Oriental Shorthair Cats

ORIENTAL CATS

Cats which have the same characteristics as Siamese cats but whose color is not limited to the points, are accepted and known as Oriental by certain associations.
In general, the Oriental is identical to the Siamese in every aspect, except that its color is not just limited to the points and it doesn’t have blue eyes. Its sounds are softer than those of a Siamese but it is as talkative. Oriental cats have been around for many years but became popular in the early 1960’s when a few amateurs began breeding them in a variety of colors; some specialized in one or two color types or patterns but each carefully selected their subjects so that their cats may be handsome, strong and resistant with a gentle temperament.

Some Orientals were produced thanks to a red Siamese, tortoise, tabby and pointed lynx program, while others were developed following rigorous genetic research.
A light brown gene was acknowledged, giving birth to a new color series of magnificent felines and a pure white oriental which was actually a Siamese with white point tips, enchanting visitors at expositions with its sapphire colored eyes. The GFFC, in England, designated one-colored Siamese cats as ‘’Foreign’’ type: henceforth called White Foreign, Black Foreign, Blue Foreign, Lilac Foreign, and so on; however, Chocolate Foreign, the name given to the maroon brown Foreign in the 1950’s was named the ‘Havana‘.

The European FIF and its English affiliate the Cat Association of Britain, acknowledged the whole group as oriental, as did the American Association, CFA.
Color terminology is also varied: black is known as ebony; chocolate, maroon; lilac, lavender and there is some controversy with the cinnamon, caramel and fawn colors