, with a short coat that turns up in a huge span of colours and patterns. The body is tubular and muscular, the head forms a long wedge, and the ears are large, set so they carry on the lines of the triangular face. The whole look is one of length and balance rather than heft.

This is a people-loving breed. Oriental Shorthairs tend to trail their owners from room to room, settle in close, and stay caught up in whatever is going on around the house. They are talkative and will often reply when you speak to them. Their get-up-and-go holds firm well into adulthood, and they keep a keen interest in play, climbing, and puzzling things out.

Because they form tight bonds, Oriental Shorthairs fare best in homes where someone is about for much of the day, or where a second pet keeps them company. They are usually grand with family members and take to visitors once they have settled in.

Quick facts
Attribute	Detail
Origin	United States
Size	Medium
Lifespan	12 to 15 years
Group / role	Companion (shorthair breed group)
Good with	Families, attentive owners, other cats

Who it suits

The Oriental Shorthair suits people who want an interactive, chatty cat and who do not mind plenty of vocalising. It fits households that can give daily attention and play. It is a poorer match for owners who are out for long stretches with no second animal, or who would rather a quiet, independent cat.

History and origin

The Oriental Shorthair was developed in the United States and Britain from Siamese-based breeding programmes aimed at producing the Siamese type across a full range of colours and patterns.

The Oriental Shorthair came out of efforts to produce cats with the Siamese body type but free of the restriction of the pointed coat pattern. Breeders crossed Siamese cats with other shorthaired cats to bring in new colours, then bred back towards the slender Siamese conformation.

Much of the early work happened in Britain in the mid-twentieth century, where solid-coloured cats of Siamese type were developed under a mix of names. Breeders in the United States took up the project and drew the many colour variations together into a single breed.

The Cat Fanciers' Association recognised the Oriental Shorthair, and the breed reached championship status in 1977. Over the years the accepted colour and pattern range widened into the hundreds, making it one of the most varied breeds by coat. In Ireland the breed is registered through bodies such as the Governing Council of the Cat Fancy of Ireland.

A longhaired counterpart, the Oriental Longhair, shares the same body type with a longer coat. The Oriental Shorthair stays closely tied to the Siamese in build and temperament, parting mainly on coat colour and pattern.

Appearance and breed standard

The Oriental Shorthair is a long, fine-boned cat with a wedge-shaped head, very large ears, and a close-lying short coat that comes in a wide range of colours and patterns.

The Oriental Shorthair carries a long, tubular body on slim legs, with the hind legs a touch higher than the front. The tail is long and tapering. The head forms a long triangle from the nose to the tips of the ears, and the ears themselves are strikingly large and wide at the base. The eyes are almond-shaped and usually green, though white cats may have blue or odd-coloured eyes.

Breed standard at a glance
Trait	Standard
Height	Approx. 23 to 25 cm at the shoulder
Weight	3 to 5 kg
Coat	Short, fine, close-lying, glossy
Colours	Solid, shaded, smoke, tabby, bicolour and more (very wide range)
Eyes	Almond-shaped, usually green (blue or odd-eyed in white cats)

Coat and colours

The coat is short and lies flat to the body, which keeps grooming demands low and shows off the breed's lean lines. The Oriental Shorthair is recognised in an unusually large number of colours and patterns, taking in solid black, blue, chestnut, lavender, cream, and red, along with tabby, smoke, shaded, and bicolour variations. This spread of colour is the main visible difference between the Oriental Shorthair and the pointed Siamese.

Temperament and personality

Oriental Shorthairs are affectionate, clever, and highly people-oriented cats that bond strongly with their owners and rank among the chattiest breeds.

The Oriental Shorthair is devoted to its people and stays close all day long. It greets owners, follows them about, and often wants to be lifted up or to sit on a lap. The breed is clever and nosy, and it will open presses, root through bags, and pick up household routines in no time.

With family, the Oriental Shorthair is warm and openly affectionate. With strangers it is usually confident and sociable once it has had a short while to size up a new person. It generally gets on grand with other cats and with cat-friendly dogs, and the company of another pet is a help when the house is empty during the day.

