Colourpoint Shorthair Cat Breed Information

Group

Short Haired

Weight

2.8-5.4 kg

Length

28-36 cm

Lifespan

12-15 years

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About the Colourpoint Shorthair Cat

Reviewed by:

Dr. Charlotte Francesca Stiles

Veterinarian

As an outgoing and friendly breed, the Colourpoint Shorthair is the type of cat that loves to follow its owners around the home. If you’re looking for a highly affectionate and beautiful breed, then you’re sure to find the Colourpoint Shorthairs a great option to welcome into your home.

Sweet-natured and similar to the Siamese cat in appearance, these are a favourable choice for those fans of the latter breed. In this guide, you’ll learn all about this wonderful cat breed that makes the perfect winter warmers for your lap.

What Is the History & Origin of the Colourpoint Shorthair Cat?

The origins of this breed come from the 1940s or 50s when cat breeders attempted to create a Siamese breed with red points. A red tabby American Shorthair was then bred with a seal point Siamese, and the rest is history. The Colourpoint Shorthair was awarded championship status in 1964 by the Cat Fanciers’ Association, and various colours and patterns were to follow from the original red and cream point.

The International Cat Association recognises these Shorthair cats as a variation of the Siamese Ancestry. However, they are often considered a separate breed as a result.

What Is a Colourpoint Shorthair Cat Breed?

The Colourpoint Shorthair is part of the Siamese cat breed that is fairly similar, except for its colours. They share many of the same physical characteristics and personality traits too. However, with Colourpoints, you’ve got some additional pointed colours to come across as a potential owner of this breed.

These cats are outgoing, friendly and full of beans when it comes to activity levels.

Who Is a Colourpoint Shorthair Cat Best For?

The Colourpoint is a cat that’s best suited for active households with plenty of family members and, ideally, other pets too. They love the attention and the hustle and bustle of an active household.

What Does a Colourpoint Shorthair Cat Look Like?

The Colourpoint’s appearance is one that’s similar to Siamese cats, which is often the breed it gets confused with. The Shorthairs come in sixteen different colours, and just like their Siamese cousin, the Shorthair is long and lean. They have quite a muscular and athletic body, which is the reason why they enjoy lots of activity.

Their wedge head shape and large ears are one that’s complemented by almond-shaped, bright blue eyes.

Coat

The coat of this cat breed is a glossy one with a fine texture, making it difficult when it comes to it showing up around the home and on the floor. A benefit for some, and their coat length is short to medium.

Colours

There are four traditional colours, including seal, chocolate, blue and lilac. With sixteen colours, you may be fortunate to come across any of the following points:

Seal Point
Cream
Red Point
Cinnamon Point
Fawn Point
Chocolate Point
Blue Point/Blue Cream Point
Lilac Point/Lilac Cream Point

Patterns

There are four possible pattern points which include all of the below in any of the following colours above:

Solid point
Lynx point
Tortie point
Torbie point

Colourpoint Shorthair Cat Grooming & Shedding

The grooming part of these cat breeds is relatively easy to manage and care for. Do weekly brushing to help remove loose hair, and the occasional bath will also come in handy.

Check ears for any dirt or redness and clip their nails occasionally when required. They don’t tend to shed a huge amount as long as you’re brushing them regularly to help remove all that loose hair that might be dropping to the floor.

How Do Colourpoint Shorthair Cats Behave? A Look at Their Temperament and Personality

As a natural chatterbox, you’ll love to spend lots of time with this type of cat breed in particular. They are extroverts in their nature, so if you’re an active family or household, their personality and temperament will certainly match yours.

Living Needs

For this medium-sized breed, you don’t necessarily need a huge amount of space in order to keep them satisfied. As long as they’re by the owner’s side, they’ll have no problems adapting to any kind of household space.

What Are Common Habits and Activity Levels of Colourpoint Shorthair Cats?

As a highly intelligent and agile breed, it’s important to note that the Colourpoint Shorthair is one that desires attention and will be good to have in an active household, ideally with other dogs and cats.

Habits

To keep your Colourpoint happy, it’s all about providing them with time and attention. They have typically lazy habits of sleeping soundly on your lap, but they’ll also want to have some playtime where possible. Keeping them busy throughout the day is good for them.

