Welcome to our Colorpoint Shorthair Cats page! Here you will find everything you could ever want to know about Colorpoint Shorthair cats and a complete list of all the Colorpoint Shorthair catteries we have located in the USA.

When talking about an affectionate breed that is loyal and devoted to their people, the first cat that comes to mind is the Colorpoint Shorthair, the first cousin of the Siamese. The CFA recognizes this breed as a standalone breed, while all other registries recognize them as part of the Oriental and Siamese breeds.

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Colorpoint Shorthair

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Colorpoint Shorthair Cat Breed Information

General Information:

Height/Length: about 13 inches, medium in length
Weight: males weigh 7-9 pounds; females weigh 5-7 pounds
Lifespan: 12 to 17 years
Coloring: this breed can be found in different colors, including cream, tortoiseshell, red, and a mixture of these
Area of Origin: Man-made breed; its story began in America and in England in the 1940s
Similar Breeds: Siamese

Breed History and Origins:

The effort for producing a cat similar to the Siamese began in America and England in the 1940s, carried out by cat breeders who used foundation crossing between three breeds: the Siamese, the Red Domestic Shorthair, and the Abyssinian. They wanted to create a cat that could boast all the characteristics of the Siamese, but in different colors, other than the four traditional colors Siamese have (seal point, blue point, lilac point and chocolate point). They thought that the beautiful Siamese breed would look even more beautiful in red. The American Shorthair took part in the matrix as well.

In the beginning, the Colorpoint breeders had several failures and setbacks; in order to achieve the right colors in the right places, the body type of the Siamese was sacrificed. For a long period of time, the cats did not look a lot like Siamese, but the breeders didn’t give up; they were strongly determined to perfect their new cat creation.

After several years of struggle, the program succeeded! The new colors became very popular and people immediately fell in love with this new breed, so the next big step was gaining recognition from the cat registry associations. The CFA agreed that this breed was a hybrid breed, not natural one like the Siamese. In 1964, Colorpoints with cream and red points were advanced to championship status by CFA, and in 1969, the tortie and lynx were advanced.

As stated above, this breed now includes 16 colors with head and body type identical to their first cousins – the Siamese. The Colorpoint Shorthair is not a separate breed, but a variety of the Siamese. Simply put, the Colorpoint Shorthair is essentially a Siamese of a different color; the breed is vocal, smart, active, and graceful, much like their cousins.

Size and Physical Characteristics:

The Colorpoint Shorthairs look a lot like the Siamese. They have an elegant body of a medium size with long, narrowing lines and firm muscles.

Their neck is gracefully thin, and their head has a wedge-shaped muzzle that starts at their nose and flares out to their ears, forming a small triangle. In profile, the top of the head and the tip of the nose form a straight line. They have large, pointed ears and medium-sized eyes which are almond-shaped in a vivid blue color. Some cats even seem like they have a rich eyeliner under their eyes. The eyes are their most significant display of emotions: if opened wide, it means they are in the play mood; when closed, it means they trust their human and feel affection towards him. Their coat is glossy and short and the color of their body has a contrast between the dark-colored extremities and light-colored body. This contrast is commonly called “pointing”, but it is also known as “color restriction”.

Colorpoint Shorthairs have long limbs and fine bones, and they stand tall on their legs so that they can easily reach any item that piques their curiosity. Their body starts with a slender neck that is connected to the muscled body. The body has the same depth and width from the shoulders all the way to the hips. Their elegant body is completed with a long tail. The tail is actually the element that has the most point color.

Personality and Temperament:

The Colorpoint Shorthair and Siamese are different when it comes to color, but they are the same beneath the skin. Colorpoint Shorthairs are one of the most extroverted breeds. They are friendly, playful, outgoing, and affectionate, and they enjoy playing with people and lounging around. They can be very sensitive as well, which is why they are often described as cats with a nervous temperament that do not adapt well to new environments and new people. They are attention-demanding and extremely vocal because they always feel a need for their human.

Their meows are quite unusual when compared to regular cats’ meows; the reason for that is because the Colorpoint Shorthairs have more than 100 vocal sounds! Males are often found to be aggressive towards other animals. They want to express their dominance, so they will fight with any animal that invades their territory. Nevertheless, they are very fond of their humans.

They will tell their owners their opinion on every matter in a loud and raspy voice. They are helpful and always follow their owner around the house so that they can supervise their every move. When their owner is taking a rest, the Colorpoint also takes a rest; when their owner is sleeping, they will also be in bed under the covers with them. They do not like being alone for a longer period of time. So, families that are busy most of the day are advised to adopt two Colorpoint Shorthairs to keep each other company.

They are very intelligent and athletic, so keeping their bodies and minds exercised is highly recommended. They are smart enough to open the doors all by themselves, or to sniff through their owner’s bags to find something shiny and interesting to play with. They will always find ways into tightly closed cupboards and closed rooms. Leaving a Colorpoint Shorthair without any toy is not a smart idea because they will be bored and might decide to “renovate” the house.

Nutritional and Exercise Needs:

When it comes to nutrition, there are no special considerations. However, overeating is number one problem for this breed because a fat body cannot be held by long, slim legs.

They will eat just about anything when they are hungry. Due to the fact that they are extremely active, meeting their high energy needs is of high importance. That’s why a premium cat food with high levels of protein and balanced fatty acids is recommended.

