SALMON CREEK CATTERY- oriental shorthair cat breeders in New York
Breed Characteristics
- Are they dogs or cats? - The Oriental Shorthair (OSH) kittens behavior, in my experience is very much different than your run of the mill household cat. They are the most affectionate, people centered cats I've met. My cats will run up and greet me at the door when I return home and stand on their hind legs expecting lots of love and attention. Because of this they remind me more of a drool free dog with very minimal shedding. Oh, Friggy and Freya also love playing fetch with their rattle mice. Unless you are a homebody I would not recommend getting just one OSH if you have no other pets.
- Do they get along with other breeds of cats? - The OSH are known for being highly intelligent, and very affectionate. Because of this they prefer the company of another OSH/ siamese or humans over other types of cats. They will still get along with the other breeds fine.
- How long do they live? - They can live up to 15 years, however around 10 is more the average age.
- How big are they? - No, they are not big Cervel cats! Females run on average a little smaller than your males but you can expect them to get up to 18" long and up to 15lbs. They do have a more slender frame than most cats so 7-10 lbs is more average weight.
- Are they hypoallergenic? - Yes and no. No cat breed is 100% hypoallergenic, even your hairless Sphynx. While they do produce much less dander and shed fur than most, they still may irritate sensitive allergies. They do produce less of the Fel d 1 protein that is responsible for triggering allergies in humans.
- Are they loud? - The breed is known for their love to gab. Just to tell you how their day is going, but it may not sound like your average meow. They are known to sound more like they ate a honking goose. Like people, some may want to talk all the time while others you'll only hear from on occasion. Our line tends to be more on the quiet side.
- Are they kid friendly? - They love kids! Because they shower them with love. Obviously if your little ones are real little, care will have to be taken to ensure they are not hurting the cat. I don't think the cats ever get fed up from too much attention.
- What color are their eyes? - it depends on the coat color. The pointed cats (the ones that look more like siamese) and white ones almost always have blue eyes. While the remainder of the coat colors come with green eyes. Sometimes odd eyed (one blue and one green) can come about as well.
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History of the oriental shorthair kittens aka Dobby Cats
The origin story varies a little based on who you ask, but we will cover the widely accepted theories.
- "It is believed that the Oriental Shorthair has its foundation in the Siamese breed. The Siamese are the royal cats of Thailand (previously Siam), that were first brought to England in the 1800s. During World War II, many breeding programs were devastated, and the Siamese was crossbred with Russian Blues, British Shorthairs, Abyssinians, and Domestic Shorthairs to expand the gene pool. Kittens born with Siamese points were rotated back into Siamese breeding programs, while the non-pointed kittens became the basis for the Oriental Shorthair breed." - Basepaws
OSH and Siamese?
Check back for more oriental shorthair info later!
OSH Health
Unfortunately you can look at just about any pedigree breed of domestic animal and find a higher likelihood of certain genetic issues when compared to the other breeds. For example, German Shepherds are known for having hip dysplasia, however some very responsible breeders set up good breeding practices to greatly reduce or eliminate the increased risk. Unfortunately there will always be 'backyard breeders' mistreating animals, inbreeding them, or separating them from their mom too early. All of these cause genetic defects in the kittens.
We do our due diligence and only buy from oriental cat breeders we know and trust. We carefully review every pedigree and DNA results to be as sure as we can this is the healthiest example of the breed and that it's safe to use in our breeding program.
Overall the Oriental Shorthair is considered a healthy breed, there are a few concerns however.
Health and welfare issues known to Oriental Shorthairs
- PRV (Progressive renal atrophy) - Causes blindness with age. All of our cats are DNA tested.
- Gastrointestinal disorders- Again feeding cats high quality food, appropriate supplements, and regular vet checks helps to avoid lots of GI issues. Some cats struggle with eating too fast, that can be remedied by providing a slow or automatic feeder. Sometimes their bowl just needs to be elevated so they aren't leaning down to eat. Sometimes it's bad gut flora, but regular use of pre and probiotics will help. Some cats just have sensitive stomachs which pumpkin based cat food can sometimes soothe their symptoms.
- Bladder stones- If you supplement in wet/raw food and keep your water fountain clean it will help prevent bladder stones and other related issues.
- Amyloidosis- This is when proteins are deposited around various organs causing organ disfunction. In siamese it typically occurs on the kidneys. In Abyssinians it is seen more with the liver. The oriental has both of these breeds in its make up. Chances of it occurring in OSH aren't high.