“Ner-i-kha” in middle Egyptian means “spirit of sacred fire”.  The cat was domesticated in antiquity with the first depictions appearing on temple and tomb walls more than 3,000 years ago in Egypt.  Throughout the centuries, the cat has been a fiery companion, affectionate and yet sometimes aloof, relentlessly eliminating rodents and serving as a hunting companion in the marshes of the Nile.  It is to this enduring and in dominatable spirit that are encouraged and fostered in every kitten born at our cattery.

 

 

 

     My desire to breed the Oriental Shorthair first arose from an experience with a rescued Siamese that left me with a deep appreciation for beauty, agility and intelligence of the foreign shorthairs.  Beyond the boundaries of the colors recognized for Siamese, the Oriental Shorthair was developed to explore all of the possibilities of color on the lithe build of the Siamese.  Fiercely loyal and incredibly intelligent, they will spend hours playing fetch or running agility for their chosen person and are equally at home on a leash as any small dog.

 

 

 

     At Nerikha, I breed for not only the physical characteristics required by the Oriental Shorthair standard, but also the intelligence and distinct personality these breeds are known for.  We are a TICA and CFA-registered cattery and participate actively in both TICA,CFA and FIFe-sponsored shows.