Commercial cat foods with high levels of cereal and carbohydrate content might cause hair loss and muscle flaccidity, so they should be avoided. Another important thing: Colorpoint Shorthairs are not fans of raw meat diets. On the other hand, grated carrots, beet pulp and other non digestible carbohydrates should be included in their diet. They are beneficial for them because these foods cleanse intestine walls, and thus prevent bowel problems, which helps keep the cat in shape. Oftentimes, Colorpoint Shorthairs have a fiber insufficiency, but luckily, this condition can be treated on time because it is manifested through several observable symptoms like chewing towels, socks, shirts, and so on.

This breed is very active, so a little nutritional calming every once in a while is recommended. That can be obtained by adding Vitamin B complex or ¼ teaspoon brewer’s yeast daily. This will help them digest the food easily while keeping them calm.

It is of great importance that Colorpoint Shorthairs drink adequate amount of water. If the cat does not drink water, adding a flowing fountain or ice cubes will make their drinking water experience more interesting and will make them drink water more often.

Colorpoint Shorthairs love heights and are great jumpers. Cat trees and perches should be provided, as well as different toys for them to play with. Only plenty of playtime exercise will help them maintain their muscular body.

Changing the variety of toys should be considered so that the cat will never get bored with the same toys. Experiments with hiding their toys in different locations will also bring hours of fun; they are very curious, so they will not give up until they find the toy. Many owners make the mistake of using their hands or fingers as prey for their cat, which can be funny with a Colorpoint Shorthair kitten, but not so funny with an adult cat.

Grooming and Upkeep:

Just like their first cousins, Colorpoint Shorthairs do not require much grooming. They do not need to be bathed at all because they groom themselves. Removing loose hairs can be done through gentle brushing with a rubber brush, and grooming can be finished by smoothing the cat with a chamois cloth to give the hair a silky feel.

Accustoming the cat to the grooming process needs to be done as early as possible so that this process can be incident-free.

When it comes to grooming, one important thing that needs to be done is brushing their teeth every day. There are specialized toothpastes for cats that target tartar and plaque buildup. These toothpastes taste great and promote optimal overall health for anycat.

Nail clipping once a month is another general rule for every breed, including the Colorpoint Shorthairs. Cleaning their ears is also a “must”. The ear lobe has to be cleaned with a cotton ball previously moistened with warm water in order to gently remove wax, debris, and dirt. When it comes to cleaning cats’ ears, only the visible parts need to be cleaned; only a vet can remove dirt inside the ear canal.

Characteristic Unique to the Breed:

The Colorpoint Shorthair breed loves playing fetch and learning new tricks. They especially enjoy when children are around because they find little humans very interesting.

Families that are planning to adopt other pets should introduce the new member in controlled circumstances because the Colorpoint Shorthairs want to feel like they are in charge in the home.

They are remarkably sensitive to moods, so if the cat catches his human moved to tears during a sad movie, he will bring them comfort.

They do not have the word “lazy” in their vocabulary. They come when called (if in the mood, of course) and will listen with attention. Ignoring them might lead to a lifelong neurosis, so devoting a lot of attention to the Colorpoint Shorthair is highly recommended.

Health and Wellness:

In general, the same health problems that might affect the Siamese breed can affect the Colorpoint Shorthair. Some of the most common health problems include:

• Amyloidosis, a disease that usually occurs when amyloid (type of a protein) is deposited in the cat’s body organs, e.g. the liver. It can cause lesions, organ dysfunction, or liver failure
• Asthma or bronchial disease
• Crossed eyes
• Congenital heart defects, like aortic stenosis
• Gastrointestinal conditions, like megaesophagus
• Lymphoma
• Progressive retinal atrophy
• Nystagmus, a rare neurological disorder that often causes involuntary rapid movement of the eyes
• Hyperesthesia, a neurological condition that causes cats to constantly groom themselves. It leads to hair loss and acting frantic, especially when cats are petted or touched

Like Siamese, Colorpoint Shorthairs are also prone to tartar formation, plaque buildup, and gingivitis.  Gingivitis might lead to periodontitis, which can further lead to tissue, tooth, and bone loss. That’s why Colorpoint Shorthairs owners must brush their cat’s teeth daily.

4 Interesting Facts about the Colorpoint Shorthair:

1. They are often regarded as “Siamese of a different color” due to their distinctive red, tortie, and lynx point markings.
2. Particolor Colorpoint Shorthairs are almost always females since the color red is carried on the X chromosome.
3. They have more than 100 vocal sounds – 90 more sounds than a dog.
4. They are good for people with allergies because they are low in dander.

Why Choose a Colorpoint Shorthair?

It’s no wonder that at every reputable breeder, there is a long list of people waiting to adopt a Colorpoint Shorthair; the number of people who love this breed is constantly growing. Breeders usually make Colorpoint kittens available when they are three or four months old so that they can have enough time with the mother and the other littermates to socialize. Some people even opt for adult cats because Colorpoint Shorthairs are one of the few breeds that retain their loving, sweet nature their entire lives.

All in all, Colorpoint Shorthairs are a beautiful addition for both the cat show enthusiast and the pet owner. This breed really knows how to show its love, devotion, and intelligence.