Colorpoint Shorthairs are an affectionate breed, devoted
and loyal to their people. Sensitive to their owner’s
moods, Colorpoints are more than happy to sit at your side
or on your lap and purr words of encouragement on a bad
day. Colorpoints, like the Siamese, are talkative and want to
discuss their day with anyone who will listen. If you don’t
seem to want to pay attention to them, they will insist,
following you around the house chattering away in their
somewhat raspy voice. Colorpoints are very intelligent and
easily learn to play games such as fetch. An item as simple
as a wad of paper or as sophisticated as a stuffed mouse will
become the object of their full attention as they demand that
you throw it for them to bring back to you.
The Colorpoint Shorthair, like many of CFA’s breeds, is a
man-made breed. In the 1940s-1950s, a few adventurous
breeders decided that the beautiful Siamese would look
nice in red. A seal point Siamese was bred to a red tabby
American Shorthair, and a breed was born! CFA advanced
the Colorpoints to championship status in 1964 with the red
and cream points, and advanced the lynx and tortie points
in 1969. The Colorpoint Shorthair breed currently includes
16 colors, with body and head type identical to the Siamese.
Today’s Colorpoints are elegant and refined, with long, hard
bodies, fine boning, and wedge-shaped heads with large,
flaring ears. Their almond-shaped eyes are deep vivid blue,
slanted towards the nose, in harmony with the shape of the
wedge head and the placement of the ears. A blindfolded
person holding both a good Siamese and a good Colorpoint
should not be able to tell the difference.
Like their Siamese cousins, Colorpoint Shorthairs require
little grooming. Most never need a bath. Gentle brushing with
a rubber brush will remove loose hairs, and the coat can be
“finished” by smoothing with a chamois cloth. Good food with
lots of protein and plenty of playtime exercise will maintain
the muscular body that is part of the natural beauty of the
Colorpoint. These cats are heat seekers; they enjoy the warmth
of your lap even on warm summer evenings. Colorpoints bask
in the sunlight during the day and sleep under the covers
with you at night. Heed the instructions of your cat’s breeder
when you acquire your Colorpoint Shorthair, and you will be
blessed with a long-lived joyous companion.
When looking for a Colorpoint Shorthair, you should look
for a reputable breeder who will have a series of questions
for you designed to make sure that you and the kitten are
compatible. Do not be surprised if there is a wait of some
sort, especially if you want a particular color or sex. These
little treasures are worth the wait!
Since the Colorpoint is a close relative of the Siamese, there
are sometimes Siamese-colored kittens in the litters, and you
may find these in your search for a companion. With respect
to being someone’s beloved pet, cats of these non-showable
colors are just as wonderful and loving as showable cats, and
you will not notice the difference.
Breeders usually make kittens available between the ages of
14-16 weeks when they have had sufficient time with their
mother and littermates to socialize and have had at least the
basic vaccinations. Many breeders have retired show cats for
adoption, and these adults are a great option for some, as this
breed retains their loving nature their whole lives.
For more information, please send
inquiries to CFA at cfa@cfa.org.