This breed is vocal. It passes remarks on events, looks for attention, and holds something near a conversation. Owners who enjoy an expressive cat tend to warm to this, while those after a bit of quiet may find it a handful.

Trait ratings (1 = low, 5 = high)
Trait	Rating
Affection	5
Energy	5
Trainability	4
Vocalness	5
Shedding	2

Care and grooming

The Oriental Shorthair needs little coat care but plenty of attention, play, and mental stimulation to stay happy.

The short coat keeps grooming simple, but the breed's emotional and physical needs run higher than average. Daily interaction and play matter more than coat upkeep with this cat.

Grooming

Brush or wipe the coat weekly to lift loose hair and keep it glossy
Trim nails every two to three weeks
Check ears regularly and clean gently if needed, given their large size
Brush teeth several times a week to support dental health

Exercise

Give two or more lively play sessions each day with wand toys or chase toys
Offer climbing furniture and a tall cat tree to suit the breed's love of height
Use puzzle feeders and rotating toys to keep the mind busy
Think about a second cat for company when owners are out for long spells

Environment

The Oriental Shorthair is an indoor cat that wants to be part of household life. It needs vertical space, hiding spots, and access to its people. Its short, thin coat gives little insulation, so it prefers warm rooms and will seek out sunny spots and soft bedding.

Nutrition and feeding

Oriental Shorthairs do well on a high-quality, protein-rich cat food fed in measured portions to match their active, lean build.

The Oriental Shorthair is an active cat with a lean frame, so its diet should be built around animal protein and balanced for its life stage. Choose a complete cat food that lists meat or fish as the main ingredient. Measured portions help head off both under-eating in busy kittens and weight gain in less active adults. Fresh water should always be within reach.

General feeding guide
Life stage	Amount per day	Meals
Kitten (2 to 12 months)	Follow label by weight; feed to appetite	3 to 4
Adult (1 to 7 years)	Approx. 50 to 70 g dry or equivalent wet	2
Senior (7+ years)	Adjust to hold weight and activity	2

Treats and supplements

Keep treats to about ten percent of daily calories and count them into the overall portion. A complete, balanced diet usually supplies every nutrient the cat needs, so supplements should be given only on veterinary advice. Dental treats or kibble can help cut down tartar between brushings.

Health and common conditions

The Oriental Shorthair is generally healthy with a lifespan of 12 to 15 years, though it shares some inherited conditions with the Siamese, including certain heart and eye problems.

The Oriental Shorthair is typically a hardy, long-lived cat, with a usual lifespan of 12 to 15 years and often longer with good care. Because it shares ancestry with the Siamese, it can be prone to several of the same inherited conditions. Buying from breeders who screen their cats lowers the risk of these problems being passed on.

Conditions seen in the breed
Condition	Signs	Note
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy	Lethargy, fast or laboured breathing, weakness	A heart-muscle disease; screening helps catch it early
Progressive retinal atrophy	Loss of night vision, bumping into objects	Inherited eye condition leading to gradual sight loss
Amyloidosis	Increased thirst, weight loss, organ dysfunction	Protein deposits affecting organs such as the liver
Dental disease	Bad breath, drooling, reluctance to eat	Common in the breed; managed with regular dental care

Preventive care

Yearly veterinary checkups, with twice-yearly visits for senior cats
Keep vaccinations and parasite prevention up to date
Hold a regular dental routine at home and professional cleaning as advised
Keep an eye on weight and body condition to catch changes early
Ask breeders about heart and eye screening of the parent cats

Training and enrichment

The Oriental Shorthair is clever and food-motivated, which makes it one of the more trainable cat breeds for tricks, recall, and harness walking.

The Oriental Shorthair learns fast and enjoys the mental work that training brings. Many take to clicker training, fetch, and walking on a harness. Because the breed craves attention, training sessions double as bonding time and help work off energy. Keep sessions short and finish on a win to hold the cat's interest.

