Feng Shui Cattery
About the Breeds
The Oriental is a study in long straight lines. They
have long tubular bodies, long slender legs and tail
all in perfect harmony and balance with each other.
The dramatic almond eyes and large flaring ears
compliment the wedge shape of the head. The body is
firm and muscular, though looking as light as air,
they have surprising weight and are not fragile by
any stretch of the imagination.
While the Shorthair Classes of the Orientals have
short, tight coats, often referred to as “painted on”;
outcrossing to Javanese and Balinese gave us the
Longhair Varieties of the Orientals these Longhair
Orientals have the same long lines as their Shorthair
counterparts with the addition of a long silky coat,
and plumed tail.
Orientals bond very closely with their owners and
very often they seem more like small children than a
cat. They always want to be part of your activities.
Should you try to sit quietly and read a book or
newspaper, they will find a way to sit in the center of
it and give you that look with those dramatic eyes.
They seem to know when you are sad and will comfort
you in their own special way. If you are gone for long
hours, you may expect to be scolded when you return.
Open a door or closet that has been shut for a time and
they are right there to help you explore the mystery of
that new area. Many Orientals learn to fetch,
providing hours of entertainment.
The Oriental was accepted to compete in the
Championship Classes in 1977 and has quickly
become the one of the more popular breeds in CFA. The
first Orientals seen in the United States were
actually called Foreign Shorthairs. They were
"lavender" in color and were imported from Great
Britain. As interest in the breed grew, other colors were
developed. Originally included in the gene pool were
the Siamese, American Shorthair, Colorpoint and later
Javanese and Balinese.
The Orientals have a very wide and diverse gene pool
both because of their original ancestry and because of
their popularity thruout the world. It is because of this
divers gene pool that they are used for outcrossing by
the Havana Brown breed and now also the Javanese
(Longhair pointed colors only).
Click Here for information about Oriental Colors
Click Here for the Oriental Breed Standard
