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The Colorpoint Shorthair has Siamese ancestry, but it has more color variations. It sometimes even has a red point from the Persian family, but it can also have cream points, tabby points, and tortoiseshell points. Today, most registries view the Colorpoint Shorthair as a type of Siamese, not its breed.
Breed Overview
Height:
12 – 14 inches
Weight:
9 – 18 pounds
Lifespan:
9 – 20 years
Colors:
Tabby, chocolate, white, blue, red, lilac, black, tortoiseshell
Suitable for:
Any cat-loving household
Temperament:
Calm, friendly, relaxed, fun-loving
To learn more about this interesting cat, keep reading.
Colorpoint Shorthair Cat Characteristics
The Earliest Records of the Colorpoint Shorthair in History
The Colorpoint Shorthair came about in the 1940s1. During this time, breeders in England and America tried to produce a Siamese-style pointed cat that came in other colors. As a result, these breeders started crossing Siamese with Abyssinians and Red Domestic Shorthair. Eventually, the American Shorthair came into the pot as well.
From this breeding, the Colorpoint Shorthair came about, but it didn’t necessarily meet some of the breeder’s expectations. To preserve the colors, the Breeders had to sacrifice the Siamese body type. It became even more difficult when working with the red color since this coloration is sex-linked.
From the 1940s onwards, breeders have continued to develop the Colorpoint Shorthair, though it isn’t always recognized by cat registries as its breed.
How the Colorpoint Shorthair Gained Popularity
The Colorpoint Shorthair was pretty popular from the time it was created in the mid-20th century. Most people who were a fan of this cat liked Siamese cats specifically. They ended up getting on the Colorpoint Shorthair boat because this cat looked like a Siamese but had different color variations.
Formal Recognition of Colorpoint Shorthairs
The idea behind the Colorpoint Shorthair was to create a new breed that had the markings of a Siamese cat while having different colors. According to the Cat Fanciers Association, the Colorpoint Shorthair is its breed.
Based on the stipulations of the Cat Fanciers Association, Colorpoint Shorthairs come from Siamese ancestry and have colors other than the traditional Siamese colors. So, these cats need to have red, cream, tabby, or tortoiseshell points.
Interestingly, the Cat Fanciers Association is the only organization that gives formal recognition to the Colorpoint Shorthair breed. All other organizations only recognize this cat as a different variant of the Siamese breed.
Top 3 Unique Facts About the Colorpoint Shorthair
There’s a lot of interesting information to know about Colorpoint Shorthairs. Here are the top three unique facts about this breed.
1. They are talkative
Most people know that Siamese cats are very talkative. Colorpoint Shorthairs took after their Siamese parents in this respect. They are very talkative. They can create over 100 vocal sounds, which is much more than any other breed.
2. Males can be aggressive
Male cats are typically more aggressive than females, and this is especially true of the Colorpoint Shorthair. Colorpoint Shorthair males are sometimes described as overly aggressive towards animals. They are known to fight other cats if they think their territory is being invaded. Some will fight just to express dominance.
3. Cinnamon and fawn points are not Colorpoint Shorthairs
Cinnamon and fawn points are not traditional Siamese colors. Even so, cats with these points are not considered Colorpoint Shorthairs either. Instead, cats that have cinnamon or fawn points are considered Oriental Shorthairs, according to both the CFA and CCA.
Does the Colorpoint Shorthair Make a Good Pet?
Whether or not a Colorpoint Shorthair will make a good pet largely depends on your lifestyle. These cats are loving and playful. They are super affectionate and want to be around people all the time. If you expect to be home a lot and want a feline best friend, a Colorpoint Shorthair will make a good pet.
That being said, Colorpoint Shorthairs are not always ideal. If you don’t intend to be home a lot, you should select a more independent breed. Likewise, you should not get a Colorpoint Shorthair if you do not want a vocal cat.
Conclusion
The Colorpoint Shorthair is an interesting breed. Depending on who you ask, some may say that it is not its breed at all but just a version of a Siamese cat. Still, these cats are unique because they have their color points, which makes them stand out from other Siamese.
If you decide that you want a Colorpoint Shorthair as a pet, you might want to go with the females simply because the males are overly aggressive. From there, make sure your lifestyle matches the needs of a Colorpoint Shorthair. You need to be home frequently and willing to tolerate a vocal cat.
- See Also: Javanese Cat (Colorpoint Longhair Cat)
Featured Image Credit: Sergey Dubrov, Shutterstock
