While Oriental Shorthairs are closely related to the Siamese cat, they’ve been developed into their own breed. Unlike the Siamese, they come in many colors and don’t just have blue eyes. This range of colors is one reason many people adopt them.

Beyond that, however, the Oriental Shorthair has the same body structure and temperament as the Siamese. They’re also known for being conversational—which is a nice way of saying they are quite loud. Furthermore, they are people-oriented and affectionate.

It’s important to budget appropriately for their needs before you decide to adopt one. They need the same care as other cats, but they can be more expensive to purchase. They’re rare and hard to find, which drives up their price.

Generally, you can adopt an Oriental Shorthair for $50–$350 or buy one from a breeder for $600–$3,000.

Here are guidelines on how much it costs to purchase and care for this cat breed.

Bringing Home a New Oriental Shorthair Cat: One-Time Costs

When you bring home a new Oriental Shorthair, you’ll have a few one-time costs. Several supplies only need to be purchased once (and then replaced very rarely). For example, litter boxes and food bowls don’t need to be purchased every month.

However, when you purchase a rare cat, food, and supplies at once, it can get expensive. Therefore, it’s important to budget appropriately.

Free

An Oriental Shorthair is unlikely to be available for free. Since fewer breeders raise them than other purebred felines, like the Ragdoll, they’re less common, and fewer people rehome them.

Free cats are often free for a reason. Unless you know the owner, you should be cautious.

Adoption

Sometimes, you can find an Oriental Shorthair at a rescue or a local shelter. Breed-specific rescues are probably your best option, but you may not have any in your area. If you’re set on adopting an Oriental Shorthair, you should expect to travel a decent distance, as the odds of finding one in your immediate surroundings are low.

Furthermore, adoptable cats are rarely kittens. They are cheaper than purchasing from a breeder, and most adoption fees cover spaying or neutering, vaccinations, and other maintenance costs.

Breeder

If you want an Oriental Shorthair, a breeder is your best option—though it is also the most expensive. An Oriental Shorthair’s price is significantly affected by the quality of the breeder since high-quality breeders perform genetic testing on cats before breeding. Plus, kittens from breeders have often been checked by a vet and received their first vaccinations.

The “quality” of the kitten will determine their price. Companion-quality kittens make great pets and are cheaper than show-quality kittens. Typically, the quality of a cat is determined only by their physical characteristics, so it doesn’t affect how good of a pet they are.

When purchasing a kitten, be sure to research the breeder. Ask about genetic testing, health guarantees, and vaccination information. Always ask to meet the parents of the cat. Practically all breeders will let you meet the mother at the very least. If a breeder won’t let you, you should be cautious moving forward.

Initial Setup and Supplies

Before bringing your new kitten home, you’ll need to purchase the supplies your cat needs. These supplies include litter boxes, scratching posts, toys, and food. You want everything ready before your kitten comes home.

You should also take your cat to the vet for an initial checkup. However, you don’t always need to pay for treatments right away.

List of Oriental Shorthair Cat Supplies & Costs

How Much Does an Oriental Shorthair Cost Per Month?

Bringing your Oriental Shorthair home is a significant investment. However, you’ll also have to pay for monthly upkeep, which helps cover food, litter, vet expenses, and other costs. Luckily, the monthly cost of owning an Oriental Shorthair is usually less than the bring-home cost.

The monthly cost of taking care of your cat will vary. As cats get older, their monthly costs increase. Therefore, be sure to increase your monthly budget as your cat hits their twilight years.

Here’s a quick estimate of how much you can expect to pay.

Health Care

Oriental Shorthairs are healthy cats. You can help ensure your cat is healthy by purchasing from a quality breeder. Providing the right preventative healthcare can also prevent worse problems down the road. For instance, a teeth cleaning costs several hundred dollars. But if you skip it, your cat may require thousands of dollars of necessary dental work later.

Many Oriental Shorthairs only need to visit the vet once a year for boosters and a check-up. As your cat ages, health problems become more common. Furthermore, your cat may need two check-ups a year when they’re seniors.

You can invest in pet insurance to keep your costs down. However, you’ll still need to budget for out-of-pocket costs.

Food

Luckily, cats are small and consume little food. Therefore, feeding an Oriental Shorthair is much cheaper than feeding a large dog. You should purchase high-quality food that contains plenty of protein from meat. Cats are obligate carnivores, which means that they must consume meat to survive.

Dry food, except for prescription and specialty blends, is usually cheaper than wet food. However, wet food has more moisture, and most cats love the taste. You can feed your Oriental Shorthair a mixture of both and consult your vet for feeding tips and brand recommendations.

