| Oriental Shorthairs, a synthesis of Siamese symmetry and kaleidoscope
color, can be eagerly demonstrative and silly, as well as sinuous and
sensuous. Their emerald eyes can gleam with wit, flash with arrogance:
unless it is its Siamese half-sibling, there is nothing quite as
arrogant staring disdainfully down its nose at a despicable object.
No-frills cat food? Never! Orientals are not so much picky, as choosy.
This same cat can droop with despair if you ignore its hopeful
advances. Orientals are ardently attached to their people, often
establishing a one-on-one relationship. As hosts and hostesses, they
are just as charming and adept as Siamese: but they would rather be
with you ALONE.
Though only medium size, Orientals give the impression of being larger
than life. Large, flared ears, set almost on the sides of a long,
triangular head; swanlike neck; elongated, tubular body with protracted
muscle practically exploding through the tight coat; legs like stilts:
this is superstar impact Oriental style! Strangers to your home are
not quite sure if this cat belongs on a pedestal, or on the couch.
But the Oriental knows. Thrust under your chin when you're trying to
read or molded around your head like an extra pillow when you go to be;
Orientals share body warmth, and strength of character! Their innate
sensibility verges on psychic. Once communication is established,
you'll never need an alarm clock, or wonder where the cat is when you
arrive home from work. Your Oriental will give you a corrugated
facewash on a daily schedule; and greet you at the door bursting with
the news of the day.
The day of the Orienta Shorthair was a long time coming. Fraternal
twin to the Colorpoint Shorthair (Colorpoints are the "pointed"
version), the breed was not developed until later. English cat
fanciers played with the idea of producing full-color Siamese --
Siamese conformation displayed in solid colors, toroiseshell, tabby,
ticked, shaded, smoke, parti-color, and any combination thereof -- as
early as 1950. Not until 1968, however, did American breeders welcome
the breed. Evolving from the basic Siamese/domestic
shorthair/Abyssinian hybrid crosses, the breed promised endless
potential -- and the same problem encountered by the Colorpoints:
Siamese breeders were just as reluctant to credit another variation on
the theme. The Colorpoints, however, had run the first gauntlet, and
broken some of the opposition. The Orientals hurdled the remaining
obstacles in their wake. In 1972, the breed was accepted for
registration. Five years later they moved into their first CFA
Championship season. The rest is history. As quickly as breeders
could interview prospective owners, Orientals began their reign in the
homes of the breed's connoisseurs. The Oriental's sophisticated
aesthetic appeal is not for everone, but for those who would love a
Siamese in a choice of many colors, the Oriental wins paws down.
The Oriental's fragility is an illusion. Suprising strength is
disguised by their slender elegance. Easy to care for as long as you
respect its whims, it is a practical pet. A weekly brushing and
nail-clipping are easily accomplished, thanks to their trusting
compliance. Bathing is rarely requisite, unless you plan t show the
cat; or if it gets into something really icky. The coat and body tone
will reflect healthy sustenance. Keep an eye on an Oriental's weight:
metabolism can vary drastically. Your cat's breeder, who is most
familiar with its bloodlines, can best advise you. Your cat's diet is
vital to its health, and your welfare!
Pricing on Oriental Shorthairs, usually depends on each individual
kitten's bloodlines, type and markings. Many breeders allow pickup of
new kittens between twelve and sixteen weeks of age. Shipping by air
is available for older kittens.
There are several CFA clubs devoted to promoting, protecting and
preserving the Oriental Shorthair breed. For more informaiton, please
send inquiries to: CFA, P.O. Box 1005, Manasquan, NJ 08736-1005.
taken from the CFA's Breed Profile.
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| POINT SCORE
HEAD (20)
Long, flat Profile..................6
Wedge, fine muzzle, size............5
Ears................................4
Chin................................3
Width between eyes..................2
EYES (10)
Shape, size, slant, and placement...10
BODY (30)
Structure and size, including neck..12
Muscle tone.........................10
Legs and Feet.......................5
Tail................................3
COAT................................10
COLOR (30)
Coat color (color 10; pattern 10)...20
Eye color...........................10
General: the ideal Oriental Shorthair is a svelte cat with long,
tapering lines, very lithe but muscular. Excellent physical condition.
