Oriental Shorthair

According to the CFA, "Orientals represent a diverse group of cats that have their foundation in the Siamese breed." and at Patricia White's. These were based on solid-coloured cats with the oriental-type body of a Siamese, bred by Baroness von Ullmann over the 1950s. An "Oriental Shorthairs International" was formed in 1973, ==Breed recognition==

The Oriental Shorthair was accepted as an actual breed for championship competition in the US-headquartered CFA in 1977. Two decades later, in 1997, the breed was also recognised by the UK-based GCCF, but with some differences from CFA on coat conformation. Havana brown and Foreign White In some of the cat registries, the solid chocolate variety is referred to as the Havana Brown. Solid white cats are sometimes recognised as Foreign White. Colourpoint In the Cat Fanciers' Association (CFA), some of the point-coloured offspring from Oriental Shorthair parents are considered "any other variety" (AOV), but depending on the pedigree, some may compete as Colourpoints. In The International Cat Association (TICA) and many other cat fancier and breeder associations, these cats are considered to be, and compete as, Siamese, when recognised at all. Longhair The long-haired version of the breed, the Oriental Longhair, is recognised since 1995 by CFA. It differs from its shorthaired counterpart by carrying a pair of the recessive long hair genes. == Characteristics ==

Body The Oriental Shorthair is a member of the oriental family of breeds, which are related to the modern-style Siamese, and can be found in various colours and patterns, such as solid or tabby, Not all variants are acceptable to all organisations that recognise the breed. Conforming Oriental Shorthairs, like any of the Siamese type, have almond-shaped eyes and a wedge-shaped head with large ears. Their bodies are typically "sleek" but muscular. Coat colouration Under recognised breed standards, more than 300 coat colour and pattern combinations are theoretically possible, although permitted colourations differ between registries. These coat combinations are derived from one or more of the following base colours and patterns: They often remain playful into adulthood, with many enjoying playing fetch. Despite their slender appearance, they are athletic and can leap into high places. They prefer to live in pairs or groups and also seek human interaction. == See also ==