Oriental Shorthair
The Oriental Shorthair is a breed of domestic cat that is developed from and closely related to the Siamese cat. It maintains the modern Siamese head and body type but appears in a wide range of coat colours and patterns. Like the Siamese, Orientals have almond-shaped eyes, a triangular head shape, large ears, and an elongated, slender, and muscular body. Unlike the breed's blue-eyed Siamese forebear, Orientals are usually green-eyed. In 1977 the Oriental Shorthair was accepted by the Cat Fanciers' Association (CFA) for championship competition. Since 1997, it has also received recognition from the Governing Council of the Cat Fancy (GCCF) and various other cat breeding organisations. The breed is among the most popular among CFA members. The Oriental Longhair breed differs only with respect to coat length.
| Origin | Thailand |
| Life Span | 12-15 years |
| Weight | 4-5 kg |
What to Know Before Buying an Oriental Shorthair
Finding a responsible Oriental Shorthair breeder requires more than browsing classified ads or responding to social media posts. The USDA requires any breeder who sells cats commercially — especially those selling online or through third-party dealers — to hold a federal license and submit to regular inspections. A legitimate breeder should be willing to provide their USDA license number, invite you to visit their facility, and show you where the animals are housed and socialized.
Before committing to a purchase, ask the breeder for veterinary health records, vaccination documentation, and any genetic testing results relevant to the Oriental Shorthair. Reputable breeders will also ask you questions in return — about your living situation, experience with animals, and ability to provide long-term care. A breeder who asks no questions and is eager to ship an animal immediately is a significant red flag.
Use the search tool below to check whether any USDA-licensed facilities breeding Oriental Shorthairs appear in our database. If they do, review their inspection history carefully. Look for patterns of violations, pay attention to severity levels, and compare their compliance grade with other breeders in the same state. This due diligence takes minutes and can save you from supporting a facility with documented animal welfare problems.
Looking for an Oriental Shorthair breeder?
Search our database of USDA-licensed facilities to find inspected breeders and check their compliance history.
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