Certain characteristics occur in many or most Orientals. They love to sleep in heaps or piles, their ears flap when they shake their heads, they love warm places, they are busy and intelligent, they like to sleep under the covers,many fetch, many like riding on shoulders. They are very devoted to their people, following you around the house, seeking physical contact. They are generally social, doing best if they have other feline companionship and a fair amount of attention from their humans. They tend to be talkative, athletic, and inquisitive.
However, I have noticed over the years that Orientals tend to frequently come in certain specific personality types. Friends of mine and I have named some of these types (listed below). These types are not mutually exclusive, some cats fit multiple descriptions. They are ordered alphabetically, not by frequency. Currently my cats most commonly are "cuddle bugs", "fetchy monsters", "pests", "social butterflies", or "worry worts".
Airhead: Sweet but spacey. If this
cat is a fetcher she or he is really easy to fake out. Spends a lot of
time staring off into space. If female, is often a mediocre mother, may
move half of her kittens to one place and the other half to another. If
a male, often notices only food and girls.
Bitch Queen: Top cat. Very
dominant.
Is a very good but very protective mother. Beats up all other cats on a
regular basis. Does not
adapt
well to changes in the feline group. When she attacks another cat she
pricks
up her ears and charges, usually wastes little time in posturing,
appears
to enjoy violence. Should star in a Quentin Taratino movie. Makes
a great only cat, where she can be queen of all she surveys.
Cuddle Bug: Loves to be attached
to
your body. Sleeps under the covers or curled on your pillow against
your
face. Materializes into your lap the moment you sit down. Purrs a lot.
Earth Mother: Loves kittens. Is a
fabulous mother. Has tons of milk. Kittens are always spotless and
content.
Has big litters, and takes care of the Airhead's and Princess's kittens
too if given a chance. Even when her kittens are grown, she still
cleans
their ears and faces.
Favorite Uncle: Usually a neutered
male. Takes good care of partly grown kittens. Plays gently with them,
sleeps in a heap with them, cleans faces and ears, comes running if one
sounds distressed.
Fetchy Monster: Lives to play
fetch.
Nothing else matters. Is tireless. Impossible to fake out. If
you stop throwing the toy, will poke, nip, or yelp to remind you to
keep
going. I had one that noticed that humans sleep with their hands curled
up. She discovered that if she pressed her favorite fetch-toy into a
sleeping
human's hand, the simian reflex would cause the human to grasp the toy.
It is really annoying to wake up to a pair of green eyes staring
intently
at you and to have the fetch toy already clutched in your hand!
Goofball: Usually a boy. Silly,
loopy,
and not very graceful. Slams
into walls when playing. Thunderfoots around corners and skids accross
the floor. Loves belly rubs. Sleeps in an ungraceful heap, with at
least
one foot sticking out or up into the air. Favorite toy is usually
something
big he can cart around. Is prone to abruptly flopping over in the
middle
of the floor, making a loud THUNK in the process. When you call him he
hurls himself into your lap in a purring body-slam.
Green-eyed Monster: Jealous,
jealous,
jealous. No-one else had better try to get in your lap or get petted
when
this one is around.
Lover: Usually a male. Adores you. Stares lovingly into your eyes. Jumps into your lap and leans against you, staring up at your face. Gives hugs. Will wrap his front legs around your neck, your arm, your thighs, whatever is available. Rubs his head against you. Will try to crawl under your shirt to get closer to your skin. Is usually smart and considerate, knows when you're too busy to give him attention and waits fairly patiently until you're free.
Pest: Won't leave you alone.
Refuses
to learn what the words "No" or "Get down" mean. Is usually terminally
cheerful and purring, but may be a whiner. Whatever you are doing, this
kitten is in the middle of it. You can't tie your shoes, cook or eat
dinner,
talk on the phone, write out your bills, or even walk with this
annoying
creature around. Wants tons of attention. These are the kittens that I
look for large families with small children for them.
Princess: She knows she is beautiful. Very opinionated. The world must revolve around her, and boy does she go into a snit if things don't go her way! She is sweet (so long as she is the center of attention) and graceful, but very demanding. She gets along well with all cats that are properly friendly and differential to her. Is a TERRIBLE combination with a Bitch Queen. Usually not a wonderful mom, is great with her kittens for the first few weeks, but loses interest quickly. Can be dreadful showcat if she decides that she doesn't like it.
Social Butterfly: Loves everybody.
Loves a party. Thinks that the more people there are, the more hands
will
be there to be petted with. Gets along well with other cats, dogs, and
kids. If a fetcher, will take the fetch toy to a different person each
time. Has little or no loyalty.
The
Center Of The Universe (TCOTU):The Universe exists to serve this
cat. The universe exists because of this cat. TCOTU is
always happy, always purring. There is no doubt, no fear, no
insecurity, no anger. The air is for her to breathe, the sunlight
exists for her to bask in. You exist to give her attention and
food. You must pet her, you will find that you have no choice,
just like the world has no choice but to turn. The word “No” has
no meaning when applied to TCOTU, though clearly it does to the lesser
cats. No cats fights with TCOTU. TCOTU fights with no cat.
The Bitch Queen and the Princess are irrelevant, and to their dismay,
they know it. Other cats clean her face and her ears. When you
look into the eyes of TCOTU you hear the hum of creation
“Ommmmm”. Everything IS, and everything is perfect.
Wild Man/ Wild Woman: Moves fast, thinks fast, causes a LOT of trouble. Plays hard, bites hard, purrs loud. If you are playing with your cats with a stick toy, or a fishingpole type toy, this cat flies through the air, grabs the toy, wrenches it out of your hand and runs off with it, growling. Loves to ambush the other cats. Chatters at birds, catches flies and eats them. Tears up and down the stairs. Rolls over on stairs and bites them and kicks them. Loves belly rubs, but beware! will bite and kick your arm in the process.
Wimp: Bottom cat. Runs from everything and everybody. Runs, and even walks, with belly low to the ground. Is REALLY annoying because although this cat may have been born and raised in your bedroom, with cuddle bugs and pests for siblings, you'd think the cat had been abused as a baby. This cat flinches you reach out to pet him or her. When you are sitting still, this cat may creep into your lap, and if you start petting slowly and carefully, may start purring thunderously, acting as if no-one had ever been nice before, and then a sudden movement or a noise and off he or she runs. Arggh!
Worry-wort: Has a great deal of concern about the house, other cats, cat shows, etc. Toys may be scary or threatening. Strange people might like to eat cat-soup. If a mother, is usually a great mom until the kittens start getting out of the box, then she almost has a nervous breakdown. Tries to put the kittens back in the box. Tries to keep them herded together. Seems to be worrying that they are going to join street gangs and become drug addicts is she can't keep them under control all the time. Is a lousy subject for photographers, thinks the camera might be a weapon of mass distruction. Tends to hunch back when judges try to stretch.