The Colorpoint Shorthair is a medium-sized breed that is closely related to the Siamese breed and is recognized for its unique colors. They’re an affectionate lap cat that’s energetic and loves to play both independently and with other animals.
Closely resembling its parent breeds (American Shorthair/Siamese) appearance-wise, this breed of cat carries a majority of the Siamese personality with it.
A beautiful and loving cat breed, the Colorpoint Shorthair is fairly popular and well-priced. Any cat lover that’s fond of the Siamese is bound to find this unique breed just as special.
| Colorpoint Shorthair Cat Breed Overview |
| Height | 11-14 inches |
| Weight | 6-14 lbs |
| Lifespan | 8-12 years |
| Colors | The breed can have a variety of colors but closely resembles Siamese colors. The eye color is always blue, with a cream-colored body and different color points. |
| Suitable for | Families with children, other pets, singles, or elderly |
| Temperament | Affectionate, lap cat, playful, family-oriented |
| Breed Traits Overview |
| Lifespan | 3/5 |
| Energy | 4/5 |
| Sociability | 5/5 |
| Health | 4/5 |
History Of The Colorpoint Shorthair
The first Colorpoint Shorthair kittens were born in the 1940s and 1950s. The breeding goal for this breed was to create a Siamese breed with red points.
This would differ from the current Siamese as they usually have seal, chocolate, blue, or lilac color points. To obtain this patterning, a red tabby American Shorthair was crossed with a seal point Siamese.
The breed took off quickly and in 1964, two Colorpoint Shorthair’s, one red and one cream, were awarded championship status with The Cat Fanciers Association.
Today, there is still a discrepancy in the way the breed is recognized. The Cat Fanciers Association and the Canadian Cat Association recognize the Colorpoint Shorthair as its own separate breed. The International Cat Association recognizes it as one variation of the typical Siamese cat.
Since Colorpoint Shorthair breeding began in the 40s and 50s, the breed has become very popular. Revered for its beautiful coat and affectionate personality, many breeders have started to create new genetics for this breed.
How Much Does A Colorpoint Shorthair Cost?
A Colorpoint Shorthair breed costs between $500 and $800 on average. This can range slightly higher from a reputable breeder. The Colorpoint Shorthair is known to be an affordable cat breed.
Since the breed has been established for well over 50 years, finding cat breeders is relatively easy regardless of where you live.
If you find that you’re having trouble locating a breeder, consider checking your local shelters and try adopting.
Personality Traits Of The Colorpoint Shorthair
Colorpoint Shorthair breeds are lapcats that are highly personable and always looking for warmth and comfort from their environment.
They don’t like to be left home alone and will thrive in a busy home environment so they can constantly be around their humans. These cats will also get along well with other pets and have increased enrichment by being around other animals.
This breed does require quite a bit of exercise. They’ll play independently but will be more encouraged to play longer when you get involved. This breed is eager to run around and match your energy.
They’ll play fetch, solve puzzle toys, and chase you around the house. The more you engage to play with them, the more exercise they’ll get.
By providing things like window perches and cat trees, you’ll be able to encourage more climbing and jumping. This will keep your cat fit and maintain good joint health as they age.
They’re a very vocal breed that will communicate with you throughout the day. This breed happily vocalizes with no intention other than to make its presence known. This is something to get used to for cat lovers that have had quieter breeds.
How To Take Care Of A Colorpoint Shorthair
Colorpoint Shorthairs can have some health issues as they age but overall is a relatively low-maintenance breed with very few health issues. They enjoy long lifespans without any significant health conditions.
Just like its Siamese cousin, Colorpoint Shorthairs can develop cross-eyed or other eye problems. Unfortunately, a liver disorder called amyloidosis is also common in old age. Dental problems and breathing problems like asthma and congenital heart defects such as aortic stenosis are all possible.
You can prevent many of their problems by keeping up with grooming and by feeding a balanced and healthy diet. If you notice any problems developing with your cat, be sure to take them to your veterinarian right away.
Diet
This healthy breed doesn’t require any specific diet beyond eating high-quality animal protein. Because of their larger bodies, they can be prone to obesity if being overfed.
Portion their meals out and avoid leaving food in the bowl at all times. If you keep refilling the bowl throughout the day, your cat will continue to eat as the food comes.
Choose cat food that’s high in protein and low in carbohydrates for optimal health. Protein sources should be whole meat products rather than byproducts. Look for a protein percentage of 30% or more per serving.
If you are introducing any new food to your cat or switching between kitten and adult food, always get them tested for allergies first. Dry cat food often contains grains that cats are allergic to. This can cause diarrhea, vomiting, and weight fluctuation.
