Oriental Shorthair Cats & Kittens for Sale

The Oriental Shorthair is closely related to the Siamese cat breed with its origins in Thailand. However, the breed was developed in both the UK and the USA between the 1950s and 1970s. Since then, they have become a popular cat breed around the world.

Oriental Shorthairs have a distinctive look with large ears and long, muscular bodies. They are active, social, and loud cats who are extremely intelligent, too. These people-oriented pets quickly become the centrepiece of any home and find happiness when involved in family activities.

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Meet the Oriental Shorthair

The Oriental Shorthair’s unique appearance makes them instantly recognizable. They are medium-sized and weigh between 8 and 12 pounds once fully grown. Their bodies are long, slender, and athletic, and their legs are long, too, giving them a wildcat look.

They have wedge-shaped heads with almond-shaped eyes, long noses and prominent cheekbones. Their extra-large ears are undoubtedly their most distinctive feature, though. The structure of their faces can sometimes make them look standoffish, but their friendly personality is quite the opposite. Their eye colour may be green, blue, gold, or yellow.

As their name suggests, these felines have a short and sleek coat and come in various colours and patterns. They may be a solid colour or have bicolour, smoke, marble, or tortoiseshell patterning. The most common shades are brown and grey, but other possible colourings include black, cream, tan, lilac, orange, and white.

The temperament of an Oriental Shorthair

Like their Siamese Descendents, Oriental Shorthair cats are social, active, and super friendly. The Siamese’s loudness has also passed down to these kitties, making them one of the most vocal breeds. They love to use their meow to communicate every want and need to their owner and simply just chat with you, too. Therefore, their presence is always known, and they won’t let you forget that they are around.

Oriental Shorthairs are very people orientated and love to receive attention from their owner. This can be in the form of interactive play, petting, or simply a vocal response to their “chatting”.

These high maintenance kitties will let you know once they’ve entered a room and will not rest until you have sufficiently acknowledged them. While this may be annoying for some people, they make excellent companions to people who live alone and need a companion to bring more life into the home.

Oriental Shorthairs also make very devoted pets, and they develop a strong attachment to their owners. They dislike being left alone, and if they are in a home where the owners are out most of the time, they will suffer. After a while, they may exert their unhappiness through destructive behaviour.

They have moderate energy levels and a natural curiosity. They love to explore, jump and climb, and they adore playing games and learning tricks with their owners. As they are so intelligent, they learn tricks and commands quickly and have impressive skills for puzzle games.

10 reasons to add an Oriental Shorthair to your family

  1. They are social butterflies - Oriental Shorthairs have an impressive confidence level around other people, including strangers. They will greet your visitors at the door, play with the kids, and quickly make friends with your other pets.
  2. You will never feel lonely with an Oriental Shorthair - If you live alone and miss companionship, this cat will fill that hole. They will follow you everywhere, chat with you, and snuggle up with you at night.
  3. They are super intelligent - You can teach an Oriental Shorthair many tricks and dog-like commands, which they will pick up quickly.
  4. They do not pick favourite humans - Oriental Shorthairs show equal love to all household members, rather than attaching themselves to one person, like some breeds.
  5. They have low grooming needs - Their short coat is easy to maintain, and they do not require any grooming, except a weekly brush.
  6. They are big purrers - As Oriental Shorthairs love attention and affection so much, you will instantly notice a deep, satisfying purr whenever you pet them. This vibrational sound is exceptionally calming to us humans!
  7. They will greet you at the door - Oriental Shorthairs have the dog-like trait of welcoming you at the door when you arrive home. You will always sense how happy they are to see you, so no matter how bad your day has been, they will brighten it with their loving energy.
  8. You can find them in every colour and pattern - There are approximately 300 varieties of colours and patterns of Oriental Shorthairs existing today, so it’s easy to find a unique-looking one.
  9. They will entertain you with their climbing antics - This cat loves to climb, and you will often find them perching on top of the fridge or climbing up the curtains!
  10. They make gorgeous crossbreeds, too - You will find many beautiful mixed-breed Orientals that all have their own unique look about them. The most common are Oriental Shorthair & Abyssinian, Oriental Shorthair & Domestic Shorthair, and Oriental Shorthair & Bombay.

Best homes for an Oriental Shorthair

The Oriental Shorthair is not for everyone, but a beautiful companionship develops when these loyal and loving felines find their perfect humans. They will thrive in a home where their owners are often home, so this kitty is ideal for someone who lives alone and works from home.

As they are so confident and social, they do well in large family homes and busy environments. They are excellent with both children and other pets and do not get anxious around strangers. All these cats need is regular human interaction, so as long as you can provide that, your Oriental Shorthair will thrive. However, we also recommend getting them a cat buddy if you don’t have any existing pets, so they have a friend to play with when you are busy.

