by Raven Lebeau

Created on: April 08, 2009

The Colorpoint Shorthair is an elegant, exotic-looking breed of cat. The Colorpoint Shorthair's long limbs and neck, large ears, and extremely short fur give him a distinctive appearance that is enhanced by the dramatic splashes of color on his tail, paws, and face. The majority of a Colorpoint Shorthair's body is usually white, hence the name of the breed- a Colorpoint Shorthair has color only on the "points" of his body.

Colorpoint Shorthairs were originally produced by breeding Siamese cats with Domestic Shorthairs. The Siamese heritage is what gives the Colorpoint Shorthairs their distinctive face and body shape. In fact, other than the coloring, the breed standard is identical for Siamese cats and Colorpoint Shorthairs.

There are several subcategories of Colorpoint Shorthair. Some Colorpoint Shorthairs display tabby coloration on their points. These cats are called "lynx points" and are further classified by the specific color of their stripes. Lynx points can be seal, chocolate, blue, lilac, red, or cream. Some Colorpoint Shorthairs are known as "parti-colors" or "torties". These cats have mottled coloring at their points, which is a product of their dual Siamese and Domestic Shorthair genes.

Colorpoint Shorthairs are popular with people who suffer from cat allergies. While there is no such thing as a completely hypoallergenic cat, Colorpoint Shorthairs produce little dander. This means that being around a Colorpoint Shorthair is less likely to trigger allergy symptoms than being around most other cat breeds.

Like Siamese cats, Colorpoint Shorthairs are highly vocal and known for being friendly and seeking attention. If you choose to bring a Colorpoint Shorthair into your home, it is a good idea to have more than one cat, especially if you often leave the home for long periods of time. Colorpoint Shorthairs need plenty of attention, which makes them excellent companion cats, but also means they should not be forced to live in isolation.

Another advantage of the Colorpoint Shorthair is his short coat, which needs little care from his owner. The coat of a Colorpoint Shorthair will not become matted, though you can brush your cat if you like.

If you are thinking of bringing a Colorpoint Shorthair into your home, try a rescue organization first. If you cannot find a Colorpoint Shorthair to adopt, be sure to choose a reputable breeder before purchasing a kitten. The Cat Fancier's Association (CFA, maintains a list of recommended breeders.

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