Oriental Shorthair

It is, quite literally, a Siamese without the points. From the 1950s, British breeders crossed Siamese with other shorthaired cats to get the same slender body in even, all-over colours, and that produced the Havana, the Foreign White and the rest of the Orientals; the CFA recognised it in 1972. It has a wedge-shaped head, bat-like ears and green eyes, blue in the whites. Its personality is the Siamese with the volume turned up: glued to its person, very vocal and involved in everything you do. It is often called hypoallergenic because it sheds little, but it produces the Fel d 1 allergen like any other cat.

The coat could not be easier: a rubber mitt once a week. The demands lie in company. It needs daily interaction, hunting games with a wand toy and mental challenges such as puzzle feeders or learning tricks. It copes poorly with long stretches alone; if you work away from home all day, two cats are better. Being slim with little body fat, it seeks out warmth: blankets, heated beds or your lap. Brush its teeth and have its mouth checked every year.

It shares with the Siamese progressive retinal atrophy (rdAc, DNA test available), hepatic amyloidosis, asthma and a tendency to gingivitis and dental problems. Cases of megaoesophagus have also been described. A complete diet, annual check-ups and the parents' PRA test are the basics. If you have allergies, spend time with the breed first: reactions vary from person to person.