Frequently Asked Questions About Oriental Shorthair Kittens

Why should I choose an Oriental Shorthair kitten from The Pedigree Paws rather than elsewhere?
It is our belief that kittens should only ever be raised in family homes with their mother. Considering this, we choose only to work with breeders who raise them in this specific environment and we do not partner with any breeding facilities. By doing this, we help to fight against illegal pet farms. As we only support moral, licensed breeders that demonstrate the best care towards their animals, you can rest assured that an Oriental Shorthair from the Pedigree Paws comes from a good, ethical environment.
Is an Oriental Shorthair the right kitten for me?
Oriental Shorthairs are great at making themselves known. They are confident, active, and vocal, and they do well in environments that mimic their high energy. Therefore they make fantastic family pets for those with kids and other pets. However, they can be just as happy living with one person, providing they are home often. That being said, if you like to maintain a peaceful environment, you might prefer a calmer and quieter breed. Oriental Shorthairs love to chat regularly and love it when you talk back to them.
Is The Pedigree Paws a trustworthy agency?
You may have heard unsettling stories about dishonourable breeders and agencies and, understandably, find the pet industry untrustworthy. At The Pedigrees Paws, however, we prioritise building total assurance and transparency with our clients by working with only licensed breeders. Therefore, when you choose an Oriental Shorthair kitten from us, you will receive official registration documents to prove they are 100% pedigree. We have plenty of success stories from our happy customers to back this up, which you can see on our testimonials page.
Are Oriental Shorthairs kittens from The Pedigree Paws healthy?
Yes, we would never allow the sale of a Oriental Shorthair that is not 100% healthy or is at risk of any hereditary diseases. To ensure this never happens, our breeders follow the strictest health protocols, such as taking each kitten to the vet for a thorough health check before being listed on the site. We also check the DNA of the kitten’s parents to ensure there are no genetic mutations present that can pass down to the kitten. In addition, your Oriental Shorthair will have a microchip and all vaccinations before coming to you.
How long do I have to wait to receive my Oriental Shorthair Kitten?
To prevent any unnecessary development issues and behavioural problems, we are strict about keeping kittens with their mother until they are at least 8 weeks old. In fact, to give them the best start to life, we prefer to keep them together until they are at least ten weeks old. However, we give some flexibility to our breeders so providing it’s within our parameters, the exact duration will vary.
Can I see the parents of an Oriental Shorthair kitten before purchase?
Sure, it’s always a good idea to see an Oriental Shorthair kitten’s parents before making any payment. While you may be too far away to visit in person, we will arrange for you to have a video call with the breeder to the kitten’s parents virtually. We encourage all our breeders to do this to show that their animals are healthy and that they operate in an ethical and transparent way.
Will I receive the pedigree documents of my new Oriental Shorthair kitten?
Yes, all our Oriental Shorthair kittens come with internationally recognised pedigree documents such as GCCF, TICA, FIFe that prove they are 100% pedigree. You’ll receive these documents with your new kitten, but the specific registration will depend on the breeder’s location.
Do your Oriental Shorthair kittens come from good breeders?
Yes, our Oriental Shorthair kittens come from only the very best breeders in the UK and Europe. These breeders adhere to the strict animal welfare policies of international organisations, as well as our own comprehensive breeder selection process. One of the most important things for us is that all our cat breeders treat their kittens like family members and not products to sell. Therefore, you can rest assured that your new Oriental Shorthair kitten will be healthy, happy, and display all the beautiful qualities of the breed.
Are your Oriental Shorthair kittens raised in a family home or breeding facility?
We do not work with commercial breeding facilities that confine kittens to cages without their mother or siblings. This type of environment can result in significant neglect, health issues and poor development. Instead, we only work with breeders who raise their kittens with the mother cat and littermates in the family home where they thrive. In this environment, they will receive the care and love they need and deserve. Plus, family homes are great as they receive plenty of human interaction, which helps them transition well to a new home and new owner.
How can I help my Oriental Shorthair kitten adjust to its new home?
Oriental Shorthairs are confident and social from an early age and do not fear strangers or meeting new animals. These qualities can help them settle quickly into their forever home, but it’s still a good idea to help them with the process. You can ask the breeder to send a towel or blanket with your Shorthair that contains the mother’s scent. This is because mother cats give off feline pheromones through their scent that make kittens feel safe and at ease. It’s also a good idea to keep your kitten in one room for a day or two until they seem settled and confident. Then you can slowly let them explore the whole house.
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