Oriental Shorthair
A sleek, large-eared relative of the Siamese bred in a huge range of colours, the Oriental Shorthair is intelligent, vocal and intensely social. It bonds hard and 'talks' constantly. It suits owners who want a deeply interactive, lively companion and won't leave it alone for long — an Oriental left bored and lonely becomes noisy and unhappy.
Picked for an Oriental Shorthair
More picks ↓
Palm Tree Cat Scratching Post with Sisal Ball, 45cm
A 45cm sisal scratching post dressed as a palm tree, with a sisal scratching ball beside it and ball tracks set into the wooden base.
£22.99
Mushroom Cat Scratching Post with Ball Track and Feather
Two sisal scratching posts, one shaped like a mushroom, on a wooden base with a two-level ball track, hanging pom-poms and a feather on a spring.
£25.99
L-Shaped Cardboard Cat Scratcher with Ball Track, 58cm
An L-shaped scratcher with a 58cm upright cardboard panel, a flat cardboard base to stand or lie on, and two tracks with bell balls between them.
£20.99
140cm Cat Tree Tower with Condo, Hammock and Ladder, Grey
A 139cm grey cat tree with an enclosed condo, a hammock, a top lookout perch, a ladder and sisal-wrapped posts, on a 50 x 35cm base.
£49.99
Overview
A sleek, large-eared relative of the Siamese bred in a huge range of colours, the Oriental Shorthair is intelligent, vocal and intensely social. It bonds hard and 'talks' constantly. It suits owners who want a deeply interactive, lively companion and won't leave it alone for long — an Oriental left bored and lonely becomes noisy and unhappy.
Good to know — a Oriental Shorthair is devoted lap cat and needs constant company. Every cat is an individual, so meet a few and chat to a good breeder or rescue before deciding.
Temperament & family fit
In general, a Oriental Shorthair is devoted lap cat and good with children. They tend to be extremely talkative and needs constant company. As with any cat, give them space to retreat, teach children to handle them gently, and introduce them to a new home calmly.
- Families with respectful children
- People who want a cuddly companion
- Homes where someone is around often
Energy & play
A Oriental Shorthair is generally high energy. They need plenty of daily play, climbing and enrichment — wand toys, puzzle feeders and tall cat trees help burn off that energy and prevent boredom.
Grooming & coat
Coat upkeep is wash-and-go and shedding is low. The coat is generally easy to care for; an occasional brush keeps it tidy and cuts down loose hair. All cats benefit from regular nail checks and a clean, quiet place to groom themselves.
Cat grooming brushes for this coat →Feeding a Oriental Shorthair
Cats are obligate carnivores, so a Oriental Shorthair should get most of its nutrition from a complete, balanced cat food appropriate for its life stage — this provides essential nutrients like taurine that cats can only get from animal products. Portion to your cat’s ideal body weight and activity to avoid weight gain, and provide plenty of fresh water. Treats should make up no more than about 10% of daily calories.
A complete cat food, first
Cats are obligate carnivores and need nutrients — taurine among them — that they cannot make for themselves, which is what "complete" on a label means and why it is not optional. Treats should stay under about 10% of the day's calories.
An active cat
Oriental Shorthairs are high-energy and do better on several small meals than one big one — cats are grazers by design. A puzzle feeder or a portion hidden around the room turns eating back into hunting.
Water intake is the thing to watch
Cats evolved to take most of their water from prey and are not naturally big drinkers, so wet food does real work here. A fountain or a second bowl away from the food helps too.
Complete cat foods that suit a Oriental Shorthair
Complete foods from our range, matched to a Oriental Shorthair and what the breed typically needs. Stock levels and delivery dates are live on each product.
Whiskas 1+ Salmon Adult Dry Cat Food
Complete salmon dry food for adult cats in a practical 1.9KG bag
£12.39
Whiskas Kitten Chicken Dry Cat Food
Complete chicken dry food for kittens, available in several bag sizes
From£3.19
Felix as Good as It Looks Meaty Selection in Jelly
Twelve 85G pouches of chunks in jelly, in a selection built for a cat who changes its mind
£5.79
James Wellbeloved Grain Free Adult Dry Cat Food Turkey
A grain-free turkey dry food for adult cats, with potato rather than rice or wheat for carbohydrate
£24.65
James Wellbeloved Kitten Dry Cat Food Fish
Single-protein fish dry food for growing kittens, excluding common allergens
£21.79
James Wellbeloved Senior Dry Cat Food Turkey
A single-source turkey dry food for senior cats, formulated with added joint-care ingredients
From£21.79
James Wellbeloved Light Adult Dry Cat Food Fish
A lower-calorie fish dry food for adult cats managing their weight, with joint-support ingredients
£24.65
Whiskas 1+ Lamb Adult Dry Cat Food
Complete lamb dry food for adult cats in a practical 1.9KG bag
£12.39
Bella & Duke Cat Complete Chicken
A complete raw chicken meal for kittens, adult and senior cats, 98% chicken. Frozen 250g tub.
