Oriental breed guide

Very people-centered, the Oriental needs sufficient attention and affection: CFA says it will do anything to please when it gets them and may pine when attention is withdrawn.

It moves easily from one lap to the next and persuades other pets into a game of fetch the feather.

As intelligent as its Siamese ancestors, the Oriental examines your toothbrush before you use it, helps tie your shoes and helps pick your breakfast from the refrigerator. If you are not in motion it settles in a lap with soothing purrs and occasional nuzzles on the chin.

Expect a fair amount of conversation about pretty much everything.

Orientals adore being groomed though they are minimal shedders. A rubber curry brush suits a shorthair and a fine-toothed steel comb suits a longhair, once a week.

CFA says most Orientals are healthy. Progressive retinal atrophy is recessive and detectable by genetic testing, so breeders remove carriers from the gene pool or breed them only to non-carriers.

Amyloidosis, which causes liver and other issues, is harder because it is both genetic and acquired in different cats and research into genetic markers continues. Breeders police their lines for relatives of affected cats.

Development began in Europe in the 1950s, with chestnut, lavender and white solids first recognized by England's Governing Council of the Cat Fancy. US breeders developed more colors in the 1960s and 70s and the first Oriental breed club, Oriental Shorthairs International, brought breeders together to seek CFA recognition.

Shorthairs were accepted for registration in 1974 and reached championship in 1977. Longhairs were accepted in 1988 and the name became simply Oriental.