Grooming
Colorpoint Shorthairs are low-maintenance due to their thin coat type. The ideal grooming schedule is to brush your cat once a week with a soft brush. This will reduce shedding and remove any loose hair that’s building up. You’ll find that even without weekly brushings, your cat won’t shed very much.
By keeping up with your grooming routine, you’ll reduce the amount your cat has to groom itself, which can reduce its chances of getting hairballs.
Keep up with weekly nail checks and trimmings. If you can do nail maintenance once per week, their nails won’t ever get too long and out of hand.
Training
Training Colorpoint Shorthairs is possible as they’re an intelligent and energetic breed. Teaching them to use their litter box and any other cat-specific furniture should be easy. You can then begin teaching them to accept a leash or play fetch.
Since the mixed breed is eager to please their human family, you can train them to play interactive games and to go outside with you. This breed shouldn’t be an outdoor breed but will do fine going on adventures once they’ve been leash trained.
With a breed that’s so eager for attention, you can spend more time training behaviors and tricks. They’ll be happy to spend the extra time interacting with their humans and will be quick to pick up on the commands.
Health
Colorpoint Shorthairs have an average lifespan of 12 – 15 years and can experience some common cat illnesses. The breed has been known to suffer from health issues like congenital heart defects, asthma, and amyloidosis.
Other diseases to be aware of are dental diseases like periodontal disease, which causes swelling in the gum line. They can also be susceptible to eye diseases and being cross-eyed. These genetic disorders can often be avoided by purchasing from a reputable breeder with good genetic composition.
You can easily avoid other common diseases with good veterinary care. Be sure to stay up to date on your cat’s vaccinations and veterinary checkups to avoid any discomfort from infections. Therefore, don’t wait too long between veterinary appointments or you may miss something.
You can also maintain your cat’s health by keeping up with their grooming routine consistently. Periodontal disease risk can be reduced by regularly brushing your cat’s teeth. If you clean their teeth about once a week then bring them in for a professional cleaning twice a year, they’ll maintain good oral health.
Since this breed has large ears, clean them regularly to avoid dirt buildup. This can reduce the chances of your cat getting any ear mites and keep any potential ear infections away.
Physical Attributes Of A Colorpoint Shorthair
The Colorpoint Shorthair has physical characteristics that closely resemble a Siamese. Apart from some differences in coat color, the body structure of the breed is almost an exact match to its parent breed.
- Head: The breed has a wedge-shaped head and a relatively flat skull structure. The snout of the cat is straight.
- Body: Cats of this breed have a muscular body that is long and lean in nature. This gives them an elegant and sleek appearance.
- Ears: Colorpoint Shorthair’s have large ears that come to a point at the tips. The base of the ear is wide and set fairly far apart. he shape of the ears resemble the wedge shape of the head.
- Eyes: The eyes slant towards the nose in an almond shape. The eye size is proportional to head size making them medium. Their eyes are always blue.
- Legs and Paws: The legs are athletic, long, and thin. Although they are relatively tall, leg length is still proportional to body size. The hind legs are longer than the front legs with proportionally sized paws. Paws are generally oval in shape with tidy hair growth.
- Tail: The tail of the Colorpoint Shorthair is long and thin. The tail tapers to a point at the end and has short hair covering it.
- Coat: The coat of the Colorpoint is short and fine. Since they don’t have much of an undercoat, their fur lies close to the body. It’s very silky to the touch and doesn’t require much grooming.
- Color: The body of Colorpoint Shorthairs is generally cream in color; however, points will be shaded differently. On the legs, feet, tail, ears, and muzzle you’ll find shading in different colors, like red. The shading shouldn’t cover the top of the head. The skin color of the nose and paw pads can differ but will generally complement the shading color of the cat.
Conclusion On The Colorpoint Shorthair
The Colorpoint Shorthair is a highly affectionate breed to have around the home. For those looking to have a cat that can be both playful and energetic, but also a cuddly lap cat, this is the ideal breed.
As an intelligent breed, you’ll also find that training and managing poor behaviors is relatively easy with the Colorpoint Shorthair.
This breed is reasonably priced and has very few health issues, making it an excellent choice for any cat lover looking for a new companion.
The colorpoint Shorthair is often viewed as a Siamese cat breed with varying colors of coats. They are also often confused with Oriental Shorthairs or the Devon Rex.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are colorpoint shorthairs hypoallergenic?
The Colourpoint Shorthair breed is related to the Siamese and is considered to be a “hypoallergenic breed”.
Are Colorpoint Shorthairs Talkative?
The Colorpoint Shorthair is a very talkative breed that hates being left alone for long periods. Colorpoint Shorthairs are highly intelligent and will communicate with you all throughout the day. They love to let you know they are there at all times and love human companionship.