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Persian vs Siamese
A placid, silent, long-coated cat against a slender, constantly talking, short-coated one; they sit at opposite ends of the scale.
Verdict
These two breeds sit at opposite ends on almost every score. The Persian is placid, quiet and undemanding, but its long coat needs daily combing and its flat face brings health concerns. The Siamese is slender, active and very talkative, needs almost no grooming and scores 1 for independence, so it wants someone home. Choose the Persian for a quiet indoor home and a daily grooming habit. Choose the Siamese if you are home often, enjoy a cat that follows you and answers back, and want a short coat.
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 4.
- You will comb a long, dense coat every day.
- You have weighed the flat-face welfare debate.
Choose the Siamese if
- You want almost no grooming; it scores 1 for grooming against 5.
- You are home much of the day and want a talker, scoring 5 for voice.
- You want the more playful, cleverer cat, scoring 4 for playfulness and 5 for intelligence.
- You want a short watch-list of two items, progressive retinal atrophy and amyloidosis.
Where they are alike
Both are common breeds and CFA championship breeds since 1906, and both score 4 for children and other pets. Each forms a close bond with its people.
Side by side
| Persian | Siamese | |
|---|---|---|
| Group | Longhair and semi-longhair | Shorthair |
| Origin | Named for Persia (Iran); developed in Europe | Thailand (formerly Siam) |
| Size | Medium | Medium |
| Typical weight | About 7-12 lb (3.2-5.4 kg) | 6-12 lb (2.7-5.4 kg); males are larger |
| Lifespan | Studies put the median near 11 to 12.5 years | 12-15 years |
| Coat length | Long | Short |
| Coat | Long, dense, fine coat standing off the body, with a full ruff and brush tail | Short, fine, glossy coat that lies close to the body, with no undercoat |
| Cat Fanciers' Association | Championship breed since 1906 | Championship breed since 1906 |
| How common | Common | Common |
| Affection | 4 | 5 |
| Energy | 1 | 4 |
| Playfulness | 2 | 4 |
| Talkativeness | 1 | 5 |
| Grooming needed | 5 | 1 |
| Shedding | 5 | 2 |
| Good with children | 4 | 4 |
| Good with other pets | 4 | 4 |
| Happy alone | 3 | 1 |
| Trainability | 3 | 5 |
| Suits a small home | 5 | 4 |
| 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 quiet indoor home where someone has the time to comb a long coat every day and wants a gentle, undemanding companion. | A person or family at home often who enjoys a cat that talks, follows them about and wants to be involved in everything. |
| Less suited to | A busy or noisy house, a home that cannot afford regular grooming and vet care, or anyone who wants an athletic, climbing cat. | Anyone out all day, anyone who wants a quiet cat, or a household that cannot give a lot of attention. |
| 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