If you’re one of those folks who love cats that REALLY love people, then we might just have the perfect cat for you, the Oriental cat.
And while…
You may not have ever heard of an Oriental cat before, we can assure you that you’re probably very familiar with his or her parents. You see, the Oriental cat isn’t actually from the Orient at all.
Instead…
This little “gem” is actual the product of American cat breeders combining the Siamese breed with other cat breeds such as the American Shorthaired and the Abyssinian cat breed (among others).
And what they…
Created was something that we here at IndulgeYourPet find to be completely adorable. But that doesn’t mean that this particular cat breed is going to be “right” for everyone.
Which is why…
We wanted to take a moment and discuss what it might be like to actually own one of these little guys so that if you ever have the chance to actually adopt one, you’ll know for sure it that’s the right move for you.
So, without further ado, let’s dive right in.
Oriental Cat Breed Fast Facts
Country of Origin: United States of America
Size: Medium
Weight: 7 to 9 pounds
Eyes: Almond shaped (green, blue or mixed)
Head Shape: Triangular
Lifespan: 10 to 15 years
Origin of the Oriental cat breed
Despite the fact that the Oriental cat breed has somewhat of an “ancient” look about it, this breed is actually a relatively new one that only dates back to the late 1960’s.
It was during this time…
That several cat breeders in the United States decided to essentially try and “remake” the Siamese cat buy infusing new genetic material into the breed. They accomplished this by cross breeding the Siamese breed with other cat breeds including the:
- American Shorthair,
- British Shorthair,
- Russian Blues,
- And Abyssinian cat bred.
And what they got…
Was a breed that is very similar to the Siamese cat breed with less of the common health conditions that can often affect the Siamese breed.
And while the…
The Cat Fanciers Association chose to “officially” recognize the Oriental cat breed in the mid1970’s, many other organizations have yet to follow suit. This is why, the Oriental cat breed will still sometimes be considered a “subset” of the Siamese breed. Which doesn’t bother us here at IndulgeYourPet all that much because we’re big fans of both breeds!
Physical characteristics of the Oriental cat breed
Orientals have very lean muscular bodies with long slim legs. They also “seem” to have an appearance of always being in motion which is definitely accentuated by the fat that their hind legs are actually longer than their front ones.
They also…
Seem to have a general “aerodynamic” feel to them, since there really isn’t a round or square part of their body. Everything seems to be “triangular” or “wedge-shaped” including their head, and their almond shaped eyes.
Now their eye colors…
Will be linked to the color of their coat which can be:
- Solid,
- Shaded,
- Part-color,
- Bi-color,
- Or Tabby.
Depending on which “kind” of Oriental cat you decide to adopt will dictate whether your cat has blue, green or mixed colored eyes.
But probably…
Their most distinguishable feature is their large ears. They’re pointed and look like triangles, which makes their head look even more triangular than it actually is. But don’t get us wrong, all these “angles” seem to work on this guy, because when you combine all of these rather “unique” features, they actually turn out quite handsome.
And like Siamese cats…
You’ll find that Oriental cats also have small oval paws and very thin tails.
And…
If you run your hand through their coat, it’s soft, and feels as though you’re running your hand through silk. Which is really impressive when you’re petting a long-haired variety because these guys are really impressive.
Oriental cat temperament and personality
The Oriental is one of the most opinionated cats out there. They love to purr and “speak”. And they don’t hesitate to meow to get your attention.
They’ll use their talkativeness…
To keep you entertained and hold your attention. Their voices are loud and raspy, so if you don’t want a cat that “talks” a lot, then you shouldn’t get this breed. But it’s tough to not like these little guys no matter how loud they can be.
You see…
They love their owners deeply. They’re loyal cats, and they’ll follow you around just about anywhere. They love to follow you from room to room and help you out around the house. (By talking of course.)
Really though…
They’ll love you deeply. Orientals like to cuddle, and they’ll gladly snuggle up beside you or sit on your lap after a long day at work. They love to keep you company as much as you love to be around them.
But…
Because they’re such demanding cats that thrive off of your attention, it’s best not to leave them alone for too long. If you work from 9 to 5, and you don’t have anyone who can watch them, you should get a pet sitter or another pet! This way they won’t go crazy.
They also…
Love to play. They’re smart, like every other cat, and they love toys that will challenge them and make them think. They’ll learn how to open your cabinets and knock down a snack, and or go through your bedroom drawers to see what they can find.
They get bored easily, so have lots of toys for them or they’ll get a valuable item or anything that you just don’t want them to be playing with. If they’re not playing with toys, then they’re jumping and climbing on anything that will allow them to keep an eye on you.
This is why…
We love to recommend this breed to families who have children. Because this way, by adopting an Oriental cat, you get a great cat and a great baby sitter because there is nothing in this world your Oriental cat would like to do more than to spend hours and hours playing with a small child!
Orient cat health issues
As a general rule of thumb, it’s fair to say that the Oriental cat breed is a pretty health breed. Which means that they are generally not at an increase risk for developing any particular hereditary disease commonly found in some pedigree cat breeds.
Which is great!
But it’s important to understand that while the Oriental cat breed may not be “prone” to certain hereditary diseases, this does not mean that they “can’t” get sick or injured.
This is why…
We here at IndulgeYourPet also encourage anyone that is currently considering adopting a new pet to take a moment and see just how much it might cost to purchase a pet insurance policy on that new pet.
This way…
If your new family member does become sick or injured you won’t be burdened with the full cost of their care on your own! For more information on what a pet insurance policy might cost you, feel free to check out our Best Pet Insurance Companies article.
