Oriental Bicolour vs Oriental Shorthair - Breed Comparison

Oriental Bicolour cats owe their origins to Lindajean Grillo of Ciara Cattery. The cats hail from the United States. It was in 1979 that Grillo paired a Siamese and bicolored American Shorthair, selecting the best bicolored offspring to mate again with Siamese or Orientals.

This particular variety was granted recognition in 1983 by TICA. It was during the 1980s that European breeders started their own Oriental bicolor breeding lines. The first modern Oriental Bicolours were imported to the UK during 2004.

This domestic cat is also related to the Siamese Cat. Orientals come from a diverse group of cats, but they have their foundation in the Siamese breed.

The cat was imported from Thailand to the UK during the 1800s. This particular cat was accepted as an actual breed in 1977. Quite a few of the top cat organizations recognize the Oriental Shorthair but as a Siamese.

These cats with a triangular-shaped head and slender, long body have a fairly thin tail. The ears are widely set and are large. The eyes are green, but blue with the colorpoint varieties.

The coat is short, close-lying and sleek while the coat of the long-haired variety is fine and silky with no thick undercoat. The tail forms a plume. The coat is mostly white and the other part of the coat can be in any other color. You’ll always see quite a bit of white around the legs.

Temperament:

These cats are suited for singles, couples, families, and seniors - in fact, anyone still active enough to provide this cat with lots of attention.

These vibrant cats are known for their social, friendly and loving personality. They are intelligent, inquisitive, active cats that need to have plenty of interaction with their human family members. They love their human family and love to hold conversations with them.

They're entertaining too, and love nothing more to ve the center of attention. They're so into their human family that you may even have him waiting patiently for you to come home fro work. He shouldn't be left alone for hours on end and should rather have a pet friend to keep him company during the day.

The Oriental Shorthair has a longish head with a slender neck and large ears. The legs are long and slender. The medium-sized cat weighs in the region of 3 – 5kg.

The eyes can be blue or green. Sometimes the cat will have one blue eye and one green eye. The coat is short and smooth and can be in a host of different colors.

Temperament:

The Oriental Shorthair is a curious, intelligent cat and they’re talkative too, loving to have conversations with their human family. They are cats that absolutely want to be part of the family. They don’t want to be left alone for too long either and get on well with children and pets in the home.

The Oriental Bicolor is such a wonderful pet to have. They are intelligent, entertaining, loving, active, playful, and inquisitive.

They’re also athletic and energetic. These cats have got all the characteristics you want in a good friend. They make a fantastic companion to people who are active and happy. They’re also very vocal and have a lot to say to their human family.

The Oriental Shorthair promises to be an active companion in your life. It’s a cat that likes to involve itself with all the activities that its human family takes part in.

He is a great entertainer too, and he loves all the attention he gets, thriving on being the center of attention.

The Oriental Shorthair cat is slightly more quieter than the Siamese cat but he will still want to tell you what he’s doing and what he wants.

It’s a cat that has many many colors and shades, but the color extends to the cat’s personality. It has a colorful, interesting, inquisitive personality.

The cat is lively and social and will fit in best with a lively, active home where there are also animals to keep him company. By having this loving cat in your home and life, you bring in joy and happiness.

Any cat can develop health problems. Even kittens that come with a certificate of health can develop illnesses that you never thought possible.

Orientals are generally healthy cats, but the health issues that may affect the Oriental are similar to that of the Siamese cat.

One of these is Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA). This is a genetic eye problem that can lead to blindness. Another disease to look out for is Asthma. The Siamese is susceptible to this disease which means your Oriental Bicolor will also be. You will have to get your furry friend to the vet who may precribe anti-inflammatory drugs.

Oriental Shorthairs share some of the same health issues as Siamese cats. Make sure, if your cat shows signs of illness that you have pinpointed a vet in your area.

Things such as asthma, bronchial disease, lymphoma, neurological disorders, and gastrointestinal problems will need to be seen by the vet.

Think about having your cat spayed or neutered. Not only is this surgery important for preventing unwanted pregnancies, but it can also remove the urge for the cat to roam. The procedure has health benefits for your cat too.

Ensure that your Oriental shorthair has his vaccines up to date. These vaccines are important for preventing your cat from getting some deadly feline diseases. Kittens usually get the first vaccines between the ages of 6 and 8 weeks. Certainly, if you decide to go on holiday and you want to board your cat, the boarding kennels will require that the vet’s card and vaccines are 100% up to date.

Prevent parasites by using a treatment subscribed for your pet by the vet.

The Oriental Bicolor will require a brushing once a week. A good idea is to also take a warm, damp cloth and to wipe your cat down. It’s an excellent way to rid your cat of loose hairs as well as dust. The cat has a sparse coat, so brush him gently.

Other grooming requires nail clipping and checking inside his ears. If you clean his ears, be careful not to go deep into the ear. It is precisely why so many cat owners take their cat to the pet groomers where they can do these things professionally.

It’s very important to keep your Bicolor’s litter box spotlessly clean because like most cats, they won’t use their litterbox if it’s still got yesterday’s feces in it. It needs to be cleaned every day.

The Oriental’s diet is much like that of other cats – it has to be meaty. You can’t afford to not understand your feline pet’s dietary needs. Cats are carnivorous and they need commercial cat food that will be equal to fresh meat that they would normally find in the wild.

They need foods high in protein but they will still need some carbohydrates, amino acids, and vitamins, and minerals. Always go for the best quality pet cat foods because by buying the poorer quality ones you put your cat at risk of developing health problems. Never ever leave your cat without a constant supply of fresh, cool drinking water.

Supply your cat with all the things that make it a pleasure to have a cat. You don’t want to bring your pet home and only then start looking for things to make him at home. He’ll need food and water bowls, a nice warm, soft bed, a litter box, grooming accessories, collar, toys climbing tree and scratching pole.

Have your pet neutered or spayed to prevent unwanted kittens.

Make sure he is taken to the vet when ill. You shouldn't own a pet if you can't afford to pay vet fees. There are some cat illnesses that can make your cat very sick and uncomfortable. He should have his vaccines and also be treated for parasites.

The short glossy coat doesn't shed much and the cat is considered low maintenance. A brush once a week will be adequate. A wipe down with a damp cloth will keep the cat dust-free and shiny.

Just doing this for your cat is good for the cat’s morale as he thrives on attention, relishing the human interaction he gets during grooming.

Trim his nails, particularly if he is an indoor cat.

Keep your Oriental Shorthair lean and mean by not overfeeding him. The cat’s build is designed for slimness and he won't do at all well with the extra weight. The extra weight can lead to lots of health problems, one of which is diabetes.

If in any doubt as to how much to feed your cat, consult your vet about portion sizes. There are excellent commercially manufactured cat foods on the market, and the manufacturers know that cats are carnivores and that the best cat goods are high in protein.

Avoid giving your cat any kind of human food. Never leave him without a constant supply of fresh, cool water.

Provide your cat with a litter box and keep the box free of cat droppings. You can invest in small rakes from the pet shop and they make it easy to rake up the feces and dispose of them. Change the litter regularly too.