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American Shorthair vs Russian Blue
Two calm, independent short-coats; the Russian Blue is quieter, cleverer and shy with strangers, the American Shorthair easier with everyone.
Verdict
These two are close. Both are medium-sized, calm, independent shorthairs with dense short coats and moderate shedding, and both suit apartments. The one thing that decides it is how they treat the people around them. The American Shorthair is easygoing, top-rated for children and unfazed by busy homes. The Russian Blue is quiet, scores higher for intelligence and affection, and is shy with strangers. It prefers a regular routine and a calm house, and it comes only in solid blue-grey in most registries.
Choose the American Shorthair if
- You have young children or many visitors.
- You have other pets, as it scores higher for getting along.
- You want a wide choice of colours.
- You want a cat that adapts to a busy household.
Choose the Russian Blue if
- You want a quiet, gentle, loyal cat.
- Your home is calm and your routine regular.
- You want a clever cat that learns quickly.
- You like the silver-tipped blue-grey coat and green eyes.
Where they are alike
Both cope well with a workday alone and need only moderate coat care. Both are happy in a small home.
Side by side
| American Shorthair | Russian Blue | |
|---|---|---|
| Group | Shorthair | Shorthair |
| Origin | North America, from European cats brought by settlers | Arkhangelsk region, Russia |
| Size | Medium | Medium |
| Typical weight | 6-15 lb (2.7-6.8 kg); males are larger | About 5-12 lb (2.3-5.4 kg); males are larger |
| Lifespan | — | 12-15 years |
| Coat length | Short | Short |
| Coat | Short, dense, hard-textured coat that protects against cold and scratches | Short, dense, plush double coat; the guard hairs have silver tips |
| How common | Common | Uncommon |
| Affection | 3 | 4 |
| Energy | 3 | 3 |
| Playfulness | 3 | 3 |
| Talkativeness | 2 | 1 |
| Grooming needed | 2 | 2 |
| Shedding | 3 | 3 |
| Good with children | 5 | 3 |
| Good with other pets | 4 | 3 |
| Happy alone | 4 | 4 |
| Trainability | 3 | 5 |
| Suits a small home | 4 | 5 |
| Allergies | No breed is hypoallergenic. The dense coat sheds steadily, and people who react to cats are likely to react to this breed. | — |
| Suits | A family or first-time owner that wants a calm, durable, low-maintenance cat that copes with busy homes. | A quiet household or a single person who wants a gentle, loyal, clever cat and keeps to a regular routine. |
| Less suited to | Anyone looking for a very talkative, clingy or highly acrobatic cat. | A noisy house with many visitors, or anyone who wants a cat that greets every guest. |
| Registries that recognise it |
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| Health conditions to watch |
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Facts come from each breed's profile. Scores run from 1 (low) to 5 (high) and describe a breed in general. Every cat is an individual, so meet the cat before you decide.
Last reviewed November 7, 2026