The Scratching Post
Oriental Shorthair
The Oriental Shorthair has the same delicate and graceful quality of a Siamese, but comes in a variety of more than 300 exotic colors. The Oriental Shorthair is a Siamese without a pointed pattern. The medium-sized body is long and svelte. The head is long, tapers to a wedge and is in good proportion to the body. The eyes are almond-shaped, medium in size and are either blue, green or odd-eyed (a cat with eyes that are two different colors). The neck is slender. The ears are strikingly large, pointed and wide at the base. The legs are long, thin and in good proportion to the body. The hind legs are higher than the front legs. The paws are small, dainty and oval. The tail is tapered and long, with no kinks. The breed?s coat is fine, short, soft, satin-like and lies close to the body. The Longhair of this breed has a medium length, fine, silky coat with no downy undercoat. The hair is the longest on the tail which spreads out like a plume.
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Temperament
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Orientals are not for the cat lover who loves peace and quiet. They are very active and agile cats. These natural entertainers' athletic antics will keep you entertained for hours. If you want to keep your Oriental Shorthair(OSH) from swinging from the drapes or tap dancing on the top of a bookcase, a tall cat tree is necessary. They are the epitome of the interactive. They are highly intelligent, curious and mischievous when left alone too long. OSH craves your attention and will usually bond with one person and become completely dedicated to them. They love to cuddle and sit in your lap. They can also be comfortable with using a leash and collar.
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Weight
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Male 7-10 lbs. ; Female 5-8 lbs.
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Health Problems
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Oriental Shorthair are prone to tartar formation, plaque buildup and gingivitis. The gingivitis can lead to periodontitis which can cause tooth loss. Hereditary liver amyloidosis has been found in some lines.
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Living Conditions
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The Oriental Shorthair is not the breed for those who work all day and who have an active night life. OSH are deeply dependent on their preferred person and will become unhappy or even depressed if left alone for too long.
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Exercise
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Your Oriental Shorthair cat will enjoy regular play sessions. You should provide them with the physical exercise and mental stimulation they need, as well as strengthen the bond you share. Make sure you set aside time to play with your Oriental Shorthair cat as they do need exercise.
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Life Expectancy
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About 12-15 years
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Grooming
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The Oriental Shorthair's coat needs little grooming. Brushing once a week will give you the opportunity to check for developing health problems as well as giving your pet the attention that this breed craves.
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Origin
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Today's Oriental Shorthair is not a direct import from Thailand, but rather a Siamese hybrid. The breed's creation was deliberate and planned. Breeders wanted a cat similar to the Siamese but in a wider range of colors and patterns. In the 1950s, British breeders crossed Siamese cats with domestic shorthairs and Russian Blues. In the late 1960s, American breeders were excited by the British success and crossed Siamese, domestic shorthairs and Abyssinians to create new colors. The sleek, lean body style of the Siamese was not sacrificed for color and pattern, and by crossing back to the Siamese the breeders preserved the body type and personality traits of the Siamese. The Oriental Shorthair was accepted for championship status in 1977. In 1995, the Oriental Longhair was accepted.
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