Oriental Bicolor Cat: Origins, Appearance, Temperament and Health

An Oriental bicolor is an Oriental-type cat, long-haired or short-haired, with white areas in its coat caused by the white spotting gene. In most cat registries it is a coat pattern within the Oriental breed rather than a breed of its own.

The exception is the UK’s Governing Council of the Cat Fancy (GCCF), which treats it as a separate breed called the Oriental Bicolour, according to Wikipedia. Whichever registry a cat is entered with, the body, voice and personality are those of an Oriental.

Oriental bicolor key facts

• Type: Oriental, a Siamese-style cat in non-pointed colors (pointed versions also exist), with white spotting added
• Body: long, slender and muscular, with a wedge-shaped head, large ears and a long tapering tail
• Weight: Oriental cats average 7 to 12 pounds
• Coat: short and glossy, or medium-length and silky with no downy undercoat
• Temperament: social, talkative, very active and attached to people
• Grooming: low; occasional brushing, regular tooth brushing and nail trims

Where does the Oriental bicolor come from?

Orientals are a human-made group of cats built on the Siamese. According to WebMD, Siamese cats reached the UK in the late 1800s. After World War II, English breeders began rebuilding their programs in the 1950s. They crossed Siamese with Russian Blues, British Shorthairs, Abyssinians and domestic cats to produce Siamese-type cats in other colors. The Cat Fanciers’ Association (CFA) admitted both the longhaired and shorthaired Orientals to championship competition in 1977.

The bicolor variety has its own, later history. Some experimental breeding took place in the UK in the 1970s and 1980s, including Pat Turner’s Seychellois program. The modern Oriental bicolor traces back to matings started in the United States by Lindajean Grillo of Ciara Cattery. From 1979 she bred Siamese to bicolored American Shorthairs, then mated the best bicolored offspring back to Siamese or Orientals to regain Oriental type. The International Cat Association (TICA) recognized the variety in 1983, and the first champion was Ciara Quite-N-Oreo.

European breeders, mainly in France and the Netherlands, started their own lines in the 1980s. They used a red and white female Moroccan street cat as an early outcross, later a black and white Cornish Rex, and imported cats from the US. Having separate lines let them breed bicolor to bicolor and get more white on the coat without heavy inbreeding. The Fédération Internationale Féline (FIFe) gave championship recognition to bicolored Oriental Shorthairs in 2003. The first modern Oriental bicolors reached the UK in 2004, and the GCCF granted preliminary recognition in 2006 and provisional status in 2008.

What does an Oriental bicolor look like?

The build is the classic Oriental one. Wikipedia describes a long, slender body, a tapering whip-like tail, a triangular head with a straight profile and large, wide-set ears. The CFA standard adds fine bones with firm muscle: the cat should be strong and lithe, neither bony nor flabby. Males may be somewhat larger than females.

The white is what makes a bicolor. It comes from the dominant white spotting gene. In a show-quality cat it should cover at least one third of the body, and the pattern can be random, like splashed paint. There is always more white on the underside and legs than on the back. The CFA describes the bi-color pattern as white feet, legs, underside, chest and muzzle, including an inverted “V” blaze on the face.

The colored areas can be any color or pattern the Oriental comes in, so a bicolor can be solid, tabby, tortoiseshell, smoke, shaded or pointed, plus white. Eye color depends on the standard. The CFA allows blue, green or odd eyes in bi-colors, and requires blue eyes in pointed cats.

Coats come in two lengths. Short coats are fine, glossy and lie close to the body. Long coats are medium length and silky, with the longest hair on the tail. The long coat has no downy undercoat.

Registries handle the pattern differently. Some register bicolored Oriental Shorthairs and bicolored Siamese-type cats separately. The GCCF lets all of these related groups be bred together under one breed name. Offspring that do not inherit white spotting can be registered and shown as Orientals in the GCCF. Orientals without white spotting are covered on the Oriental Shorthair page.

What is an Oriental bicolor’s personality like?

Orientals behave like Siamese. WebMD describes them as affectionate, social and talkative, always wanting to know what is going on and likely to tell you about their day when you get home. They do not like being on their own and do best with another cat for company. They also get along with cat-friendly dogs, and WebMD describes them as good with children and strangers.

They are very active. WebMD’s advice is to look elsewhere if you want a calm, sedate lap cat. Orientals need plenty of physical and mental stimulation. Toys, a scratching post and even a cardboard box to jump in and out of all help, and some cats learn to play fetch. WebMD adds that Orientals thrive on attention and become disheartened if ignored for too long.

How much grooming does an Oriental bicolor need?

Very little. Both coat lengths need only an occasional brush or comb. WebMD recommends brushing teeth weekly with cat-safe toothpaste, checking the ears for debris regularly and trimming nails every few weeks.

What health problems affect Oriental bicolors?

Oriental bicolors are Oriental-type cats, so the conditions documented in Oriental cats are the ones to know about. Most Orientals are generally healthy.

Amyloidosis. Siamese and Oriental cats are among the breeds predisposed to amyloidosis, in which an abnormal protein called amyloid builds up in internal organs. A study of Oriental Shorthairs in the journal literature notes that in these cats the liver is the main organ affected, and that rupture of the liver is the main cause of death. In the 17 cats studied, signs included poor appetite, lethargy, a painful and swollen abdomen, pale gums and a low body temperature. Affected cats were between 1 and 7 years old when they were euthanized. The study found evidence of a genetic basis, with a complex pattern of inheritance.

Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA). WebMD lists this inherited condition, a gradual loss of vision that eventually leads to blindness, among the problems to watch for in Orientals.

Flat-chested kitten syndrome. This congenital condition is overrepresented in both longhaired and shorthaired Orientals, according to WebMD. It can cause failure to suckle, weight loss and breathing problems in young kittens. Kittens that survive the early stages usually become indistinguishable from other cats.

WebMD says cats should see a veterinarian at least once a year, which helps catch conditions early. It also lists the core vaccinations: feline distemper, feline herpesvirus, calicivirus and rabies.

When to see a vet

Contact a vet if your cat stops eating, becomes lethargic, has a swollen or painful belly, or has pale gums. Do the same if an adult cat starts bumping into things or seems to struggle to find its way, or if a young kitten fails to suckle, loses weight or has trouble breathing. This page is general information, not veterinary advice, and it cannot tell you what is wrong with a particular cat.

Is an Oriental bicolor right for you?

This cat suits a household where someone is home a lot, or where there is another cat or a cat-friendly dog for company. It suits people who enjoy a loud, busy, interactive cat and will play with it every day. It is a poor fit for anyone wanting a quiet, low-demand cat.

For a related Siamese-type cat, see the Colorpoint Shorthair.