Oriental Shorthair in Australia — the honest 2026 guide
Also known as: OSH
By Catstuff Editorial · Updated 2026-05-13
Affiliate disclosure: Some links on this page earn us a commission at no extra cost to you. We only recommend products and services we'd use with our own cats.
A Siamese in every colour but the Siamese colourpoint. Same loud, demanding, loyal temperament — just in solid, tabby, tortie, smoke, or bicolour. Australia's best-kept secret among pedigree cats.
Oriental Shorthair temperament
Same as Siamese — loud, intelligent, insistent on attention. One-person bonded typically.
History in Australia
Developed in the UK in the 1950s–60s by crossing Siamese with other shorthairs. Outcrossing to Russian Blue, British Shorthair, and Abyssinian in the early generations gave the colour range. Registered in Australia since the 1980s.
Who the Oriental Shorthair suits
Good for:
- Owners who want a Siamese temperament in 300+ colours
- Active households
- Small apartments (they're vertical)
Watch out for:
- Extremely vocal (louder than Siamese in some opinions)
- Demands attention
- Fine bones — careful handling
Caring for a Oriental Shorthair
Daily active play. Two cats is better than one if you're out all day. Rubber-mitt brush weekly. Dental home-care from kittenhood.
Owning a Oriental Shorthair in Australia
Microchipping, desexing, council registration and — increasingly — 24/7 containment apply to every cat in Australia regardless of breed. The full state-by-state rules are in our guide to Australian cat ownership laws.
The part that is Oriental Shorthair-specific: small-sized, very high-energy cats like this one adapt well to containment, which makes the coming by-laws far less of a problem than they are for high-energy breeds. Expect $35 – $55/month on food on top of the $300–600/year routine costs every AU cat owner carries.
Common Oriental Shorthair health issues
- Dental disease
- Progressive retinal atrophy (DNA test)
- Amyloidosis
- Asthma
Insurance note: Low-claim breed overall. Dental disease and progressive retinal atrophy (DNA test) are the top two claims.
Best food for a Oriental Shorthair in Australia
Our top picks based on coat quality, digestion, and AU availability:
- Hill's Science Diet Adult
- Royal Canin Indoor Adult
- Black Hawk Original Feline
Essential gear for a Oriental Shorthair
Four things that genuinely matter for a Oriental Shorthair living in Australia:
5-year cost of owning a Oriental Shorthair in Australia
Sticker price is a fraction of the total. A Oriental Shorthair typically costs $12,080 over its first 5 years in Australia, including $2,000 acquisition, $2,600 first-year setup-and-care, and $1,870/year ongoing.
| Item | Year 1 | Each year after |
|---|---|---|
| Acquisition (breeder mid-range) | $2,000 | — |
| Food | $540 | $540 |
| Litter & sundries | $320 | $320 |
| Vet (preventative) | $350 | $200 |
| Parasite prevention | $150 | $150 |
| Pet insurance | $540 | $660 |
| Desex + microchip + vacc series (one-off) | $220 | — |
| Setup gear (litter tray, scratcher, carrier, bed) | $480 | — |
| Total | $4,600 | $1,870/yr |
Frequently asked questions
Oriental vs Siamese — what's the actual difference?
Only colour. Same body, same head, same temperament, same breeding pool. Orientals come in 300+ accepted colours and patterns; Siamese are only the pointed colours (seal, blue, chocolate, lilac point, etc).
Similar cat breeds
If the Oriental Shorthair doesn't quite fit, these breeds share a similar size and energy profile:
Read next
- Indoor vs Outdoor Cats in Australia — the honest trade-off· 6 min read
- Cat Vaccination Schedule Australia — F3, F4, F5 explained· 5 min read
- First-Year Kitten Cost in Australia — the complete 2026 budget· 5 min read
Still deciding on a Oriental Shorthair?
Run the numbers with our food cost calculator, or compare pet insurance for Oriental Shorthairs before you commit.
Updated 2026-05-13 · Not veterinary advice — always consult your vet.