Oriental Shorthair (Cat)

The ideal Oriental Shorthair cat should be graceful, svelte, muscular and fine-boned.

General: The ideal Oriental Shorthair cat should be graceful, svelte, muscular and fine-boned.

Wedge: The head and ears will present a long, tapering wedge, when viewed from the front, in good proportion to the body. The total wedge starts at the nose and flares out in straight lines to the tips of the ears forming an isosceles triangle with no break at the whiskers. There shall be no less than the width of one eye between the eyes. The whiskers shall be smoothed back to reveal the underlying bone structure. There will be no probing for a whisker pinch. Allowances must be made for the jowls in the stud cat. The skull will be flat in profile. A long straight line is seen from the top of the head to the tip of the nose. No bulge over the eyes or dip in the nose. Allow for growth ridge above the eyes in kittens and young adults, DO NOT PENALIZE.

Muzzle: Fine, moderately long, wedge shaped.

Chin and Jaw: Medium sized. The chin should be strong and full, not receding or diminutive. Tip of the chin should line up with the tip of the nose on a vertical plane.

Ears: Strikingly large and pointed, wide at the base. Position should continue the lines of the wedge. OBJECTION: Dip in the nose, bulging forehead, Roman nose, weak chin, whisker pinch in the actual bone structure. Ears too small, short, or carried high on the head or too wide so as not to follow the lines of the wedge.

Eyes: The eyes appear to be almond shaped, set in an almond aperture, medium in size. Set shall be slanted toward the nose in harmony with the lines of the wedge. Neither protruding nor recessed.

Body: Long, slender, and lithe, with a tubular shape as viewed from top, bottom, or sides. The cat should present a well-muscled, non-flabby appearance. The body should give the illusion that it is no wider than the shoulders. Allowance: Males may be larger than females; the abdominal muscles of an older queen who may have borne several litters may be softer than those of a younger cat. Penalize: Flabby muscles, excessively soft body.

Neck: Long and slender in proportion to the body and head length. OBJECTION: Neck which is carried low, between shoulders and appears to telescope.

Legs: Long and slim. Hind legs to be longer than front, in good proportion to the body. OBJECTION: Weak hind legs, short legs, heavy boning.

Feet: Dainty, small and oval. Toes; five in front and four behind.

Tail: Long, narrow at the base, tapering to a fine point. OBJECTION: Short, thick, non-visible kink or fault in tail.

Coat: The coat will be short, fine textured, glossy, close lying to the body. OBJECTION: Plush, coarse or shaggy.

Body Color: The body colors and patterns are described in the Color Class Section. All colors and patterns that are genetically possible in the cat may occur in the Oriental with the following exceptions: No albino series cats are acceptable. TYPE TAKES PREFERENCE OVER COLOR.

Eye Color: Green is the preferred eye color in all Orientals except whites. Whites will have blue eyes, green eyes and odd eyes; pointed orientals must have blue eyes. In other colors, hazel or amber eyes allowed. Depth of color preferred over tone. OBJECTION: Pale blue eye color in white cats and pointed cats, washed out appearance in any color.

NFA: Malocclusion severe enough to effect breathing. Crossed eyes. Toes in number other than as given, split feet, visible tail kink or fault. Emaciation to appear thin.

Accepted Colors:
White
Tortoiseshell
Fawn Silver
Black
Blue Tortoiseshell
Cameo
Blue
Chocolate Tortoiseshell
Cream Shaded
Chocolate
Cinnamon Tortoiseshell
Cinnamon
Lilac Tortoiseshell
Black Smoke
Lilac
Fawn Tortoiseshell
Golden Smoke
Fawn
Blue Smoke
Cream
Silver
Chocolate Smoke
Red
Golden Shaded
Cinnamon Smoke
Blue Silver
Lilac Smoke
Chocolate Silver
Cameo Smoke
Cinnamon Silver
Cream Smoke
Brown Tabby
Blue Silver Tabby
Black Smoke Tabby
Blue Tabby
Chocolate Silver Tabby
Golden Smoke Tabby
Chocolate Tabby
Cinnamon Silver Tabby
Blue Smoke Tabby
Cinnamon Tabby
Lilac Silver Tabby
Chocolate Smoke Tabby
Lilac Tabby
Fawn Silver Tabby
Cinnamon Smoke Tabby
Fawn Tabby
Cameo Tabby
Lilac Smoke Tabby
Red Tabby
Cream Shaded Tabby
Fawn Smoke Tabby
Cream Tabby
Cameo Smoke Tabby
Silver Tabby
Cream Smoke Tabby
Golden Tabby

Source: AACE >>>