The History of Orientals
You might think that the Oriental is a recent development, but written mentions of a solid-colored Siamese cat date to the late nineteenth century. It wasn’t until the 1950s that European breeders began to develop the cat into a recognized breed, through crossing Siamese with Russian Blues, British Shorthairs, Abyssinians and domestic shorthairs, then crossing the offspring back to Siamese.
A few American breeders showed interest in the cats and formed Oriental Shorthair International, a club that achieved recognition for the breed from the Cat Fanciers Association in the 1970s. The increase in recognized colors and patterns helped to catapult the breed’s popularity. The Oriental is the tenth most popular breed recognized by the CFA.
Oriental Personality and Temperament
Orientals are passionate about the people in their lives. They 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.
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. In fact, he may even prefer it. The more action the better for this cat. Just make sure that children treat him with the gentle respect he deserves. Entertain him with puzzle toys, teach him tricks, even train him for feline agility.
