Colorpoint Shorthair
The Colorpoint Shorthair is recognised by the CFA as a separate breed from the Siamese — though genetically it is a Siamese in all but colour.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Origin
United States
Lifespan
12–16 years
Weight
3–5 kg (6.5–11 lbs)
Height
20–25 cm (8–10 in)
Exercise
15 to 25 min/day
Diet
Obligate carnivore — high-quality wet and dry food.
Taxonomic Hierarchy
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Chordata
Class
Mammalia
Order
Carnivora
Family
Felidae
Genus
Felis
The Story
The Colorpoint Shorthair is recognised by the CFA as a separate breed from the Siamese — though genetically it is a Siamese in all but colour. When American breeders in the 1940s and 1950s crossed Siamese with red domestic shorthairs and Abyssinians to introduce red, cream, and tabby point colouration — colours not originally found in the Siamese — the CFA chose to register the resulting cats as a separate breed (Colorpoint Shorthair) while maintaining the Siamese as restricted to its four classic colours. In personality, conformation, and health, the Colorpoint Shorthair is identical to the Siamese.
Also Known As
Quick Facts
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Physical Profile
Source: wikimedia
Identical to the modern Siamese — long, tubular, elegant body, wedge-shaped head, large triangular ears, almond-shaped vivid blue eyes. The distinguishing feature is the point colour — red, cream, tortoiseshell, or tabby (lynx) points rather than the classic seal, blue, chocolate, or lilac of the CFA Siamese.
Grooming
Low
Shedding
Low
Coat Length
short
Coat Type
smooth
Brushing
1x-Weekly
Bathing
Rarely
Coat Colors
Recognized By
Source: wikimedia
Temperament & Personality
Identical to the Siamese — extremely vocal, demanding, intelligent, and people-dependent.
Personality Scores
Adaptability
4/5Attention Need
4/5Friendliness
4/5Playfulness
4/5Protectiveness
1/5Living Profile
Ideal Space
Apartment
Daily Exercise
15 to 25 min/day
Ideal Weather
15°C to 32°C
Indoor/Outdoor
Indoor-Preferred
Cognitive Benchmarks
Adaptability
40%
Attention
40%
Playfulness
40%
Communication Style
Vocal Profile
chatty
Stress Signals
over-grooming, excessive vocalisation, pica, withdrawal
Care & Wellness
Professional Care Protocol
- •Same as Siamese — minimal grooming, high social needs, pairs recommended, regular dental care.
Nutrition Notes
Abyssinian × Siamese cross. Ticked colourpoint pattern. Same health risks as both parents — PRA, amyloidosis, PkDef.
Vaccination Schedule
Vaccination Schedule
Senior Care
PRA. PkDef. Amyloidosis. Dental disease. Abyssinian body with Siamese colourpoint + ticking. 10-15 years.
Wellbeing Activities
Nutrition & Sustenance
Daily Calories (Adult)
350 kcal
Daily Calories (Young)
250 kcal
Recommended Foods
Foods to Avoid
Health Overview
Same as Siamese — amyloidosis, PRA, HCM, dental disease.
Common Conditions
Price Estimates
Pricing Guide
Average estimates as of 2025
Abyssinian × Siamese. India: suits climate.
Purchase Price
$800 to $2,000
Adoption Fee
$75 to $300
Data from 2025
Fun Facts
The Colorpoint Shorthair's separate breed status from the Siamese is a CFA-specific classification decision — TICA, FIFe, and most other registries consider the red/cream/tortie/tabby-pointed Siamese-type cats simply as Siamese or Oriental Shorthairs.
The red point (flame point) Siamese-type — one of the Colorpoint Shorthair's most popular varieties — was the target of the original development programme in the 1940s. Red point males are particularly valued as they cannot be tortoiseshell (tortoiseshell requires two X chromosomes, so red points are almost exclusively male).