Basics

Set up the litter tray and scratching posts early and place them in quiet, easy-to-reach spots
Pair a clicker or marker word with a small treat so the cat links the sound to a reward
Start with one simple cue such as sit or come, rewarding each correct response
Build up to tricks like fetch or high-five once the basics are reliable
Introduce a harness indoors before any outdoor walks, letting the cat settle at its own pace

Breeding and raising kittens

Oriental Shorthairs reach maturity by around one year, carry litters for roughly nine weeks, and typically produce four to six kittens that gain from early handling.

Oriental Shorthairs reach sexual maturity at around five to ten months, though responsible breeders hold off until cats are physically and mentally mature, usually at least one year, before mating. Queens carry their litters for about 63 to 67 days. Litters commonly hold four to six kittens, in line with the Siamese family.

Kittens are born with the body type fully there but develop their adult colour and structure over the first months. Early, gentle handling supports the breed's sociable temperament and helps kittens grow into confident adults. Kittens usually stay with the mother until about 12 to 14 weeks so they can finish weaning and pick up social behaviour from littermates.

Breeding is best left to knowledgeable breeders who screen for the heart and eye conditions seen in the line and who can provide proper care for queen and litter.

Breeding facts
Metric	Value
Sexual maturity	5 to 10 months
Recommended breeding age	From about 12 months
Gestation	63 to 67 days
Average litter size	4 to 6 kittens
Weaning age	About 6 to 8 weeks
Leave for new home	12 to 14 weeks

Your Oriental Shorthair registered and chipped, sorted for good

No law covers cat chips in Ireland, which makes a free United Pet Club record the only thing standing behind your Oriental Shorthair's number.

Registering an Oriental Shorthair in Ireland

An ISPCA branch or a vet scanning a found Oriental Shorthair gets exactly as far as her record allows. Give the scan somewhere to land: a free profile with your name, your number, and her photo. Register your cat once and it holds for good.

The fifteen digits on your Oriental Shorthair's vet paperwork want a registry. United Pet Club lodges them free, keeps them current through every move, and leaves the record findable whenever a scanner asks. Microchip registration plus a free account: both sorted in one cup of tea.

How do I register my Oriental Shorthair in Ireland?

Open a free United Pet Club account, put in her name, colouring, and a photo, and save the profile. It stays live for the whole of her life at no cost, and a chip is not needed to begin.

How do I register my Oriental Shorthair's microchip?

Lodge the fifteen digit number from the vet's paperwork in your free account with your current contact details. The lifetime plan never asks for a penny, not for the record and not for updates.

Do cats have to be chipped in Ireland?

No, the 2015 chipping law covers dogs only. That is exactly why a registered chip matters for an Oriental Shorthair: without your record, there is nothing at all connecting her number to your phone.

What does it cost to register an Oriental Shorthair?

Nothing whatsoever. United Pet Club's lifetime plan takes care of the profile, the chip record, and every amendment, free for the whole of her life.

Frequently asked questions

Common questions about the Oriental Shorthair cover its size, temperament, care needs, lifespan, suitability, and availability.

How big does an Oriental Shorthair get?

It is a medium-sized cat, usually weighing 3 to 5 kg, with a long, slender body that can make it look larger than its weight suggests.

Are Oriental Shorthairs affectionate?

Yes. They are among the most people-oriented cat breeds, bonding closely with their owners and looking for constant company and attention.

Are they hard to care for?

Coat care is easy thanks to the short fur, but the breed needs daily play, mental stimulation, and company, so the main effort is attention rather than grooming.

How long do Oriental Shorthairs live?

Most live 12 to 15 years, and many reach older ages with good diet, dental care, and regular veterinary checkups.

Is the Oriental Shorthair a good family cat?

Yes, for households that can give it attention. It is friendly with family and visitors and usually gets on with other cats and cat-friendly dogs.

Are they very vocal?

Yes. Like the Siamese, the Oriental Shorthair talks often and loudly, which suits owners who want an expressive cat but may not suit those after a bit of quiet.

Where can I find an Oriental Shorthair?

They are available through registered breeders of the breed, and Oriental Shorthairs and their crosses sometimes turn up in breed-specific rescues and shelters.