Eyes clear. Strong and lithe, neither bony nor flabby.
HEAD: long tapering wedge, in good proportion to body. The total wedge
starts at the nose and flares out in straight lines to the tips of the
ears forming a triangle, with no break at the whiskers. No less than
the width of an eye between the eyes. When the whiskers are smoothed
back, the underlying bone structure is apparent. Allowance must be
made for jowls in the stud cat.
SKULL: flat. In profile, a long straight line is seen from the top of
the head to the tip of the nose. No bulger over eyes. No dip in nose.
NOSE: long and straight. A continuation of the forehead with no break.
MUZZLE: fine, wedge-shaped.
CHIN & JAW: medium size. Tip of chin lines up with tip of nose in the
same verical plane. Neither receding nor excessively massive.
EARS: strikingly large, pointed, wide at the base, continuing the lines
of the wedge.
EYES: almond shaped, medium size. Neither protruding nor recessed.
Slanted towards the nose in harmony with lines of wedge and ears.
Uncrossed.
BODY: long and svelte. A distinctive combination of fine bones and
firm muscles. Shoulders and hips continue the same sleek lines of
tubular body. Hips never wider than shoulders. Abdomen tight. Males
may be somewhat larger than females.
NECK: long and slender.
LEGS: long and slim. Hind legs higher than front. In good proportion
to body.
PAWS: dainty, small, and oval. Toes: five in front and four behind.
TAIL: long, thin at the base, and tapering to a fine point.
COAT: short, fine textured, glossy, lying close to the body.
COAT COLOR: the Oriental Shorthair's reason for being is the coat color
whether it is solid or tabby patterned. In the solid color cat, the
coat color should be of uniform density and color from the tip to the
root of each hair and from the nose to the tail. The full coat color
score (20) should be used to assess the quality and the correctness of
the color. In the tabby patterned cat, the quality of the pattern is
an essential part of the cat. The pattern should match the description
for the particular pattern and be well defined. The pattern should be
viewed while the cat is in a natural standing position. Ten points are
alloted to the correctness of the color; it matches the color
description. The division of points for coat color applies only t the
Tabby Colors Class.
PENALIZE: crossed eyes. Palpable and/or visible protrusion of the
cartilege at the end of the sternum.
DISQUALIFY: any evidence of illness or poor health. Weak hind legs.
Mouth breathing due to nasal obstruction or poor occlusion.
Emaciation. Visible kink. Miniaturization. Lockets and buttons.
Incorrect number of toes.
EYE COLOR: green. White Orientals may have blue, green or odd-eyed eye
color.
COLORS: blue, chestnut, cinnamon, cream, ebony, fawn, lavendar, red,
white, blue-cream silver, blue silver, cameo, dilute cameo, chestnut
silver, chestnut-tortie silver, cinnamon silver, cinnamon-tortie
silver, ebony silver, fawn silver, lavendar-cream silver, lavendar
silver, tortoishell silver, blue smoke, cameo smoke, chestnut smoke,
cinnamon smoke, dilute cameo smoke, ebony smoke, fawn smoke, lavendar
smoke, parti-color smoke, classic tabby pattern, mackerel tabby
pattern, spotted tabby pattern, patched tabby pattern, blue silver
tabby, blue tabby, cameo tabby, dilute cameo tabby, cinnamon silver
tabby, cinnamon tabby, chestnut silver tabby, chestnut tabby, cream
tabby, ebony tabby, fawn tabby, fawn silver tabby, lavendar silver
tabby,lavendar tabby, red tabby, silver tabby, blue-cream, cinnamon
tortoishell, chestnut-toroiseshell, fawn-cream, lavendar-cream, and
ebony tortoiseshell.
printed from the CFA Breed Profile
sorry for any typos!
Karen
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