Breed Basics
History
Which came first, the Oriental or the Siamese?
The Siamese was imported to Britain from Thailand in the late 1800s. Some of these cats were “pointed,” meaning that the coat had a light background with dark points on the ears, legs, tail, and snout. But other cats were solid -colored, and after years of crossing with Russian Blues, British Shorthairs, and other breeds, the end result was the Oriental Shorthair.
Like the Siamese, the Oriental has a wedge-shaped head with big ears and almond eyes.
Background
If the American Shorthair is a true American cat, the British Shorthair is a true British cat!
Brought to Britain by the Romans over 2,000 years ago, the British Shorthair has come a long way since its early days as a mouser and ratter. Over the years, the British Shorthair interbred with cats native to Britain, and later with Persians (which contributed to their thick coat). Eventually, the breed became more popular for its placid and loyal personality than its hunting abilities.
History
The story of the Scottish Fold begins in a barn.
In 1961, on a farm in Perthshire, Scotland, a small white cat was found in a barn. Her name was