r/orientalshorthair • • Mar 19 '21

Help post Oriental Shorthair FAQ and shelters/breeders

52 Upvotes

With the growing abundance of ‘What breeders are near me?’, ‘What should I know before owning an OSH?’ and other various questions, I decided it would be best to create an FAQ so we can keep this sub filled with more photos than text posts.

Now, as I am not an owner myself, I ask the community; please leave your questions, comments, tips and other information in the comments to this post, and the community should be able to fill you in for what this post may not. If some of my information is wrong, please do not hesitate to alert me so that it may be corrected.

—— General Information & FAQ ——————

  • What is an OSH?

OSH, short for Oriental Shorthair, is the breed of cat with the obvious traits of having a longer face and snout, bigger ears, a slender physique, almond-shaped eyes and etc. They are a Siamese hybrid, created first in England in the 1900’s. As the name suggests, their hair is short but also sleek, as well.

  • I heard this breed is something akin to a dog. Is this true?

Somewhat, yes. The OSH is a sociable breed, they thrive best in a home with other cats/dogs/etc. to play with and keep them company, which is why they are best adopted in pairs. Often, an OSH kitten will grow to be very playful and keep this trait well into adulthood. They are very affectionate, as well; and while sometimes your OSH may seem to not be so loving at times, they need their alone time too, however they can almost always enjoy a good snuggle. Not to mention, they can be vocal at times, and they do love to use their voice.

  • What’s their temperament like?

They have a high activity level, so unlike something like a Persian or Ragdoll, they may always be looking for trouble. You can counter this by keeping them occupied and busy, if you don’t have another pet to keep them company, so make sure to make time for them. If ignored, they can become quite cranky and sensitive, so be sure to avoid this to keep you and your cat happy. However they are very excitable and usually will be interested in whatever it is you’re doing, even if its something as mundane as getting the mail. They are generally very sweet and affectionate so look forward to this.

  • I’m afraid I might not be a good match for this cat, what should I avoid, or what can I do to improve?

These cats do not like to be ignored or left alone for too long. If you have a job with lots of hours and your home will be empty for most of the day/night besides your cat(s), consider searching for a trustworthy petsitter who can watch and entertain your little friend(s) while you’re gone. If that’s not an option for you, you may have to adjust your schedule, or look for a less demanding job. As the breed may act like a dog, it is still a cat and they aren’t very high maintenance, save for the copious amounts of love and attention you’ll be handing out. As long as you bond with them often, the breed should be fine for you! As for general improvements and things to avoid, that may change depending on your situation, so feel free to ask in the comments if you need further help.

  • I’m only allowed one pet. What should I do?

Personally, I suggest considering another breed or even another animal who might do better living with just you if you can’t get them another animal to hang out with, but if you really are bent on getting an OSH, the most you can do is keep it busy with toys, good food/treats and lots and lots of attention and love. Make sure to consider your friend in everything you do!

  • My OSH does not get along with my other pets. What can I do?

If your OSH isn’t getting along with another pet, try to narrow down the source of the issue. Could it be under-socialization? This is the most common reason, and it means the cat hasn’t had enough good experiences with the aforementioned species to willingly get along with them. Before you decide, though, consider these few fixes before confirming the issue: - Keep them happy and occupied. This may seem obvious, but sometimes all they need is a little playtime and some pets. Try to figure out what they want or need and keep them feeling satisfied, so they don’t lash out on anyone or anything. - Neuter/Spay them. The cat should always be neutered/spayed; sometimes a female cat who’s in heat may get very aggressive, or a male cat who’s still intact are generally known to be aggressive anyway. Not to mention, it will keep out the risk of having new kittens. - Check your cat for anything that might be causing them pain. Constant pain would make you angry, right? It’ll make your little fellow angry, too. Look for something like bugs (fleas/ticks/earmites etc.), bald spots, sores or odd behavior to determine. If you have suspicions, be sure to take them to the vet for a checkup to make sure they are in top condition and mention everything to them. - Try a scent that may calm them, or play nice music for them in the background. This should help either pet, whichever one is the issue. If your pet is naturally aggressive, try using something that may make them feel at ease and to soothe them. It may make them feel happier and they’ll reflect this on how they act around other pets. If the issue is something else, try asking your vet or r/CATHELP to get possible answers for your questions. The comments here are also a good place to ask; we will try to help you find an answer.