Activity level

Activity levels tend to be medium to high when it comes to giving them plenty of attention. For example, this type of cat will enjoy playing fetch. They may also be fairly good at walking on a leash if you want to get them out of the house from time to time.

As talkative cats, they’ll express their happiness through their voices. Keeping them entertained and providing regular exercise will keep them in their best mood. Give them cat trees to keep them busy.

Vocalness

Some cats can be fairly noisy when it comes to finding and using their voice. Not every cat owner is going to want a loud cat breed, so it’s good to know what vocalness each one has when looking for a cat yourself.

The Colourpoint Shorthairs have a fairly low vocal range in comparison to other cats, which are ideal for those who want a fairly quiet lifestyle.

What Is the Weight, Height, and Size of a Colourpoint Shorthair Cat?

In order to have the right feline pet for your home, it’s important to be aware of the cat’s general size and weight. This will help ensure you pick the right one for your needs and household.

Height

Typically, the Colourpoint Shorthair cats will have a height of around 28-36cms. Their body length is likely to be around 30-40cms.

Weight

Their weight tends to range from 2.8 to 5.4kgs, depending on how well you keep them fed.

In order to maintain their weight, be sure to be conscious of their food and that they’re getting plenty of activity time around the home.

Size

In size, the Colourpoints are often referred to as being a medium size in comparison to other cats.

Are Colourpoint Shorthair Cats Easy to Train?

When it comes to training cats, they need to be trained similarly to dogs. House training is important, and luckily, shorthair cats tend to be fairly intelligent animals. That means they’ll pick up training very quickly.

As Siamese cousins, they’ll draw upon their strengths and natural instincts when it comes to picking up various tricks that you teach them.

Does the Colourpoint Shorthair Cat Have Any Common Health Issues?

As with any cat breed, they can be susceptible to developing health issues over time. With that being said, it’s important to be aware of specific issues that can occur with Colourpoint Shorthairs.

They’re prone to problems with their eyes, and they’ve got background health problems when it comes to liver disorders, dental problems and breathing issues. It’s important to keep up with regular healthcare appointments to make sure they’re being looked after, and any problems can be spotted earlier on.

Vets also recommend regular check-ups, vaccinations and treating your pet for parasites.

What Is the Lifespan of a Colourpoint Shorthair Cat?

They are a great breed for families, especially due to the long life that they have on the planet! You can expect a healthy cat of this breed to have a life expectancy of around 12-15 years. That’s a great amount of time for a cat to enjoy life.

The longer the pets live for families with children, the more memories and life experiences can be made.

How Much Does a Colourpoint Shorthair Cat Need to Be Fed?

Keeping any animal at the ideal weight is important because it helps keep them healthy and avoid any health problems. With Colourpoint Shorthairs, they will need measured amounts of cat food around twice a day when they’re adults. Avoid leaving food out where possible as this may make them prone to snacking too often, leading to weight gain.

It’s always worth seeking the guidance of your vet for feeding advice.

How Much Can You Expect to Pay for a Colourpoint Shorthair Cat in Australia?

The Colourpoint Shorthairs will cost around $1,200, all the way up to $2,000 due to their breed. In Australia, it’s important that you’re buying from registered breeders. As unregistered breeders may be cheaper, but there’s no guarantee that the cat you purchase will be as healthy.

Colourpoint Shorthair Cat FAQs

How do I identify my Colourpoint Shorthair cat?

To identify the Colourpoint Shorthair, you only need to look at their face to notice their appearance is similar to that of a Siamese. The Colourpoint is a cross between the Siamese and Red American Shorthair. As they come in sixteen different colours, they can often get confused for other breeds.

However, you’ll notice that these cats are small in stature and are often known for their raspy voice when being vocal.

How friendly are Colourpoint Shorthair cats?

Colourpoint Shorthairs are loving and loyal cats who become well acquainted with their human family. They’ll likely be bonded to mainly one family member in particular, but they will live with just about anyone and anything as long as they’re given the respect they need.

Do Colourpoint Shorthair cats get along with other dogs?

Colourpoint Shorthairs love to be part of a family, whether that’s young children or a house full of other pets. Again, as long as they’re given the respect they need from both humans and canine/felines, they’ll be perfectly content around others.