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Oriental Shorthair vs Persian
The opposite ends of the scale: a slender, short-coated, talkative and active cat against a placid, long-coated, flat-faced indoor one.
Verdict
The profiles place these two at opposite ends on energy, voice and grooming. The Oriental Shorthair is slender, short-coated, very talkative and athletic, and it needs company and daily play. The Persian is placid and quiet, scores 5 for apartments and for grooming, and needs a long coat combed daily, with breathing and eye concerns from the flat face. Choose the Oriental Shorthair if you are home, active and chatty. Choose the Persian for a quiet indoor home with time for a daily comb and regular vet care.
Choose the Oriental Shorthair if
- You want an active, playful cat; it scores 4 for energy and 5 for playfulness.
- You want almost no grooming.
- You enjoy a very talkative cat, scoring 5 for voice.
- You want the cleverer cat, scoring 5 for intelligence against 3.
Choose the Persian if
- You want the calmest cat, scoring 1 for energy and 1 for voice.
- You live in a small flat; it scores 5 for apartments against 3.
- You will comb a long, dense coat every day.
- You have weighed the flat-face welfare debate and polycystic kidney disease.
Where they are alike
Both are affectionate, scoring 4 or 5, and both are well-established CFA breeds. Each does best indoors and each has a short watch-list that your vet can explain.
Side by side
| Oriental Shorthair | Persian | |
|---|---|---|
| Group | Shorthair | Longhair and semi-longhair |
| Origin | United States and Europe, from Siamese stock | Named for Persia (Iran); developed in Europe |
| Size | Medium | Medium |
| Typical weight | Males about 8-12 lb (3.6-5.4 kg); females under about 8 lb (3.6 kg) | About 7-12 lb (3.2-5.4 kg) |
| Lifespan | Often reported as 12-15 years; few studies | Studies put the median near 11 to 12.5 years |
| Coat length | Short | Long |
| Coat | Short, fine, close-lying coat on a long, tubular body | Long, dense, fine coat standing off the body, with a full ruff and brush tail |
| Cat Fanciers' Association | Championship breed since 1977 | Championship breed since 1906 |
| How common | Uncommon | Common |
| Affection | 5 | 4 |
| Energy | 4 | 1 |
| Playfulness | 5 | 2 |
| Talkativeness | 5 | 1 |
| Grooming needed | 1 | 5 |
| Shedding | 2 | 5 |
| Good with children | 4 | 4 |
| Good with other pets | 4 | 4 |
| Happy alone | 1 | 3 |
| Trainability | 5 | 3 |
| Suits a small home | 3 | 5 |
| Allergies | — | No breed is hypoallergenic. The Persian's long coat sheds heavily and holds dander, and people who react to cats often react to this breed. |
| Suits | A person who is home much of the day and wants a talkative, athletic, affectionate cat and will play with it daily. | A quiet indoor home where someone has the time to comb a long coat every day and wants a gentle, undemanding companion. |
| Less suited to | A quiet home, or anyone who is away for long hours, since this cat dislikes being alone. | A busy or noisy house, a home that cannot afford regular grooming and vet care, or anyone who wants an athletic, climbing cat. |
| 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