Oriental Shorthair vs Sphynx

Verdict

These are close on temperament. Both are playful, affectionate, clever and want someone home. The thing that decides it is the coat. The Oriental Shorthair has a short close-lying coat that needs almost no care and talks more. The Sphynx is hairless, sheds almost no hair, but needs regular bathing and skin care and a warm home. Choose the Oriental Shorthair for the easiest coat and a chatty cat. Choose the Sphynx if you are happy with the skin routine.

Choose the Oriental Shorthair if

• You want almost no grooming; it scores 1 against the Sphynx's 4.
• You want the most talkative cat, with a voice score of 5 against 3.
• You want the cleverer cat, scoring 5 for intelligence against 4.
• You want hundreds of colour and pattern combinations.

Choose the Sphynx if

• You want a hairless cat that sheds almost no hair; it scores 1 for shedding.
• You want a cat that is slightly easier to live with in a smaller home; it scores 4 for apartments against 3.
• You are willing to bathe it regularly and keep it warm and out of the sun.
• You want a breed that is common and easy to find.

Where they are alike

Both are medium cats scoring 5 for affection and 4 for energy, and both do well in a home with someone around. No breed is hypoallergenic, and a hairless cat can still trigger symptoms because the main cat allergen comes from skin and saliva.