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Persian vs Sphynx
The most heavily coated cat against a hairless one; the Persian is placid and quiet, the Sphynx lively, loud and clingy.
Verdict
These two are opposites in coat and energy, yet both need serious grooming. The Persian has a long dense coat that sheds heavily and needs daily combing, and it is placid and quiet. The Sphynx is hairless, sheds almost no hair, but needs regular bathing and skin care, and it is playful, outgoing and scores 1 for independence. Choose the Persian for a quiet indoor home. Choose the Sphynx if you are home most of the day and will keep up the skin routine.
Choose the Persian if
- You want the calmest cat, scoring 1 for energy and 1 for voice.
- You will comb a long coat every day, scoring 5 for grooming.
- You are away more; it scores 3 for independence against 1.
- You live in a small flat; it scores 5 for apartments against 4.
Choose the Sphynx if
- You want a cat that sheds almost no hair.
- You want a very playful, active cat, scoring 5 for playfulness and 4 for energy.
- You are home most of the day and want the most affectionate cat, scoring 5.
- You are willing to bathe it regularly and keep it warm and out of the sun.
Where they are alike
Both are common breeds and both score 4 for children and other pets. Each has a long watch-list, including hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, and no breed is hypoallergenic, so a cat of either type can still trigger symptoms.
Side by side
| Persian | Sphynx | |
|---|---|---|
| Group | Longhair and semi-longhair | Rex, hairless, fold and dwarf |
| Origin | Named for Persia (Iran); developed in Europe | Toronto, Canada |
| 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 | Often quoted at 10-15 years |
| Coat length | Long | Hairless |
| Coat | Long, dense, fine coat standing off the body, with a full ruff and brush tail | Hairless or covered in fine down; skin feels like suede |
| Cat Fanciers' Association | Championship breed since 1906 | Championship breed since 2002 |
| How common | Common | Common |
| Affection | 4 | 5 |
| Energy | 1 | 4 |
| Playfulness | 2 | 5 |
| Talkativeness | 1 | 3 |
| Grooming needed | 5 | 4 |
| Shedding | 5 | 1 |
| Good with children | 4 | 4 |
| Good with other pets | 4 | 4 |
| Happy alone | 3 | 1 |
| Trainability | 3 | 4 |
| 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. | No breed is hypoallergenic. The main cat allergen comes from saliva and skin, not only hair, so a hairless cat can still trigger symptoms. |
| 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 most of the day that wants a warm, outgoing, attention-loving cat and does not mind regular bathing. |
| 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 cat that can live outdoors, or anyone who dislikes skin care routines. |
| 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