This delicately patterned cat with an unusual beauty is a natural entertainer, full of energy and enthusiasm.
The chance mating between a chocolate- point Siamese (see pp. 104–05) and a Persian Chinchilla produced a litter that included two kittens with shaded silver coats. This aroused breeders’ interest and so began the slow progress toward a new range of Oriental cats.
In a shaded Oriental, the coat is essentially a modified tabby pattern, in which the darker markings occur only on the upper ends of the hairs. These markings, which can appear as ticked, spotted, mackerel, or classic tabby patterns, may be quite pronounced in kittens, but as the cat matures the pattern becomes less distinct and in some cats is barely visible.
Origin: UK, 1970s
Breed Registries: CFA, FIFe, GCCF, TICA
Weight range: 9–14lb (4–6.5kg)
Grooming: Weekly
Colors and patterns: All colors and tabby patterns, except white.