Oriental Shorthair
This page is educational reference material for preparing questions. A licensed veterinarian examines the animal, makes the diagnosis, and sets the treatment.
Quick Facts
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Size | Medium (6-12 lbs) |
| Lifespan | 12-15 years |
| Temperament | Social, Vocal, Intelligent |
| Shedding | Low |
| Activity Level | Very High |
| Vocalization | Very High |
| Good with Kids | Excellent |
| Good with Other Pets | Excellent |
| Grooming Needs | Low |
| Intelligence | Very High |
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A loud, elegant, people-shaped cat
Oriental shorthairs weigh about 6 to 12 pounds and often live 12 to 15 years. The body is tubular, the ears are large, and the activity is very high. They want to be on you, in your bag, and in the conversation. A household that is gone from breakfast to dinner needs a second pet or a different breed.
They are usually excellent with people and with other pets that can match the pace. Children who like a chatty animal do well. The coat is short and the shed is low. Dental disease is not low. Look in the mouth.
Amyloid, teeth, and a heart
Hepatic amyloidosis, dental disease, and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy are the serious list. Crossed eyes and a kinked tail show up in the related Siamese history and are not a health plan. Merck covers hepatic amyloidosis. A sudden collapse or a pale gum is an emergency. A slower hunger strike is the not-eating guide.
Oriental shorthair questions
Will an Oriental be quiet?
No. Vocalization is very high. They talk, they yell at closed doors, and they expect an answer. A studio apartment with thin walls needs a neighbor who likes cats.
Are they Siamese?
They share the body and the voice. Siamese are the pointed cats. Orientals come in many colors without that restriction. The care is nearly the same. The paperwork is not.
Do they get liver amyloidosis?
It shows up in Siamese-related breeds. Sudden bleeding or a collapse in a young oriental cat is an emergency. There is no home remedy that replaces a clinic.
Decision Guides for Oriental Shorthair
A wide color range on a Siamese body
The Oriental shorthair puts a wide Cat Fanciers' Association color range, including solid, tabby, and bicolor, on the Siamese body type. Adults weigh about 6 to 12 pounds, often live 12 to 15 years, and talk through the day. Hepatic amyloidosis is the liver disease the Merck Veterinary Manual describes in this related family. A young cat that collapses, or that bleeds suddenly, is a same-day emergency. Dental disease and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy stay on the yearly list for a cat this lean and this loud. A house that is empty from breakfast to dinner is a rough match unless a second pet shares the afternoon.