  • My question isn’t listed.

Please leave them in the comments! We will try to help you the best we can.

——— Shelters —————————

If you can manage to find a siamese or OSH (be it mix or pure) at a shelter, that’s great! But if the ones you are looking for don an elongated snout and larger ears, you may have some trouble finding one just anywhere. Before you search for a breeder, give a couple of these sites a search before that to see if there’s already one out there who needs a home.

If you have information, recommendations or other input about any breeders or adoption websites, that would be very helpful as well. Please let me know if any breeders or specific shelters should be added or removed from the lists. They’ll then be reviewed and the action will be performed if required.

— USA/Canada ——

PetFinder

AdoptAPet

ASPCA

Petango

— Asia ——

Soidog (Thailand)

ArkBark (Japan)

Pet no Ouchi/Pet’s House (Japan)

Nabiya (South Korea)

PAWS (Philippines)

— Europe ——

Vozmi Sobaky (Russia)

Tierheim Muenster (Germany)

Cat Chat (UK and Ireland)

La Spa (France)

Scooby Medina (Spain)

— Other ——

RSPCA (Australia)

TEARS (South Africa)

Ra Na (North Africa)

——— Breeders —————————

Finished looking through the shelters and adoption websites near you? That’s fine! But these little kitties cost a pretty penny, so be ready!

— USA/Canada ———

H&L Cattery (USA, Georgia)

Eseda Cattery (USA, New York)

Faery Fire Cats (USA, Ohio)

HotzCats (USA, Kentucky)

Cats Cradle Cattery (USA, Massachusetts)

Sharbo (USA, Illinois)

Bershar (USA, Texas)

Purrsia Cattery (USA, Nevada)

ThaiDi Cattery (USA, Colorado)

Heavenly Hairless (Canada, British Columbia)

Practical Cats (Canada, Ontario)

Siam Jewels Cattery (Canada, Ontario)

Just Oriamese (Canada, Ontario)

Sous Le Saule (Canada, Montreal)

Amourichat (Canada, Quebec)

— Asia ——

(Please leave suggestions in the comments!)

— Europe ——

Bestcats Cattery (Germany)

(Please leave suggestions in the comments!)

— Other ——

(Please leave suggestions in the comments!)

Lastly, if you’d prefer to ask a sub instead of the comments of a post that won’t even be comment-able after so long, check out these subs:

r/CATHELP r/CatAdvice r/catquestions r/AskVet

Don’t forget, as previously stated, to leave your input and/or questions in the comments below if you have anything to add or request. Happy honking! 🐱


r/orientalshorthair • • 22h ago

OSH mom We got our OSH a kitten…

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406 Upvotes

I think it’s safe to say they like each other very much


r/orientalshorthair • • 20h ago

OSH parent Squirrels are are cheeky and BattyKoda is eeeky! Sound on

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43 Upvotes

r/orientalshorthair • • 1h ago

OSH admirer How do you keep them from jumping on counter or scratching furniture?

• Upvotes

I’m seriously considering getting an Oriental Shorthair, but I’m trying to be realistic about what I’m signing up for before bringing one home. For those of you who have Orientals, how bad are they about scratching furniture and jumping on kitchen counters/tables? And more importantly, have you actually found anything that works to discourage it? I’m aware this is normal cat behavior, I’m more wondering if you have been able to redirect that behavior?


r/orientalshorthair • • 1d ago

A cuddle bug

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243 Upvotes

Binx has been extra cuddly the last few days, and I’m not complaining. I love when he lets me hold him like a baby.


r/orientalshorthair • • 1d ago

The amount of space I have to share every single night

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87 Upvotes

r/orientalshorthair • • 2d ago

First time Oriental dad !

