Did You Know the Oriental Has a Wonderful Personality?
The Oriental is an offshoot of the Siamese, but his coat, which can be long or short, doesn’t have points. It comes in more than 300 colors and patterns, giving rise to the nickname Ornamental.
A number of cat breeds have been created using the Siamese as a base and crossing him with other breeds to bring in desired traits, such as new colors, patterns or hair lengths. The Oriental is one such hybrid, created through crosses with American and British Shorthairs, Abyssinians, Russian Blues and domestic cats. He’s described as a nonpointed Siamese, meaning that his color or pattern covers his entire body, not just the face, ears, legs and tail.
The Oriental, who can be shorthaired or longhaired, is found in hundreds of combinations of colors and patterns. Just imagine a shorthaired ebony ticked torbie or a longhaired blue mackerel tabby and you will get an idea of his variety. Unlike the Siamese, the Oriental has green eyes, although white Orientals may have blue, green or odd eyes. In all other respects, the Oriental resembles the Siamese, with the same svelte, muscular body, wedge-shaped head, and large, triangular ears.
The Oriental has the same wonderful personality as the Siamese: chatty, curious, smart and loving. Like the Siamese, the Oriental has a distinctive voice and will “talk” to you about anything and everything. This is a cat who has a passion for his people and will involve himself in everything they are doing.
Orientals become extremely attached to their humans, so be prepared for a lifetime commitment. It can be very difficult for these cats to adjust to the loss of their family or favorite person. For that reason, it’s an excellent idea to socialize your Oriental kitten thoroughly to help ensure that he is familiar with lots of other people and going to new and different places. Your efforts may help prevent him from reacting negatively if he must be hospitalized, boarded or visited by a pet sitter.
When you are not available to entertain him, an Oriental will divert himself by jumping on top of the refrigerator, opening drawers, seeking out new hideaways to frustrate anyone who might be searching for him, and watching television with clear interest. He can learn to walk on leash, plays fetch with enthusiasm and is usually amenable to living with children, dogs and other cats.
If you appreciate his sculptural looks and want someone who will express endless interest in you, he may be just the cat you’ve been looking for. Keep him indoors to protect him from cars, diseases spread by other cats and attacks from other animals.
Other Quick Facts About the Oriental
Orientals become highly attached to their people, so it’s important to socialize them from an early age.
Orientals are active and athletic, chatty and curious.