Grooming

Oriental Shorthairs have relatively low-maintenance fur. They don’t need professional grooming or even need to be brushed all that often. You should brush their teeth at least a few times a week to prevent dental issues. However, cat-safe toothpaste will last you for months, so you shouldn’t have to purchase a new tube every month.

Some months, you’ll pay nothing for your cat’s grooming. If you decide to get your cat professionally groomed, you spend much more.

Medications and Vet Visits

To prevent fleas and ticks, your vet can prescribe a preventative medication for your Oriental Shorthair. It’s worth considering even if your cat doesn’t spend time outdoors since it’s inexpensive, effective, and protects your cat from disease.

As your cat ages, more vet visits and medication may be needed.

Pet Insurance

Pet insurance can help you cover surprise vet costs for your Oriental Shorthair. You never know when your cat will have an accident or get sick. Pet insurance helps you cover the vet bills in exchange for a monthly premium (which is often much easier to budget for).

Standard accident and illness policies don’t cover routine examinations, procedures for pre-existing conditions, or alternative therapies. However, most providers offer add-on wellness plans that cover vet visits and other veterinary costs.

Environmental Maintenance

Environmental maintenance includes litter and deodorizing products. Depending on the quantity, you’ll need to purchase cat litter a few times a month and completely clean your reusable litter box. Monthly subscriptions that provide a new litter box and litter cost around $30, but purchasing it from your local pet store will likely be more expensive.

You’ll want to purchase some extras too. Deodorizers can make all the difference, and you’ll want an enzymatic cleaner to take care of any cat stains.

Entertainment

Oriental Shorthairs are intelligent, active cats that require plenty of playtime. You should plan on purchasing interactive toys and puzzle feeders to keep them busy, as well as cat towers and traditional toys. You’ll probably spend more time keeping them entertained than other breeds, so plan accordingly. Toybox subscriptions are recommended, though you can also purchase toys individually from your local pet store or online.

The more activities you have around the house for your cat to engage in, the better. You should take into account what your cat likes to do. You can buy several types of toys to determine which is their favorite.

Total Monthly Cost of Owning an Oriental Shorthair Cat

Before adopting a cat, you should ensure you have enough room in your budget to care for the animal properly. Luckily, Oriental Shorthairs aren’t more expensive to care for than other breeds. They’re pretty healthy and don’t grow very large. All of these factors help keep the costs down.

However, you’ll pay more for veterinary care when they reach their senior years.

Additional Costs to Factor In

One additional cost is replacing furniture due to your cat’s destructive behavior. Your feline may have an accident outside the litterbox or scratch up a chair. Replacing these items can get expensive, but it shouldn’t happen often. With training, several toys and scratchers, and plenty of attention from their owners, most Oriental Shorthairs are unlikely to damage furniture or other items.

Pet sitters and boarding may be needed if you go out of town, but cats usually cost less to take care of than dogs. You may also need to pay for emergency vet bills. Having pet insurance can help reduce the impact of these bills. However, if you don’t have pet insurance, you should have a few thousand dollars put back just in case.

Owning an Oriental Shorthair Cat on a Budget

Although they’re expensive to purchase from a breeder, Oriental Shorthairs are possible to own on a budget. If you have friends or family with cats, they may be willing to give you a litter box, cat trees, toys, or other supplies. You can also make DIY toys instead of buying them. Most cats love playing with cardboard and paper and don’t need electronic devices.

Saving Money on Oriental Shorthair Care

You can lower your monthly costs by avoiding “extras.” Many cats don’t care if they have an expensive litter box or one of the cheapest models as long as they’re comfortable using it. Cat beds, scratching posts, and other big-ticket items can be purchased on sale. If you know you’re getting a kitten, purchase the necessary items in the months before to help spread out the cost.

Purchasing anything in bulk, like cat food, can also be cheaper. However, even dry food has an expiration date, so only purchase as much as your cat will eat. For a neutering or spaying procedure, you can use a spay-and-neuter clinic instead of a regular vet office. If you adopt a cat, sterilization, vaccination, and microchipping are usually included in the low adoption fee.

Conclusion

We recommend checking nearby rescue centers and shelters before purchasing an Oriental Shorthair from a breeder. Since they’re rare, you may have to travel a few miles to find a rescue or breeder. Although they’re expensive to purchase, Oriental Shorthairs are relatively inexpensive to care for. However, their vet bills will increase as they age, especially in their late senior years. By buying supplies in bulk, maintaining their veterinary care, and finding creative ways to entertain them, you can reduce the cost of owning an Oriental Shorthair.

See Also: 

• Are Oriental Shorthair Cats Friendly? Temperament & Sociability Explained
• British Shorthair Cat Price & How Much Do They Cost?

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Featured Image Credit: TalyaPhoto, Shutterstock