£3.65
James Wellbeloved Hairball Adult Dry Cat Food Turkey
Single-protein turkey dry food for cats, with natural fibres to reduce hairballs
£24.65
James Wellbeloved Kitten Dry Cat Food Turkey
A single-source turkey dry food for growing kittens, with rice for carbohydrate rather than wheat
£21.79
Purina One Kitten Chicken
Chicken kitten food with added DHA, and a feeding guide from 6 weeks to a year
From£6.65
Pros & cons
The good bits
- Devoted and interactive, forming an exceptionally close bond with its owner
- Sleek coat is wash-and-go with almost no grooming needed
Things to consider
- Very vocal and opinionated — it will let you know how it feels
- Strongly dislikes being alone and needs lots of company and play
Similar breeds
Maine Coon
One of the largest domestic breeds — a gentle giant that is sociable, intelligent and known for soft chirps and trills.
View breed guide →Siamese
A sleek, intelligent and intensely people-focused breed that is famously talkative and forms strong bonds.
View breed guide →Sphynx
A hairless, warm-skinned and famously affectionate breed that is sociable, attention-seeking and full of character.
View breed guide →Russian Blue
A reserved, elegant breed with a dense blue-grey coat — devoted to its own people but quiet and a little shy with strangers.
View breed guide →Frequently asked questions
What is an Oriental Shorthair cat?
The Oriental Shorthair is a slender, fine-boned cat closely related to the Siamese, sharing its elegant build, large flared ears and long tapering body. The key difference is colour: rather than the Siamese's pointed pattern, Orientals come in a huge range of solid colours, shades and patterns, often called the 'rainbow' cat.
Is the Oriental Shorthair related to the Siamese?
Yes. The Oriental Shorthair was developed from the Siamese and shares the same body type, voice and temperament. Essentially it is a Siamese in different coat colours and patterns. The two breeds are often bred together, and Oriental litters can sometimes produce pointed (Siamese-style) kittens.
What is the Oriental Shorthair's personality like?
Orientals are highly intelligent, sociable and deeply attached to their people. They are talkative, demanding of attention and dislike being left alone for long. Playful and curious well into adulthood, they thrive on interaction, climbing and games, and often follow their owners from room to room like a small shadow.
How big do Oriental Shorthairs get?
Orientals are a medium-sized but light, athletic cat. Most adults weigh roughly 3.5 to 5.5kg, with males typically larger than females. Despite their slim, leggy appearance they are surprisingly muscular and feel firm and solid when handled.
Do Oriental Shorthairs shed a lot?
No. Their short, fine, close-lying coat sheds relatively little and needs minimal grooming, usually just an occasional stroke with a soft brush or grooming glove. They are low-maintenance on coat care, though no cat is truly hypoallergenic.
Are Oriental Shorthairs good with children and other pets?
Generally yes. They are friendly, people-oriented cats that usually enjoy company, including respectful children and other cats or cat-friendly dogs. As a social breed they often do best with a companion, especially in homes where people are out during the day.
How long do Oriental Shorthairs live?
With good care, Orientals commonly live into their early-to-mid teens and often beyond, similar to the Siamese. Like that breed they can be prone to certain inherited conditions, so buying from a breeder who health-tests their cats and providing regular veterinary care helps support a long life.
Are Oriental Shorthairs good with children?
Good with children. As a general guide they are tolerant and sociable in a family home. Always teach children to handle cats gently and give the cat space to retreat.
Are Oriental Shorthairs affectionate?
Devoted lap cat. Oriental Shorthairs typically love close company and lap time.
Are Oriental Shorthairs vocal?
Extremely talkative. They like to "talk" and will often let you know how they feel.
How much grooming does an Oriental Shorthair need?
Wash-and-go; shedding is low. The coat is generally easy to care for with the occasional brush.
Can Oriental Shorthairs be left alone?
Needs constant company. They strongly prefer company and can become stressed or lonely if left for long periods — a feline companion or a less empty house suits them better.
Are Oriental Shorthairs energetic or playful?
High energy. They need plenty of daily play, climbing and enrichment to stay happy.
Recommended for your Oriental Shorthair
Picked for an Oriental Shorthair — with their typical need for fresh-water options, a cosy bed, scratching posts.
Cat Face Cardboard Accordion Scratcher Toy with Bell Ball
A small corrugated cardboard scratcher that stretches like an accordion into a tunnel or a ring, with a cat face on each end and a bell ball to chase.
£9.99
Scratch & Play Cat Set
A mushroom scratching post with ball track and feather plus an L-shaped cardboard scratcher with its own ball track.
£42.49
Scratch Post & Lounger
A palm-tree sisal scratching post and a cardboard lounge box with five reversible pads to scratch and nap on.
£39.49
Bestpets Sleep & Play Cat Scratcher
A combined scratching post and plush bed in one compact, space-saving design
£23.99
Suggestions based on breed traits — always check sizing and suitability for your individual cat.
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Every cat is an individual — temperament and needs vary. Please research thoroughly, meet cats in person, and consider adopting from a rescue. This is general guidance, not a substitute for advice from your vet.