The Oriental Shorthair was first created in the 1960's by breeding Siamese to American Shorthairs and to Abyssinians. In 1977, the Cat Fanciers Association accepted the Oriental Shorthair into Championship status. It is interesting to note that records show that the Siamese was not always Pointed Siamese and there are Siam manuscripts that describe Siamese were full colored and could be seen in shades of black, brown, silver, white or bi-colored. In the 1920's however, solid color cats were no longer bred due to a regulation that allowed only Pointed Siamese for Championship Status. In spite of this "ban", there were Siamese breeders who remained interested in solid colored Siamese cats and because of this, the Oriental Shorthair was created.

The Oriental Shorthair is a friendly, active cat that is full of curiosity. A playful cat, the Oriental Shorthair has been known to play with just about anything that sparks its curiosity, therefore it is important to make sure that any valuable or breakable items are well out of reach of the cat. Additionally, the Oriental Shorthair has been known to enjoy a good game of fetch. Definitely a "people" cat, the Oriental Shorthair makes an excellent family cat and even gets along well with children, so long as the children do not play too roughly with the cat. It is very important that the Oriental Shorthair receives adequate attention and play, as it should be stressed that the Oriental Shorthair really enjoys the company of people and can get into trouble if it feels bored. These cats are very people oriented. They do not know the meaning of "Aloof"

The Oriental Shorthair is similar in appearance to the Siamese cat. The Oriental Shorthair can be found in almost any color, in fact, the Oriental Shorthair can be found in over 300 color combinations. A sleek, sturdy cat, the Oriental Shorthair is quite slender, with long legs. Although the Oriental Shorthair is slim, it can by no means be considered delicate and in fact, the cat has quite a bit of muscle. The Oriental Shorthair has a triangular shaped head, almond shaped eyes that are usually green in color and large ears. The coat of the Oriental Shorthair is, of course, short and lies close to the body. The average male weighs between 9 and 12 pounds, while females are smaller averaging between 4 and 8 pounds. They have very long bodies, sometimes stretching to 3 feet in length.

Because the Oriental Shorthair is so intelligent and seeks human attention, it is very important that the cat receive plenty of cuddle time, play and affection.

The Oriental Shorthair can suffer from some of the same ailments of the Siamese, including eyes that are crossed, nystagmus, which causes the eyes of the cat to twitch back and forth (this twitching is subtle) and heart defects. For this reason it is very important to obtain one from a reputable breeder. It should be noted that they are a relatively healthy breed when compared to the Siamese, because of their wide gene pool.

Most Orientals average 4 to 6 kittens per litter. They should not have more than two litters per year if used in a breeding program, for the health of the cat and her kittens.