Foreign White

Cat breed

Overview

The Foreign White is cat breed recognised by the Governing Council of the Cat Fancy (GCCF) and the Australian Cat Federation (ACF); in some other registries it is considered simply a color variety of the Siamese or Oriental Shorthair breeds, and not a breed unto itself. The Foreign White is characterized by its long body, triangle-shaped face, uniformly white coat, and deep blue eyes.

History

History: During the 1960s, the introduction of new colors in the Siamese standard resulted in the birth of fully solid-colored cats. The Foreign White was born from a breeding program aiming to create an all-white Siamese and was recognized by the Governing Council of the Cat Fancy in 1977. Initially, each color of Siamese became a breed; however the federations quickly understood that it was not viable to continue on such a model and merged all the united breeds into one: the Oriental Shorthair. The GCCF decided, however, that the foreign white was a breed in its own right. As of 2022 GCCF and the Australian Cat Federation are the only breeder/fancier organisations to recognize the Foreign White as a breed.

Every pet is one of a kind. This guide covers what's typical for the breed, but your own dog or cat will have their own personality, quirks and needs — think of it as a friendly starting point, not the final word. Whenever you'd like advice tailored to your companion, the team at OC Pets is always happy to help.
Sources (reused under open licences, with thanks): Wikipedia — “Foreign White” (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Wikidata (CC0) · image (CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons) · Compiled by OC Pets Veterinary Clinic, updated 15-06-2026.