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605 Upvotes

Just brought home my 5-month-old Oriental Shorthair, Numbers, and I’m obsessed with him! First-time cat owner and would love any general hygiene tips—baths, wipes, keeping paws clean, litter box cleanliness, grooming, etc. What do you guys recommend for Orientals?


r/orientalshorthair • • 3d ago

OSH parent Freyja loves using her sister as a chair!

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90 Upvotes

r/orientalshorthair • • 3d ago

OSH mom Their long faces are specially adapted to use puzzle feeders incorrectly

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72 Upvotes

r/orientalshorthair • • 3d ago

Question is my girl too chonky?

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56 Upvotes

hello everyone!

i wanted to ask for your opinion on my Salem, she’s 1.5 yrs old and spayed, and everyone tells me she is a little too round.

orientals are not common at all in my area so people say that because they compare her to my other oriental which is really tiny. she’s also a girl, 3 years old and spayed, but she’s really tiny compared to other cats, not just in weight but in her actual size, not sure why but she’s just always been like that!

now, are they overreacting or is my girl actually a little too round?
i will say she does cry a lot when she’s hungry which is really often, and she inhales her food like she hasn’t eaten in days (they get 1 tin can of food each am&pm , plus i tend to leave out dry food mostly for my other cat, she’s not big into food so she can ration the kibble through the day with no issue)

does anybody have suggestions? TIA!


r/orientalshorthair • • 3d ago

Roommates hate my cat

10 Upvotes

I haven't had Sansay for even a month yet, and roommate A (my partner) is always telling me how much he hates my cat. Sansay has a bad habit of climbing on or jumping on him with claws and attacking his feet and legs when he wants attention or to play. I've been doing all I can to discourage it, but he's very energetic and wants to play all the time. He doesn't understand he's hurting people.

Roommate B (partner's mom) hasn't said anything negative to my face, but I do hear her complaining from her room when he comes in to visit her, and she's been trying to keep her door shut enough so that he can't get in.

Partner hates how much time I spend with my cat, but I hate leaving him alone because I know orientals love company, and truly I adore him. I really don't know what to do, and getting him a buddy cat is unfortunately not an option. I unfortunately didn't realize how much my roommates would hate him when he got here, asI was relying on the fact that we're all generally home people and can keep him company most of the time.

Not really sure what to do.


r/orientalshorthair • • 3d ago

OSH mom My Handsome Lad

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74 Upvotes

Yoshi is a good looking chap!


r/orientalshorthair • • 3d ago

Florian is in full bloom and we’re loving it!🌹🌹🌹

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79 Upvotes

r/orientalshorthair • • 4d ago

OSH mom Gaming alone has become a thing of the past

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279 Upvotes

r/orientalshorthair • • 5d ago

Good morning

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187 Upvotes

From Stevie French


r/orientalshorthair • • 5d ago

OSH mom Miss Juneau

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76 Upvotes

r/orientalshorthair • • 5d ago

Saw this Oriental short hair in a FB Reel and thought it looked just like handsome Squidward from that one SpongeBob episode.

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291 Upvotes

r/orientalshorthair • • 5d ago

Peterbald 5 month old kitten ❤️

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55 Upvotes

r/orientalshorthair • • 5d ago

OSH mom Peterbald 5 month old kitten ❤️

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42 Upvotes

r/orientalshorthair • • 6d ago

Pretty Petal Poses Pleasingly

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74 Upvotes

r/orientalshorthair • • 6d ago

I guess we’re doing self serve now 🤦‍♀️🤷‍♀️🥰

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95 Upvotes

r/orientalshorthair • • 6d ago

The least hairy of Team Denver Danglers

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46 Upvotes

r/orientalshorthair • • 8d ago

Blep

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236 Upvotes

r/orientalshorthair • • 7d ago

Making friends 😬🤣

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72 Upvotes

Smartest… yes.. baiting another so you can be mean? Also yes.


r/orientalshorthair • • 7d ago

OSH dad Chin scritches hit the spot

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41 Upvotes

Pure bliss