Scottish Fold vs Siamese

Verdict

Voice, energy and health risk divide these two. The Scottish Fold is quiet, calm and compact, and it copes with a little time alone, but the fold gene is linked to a painful bone and cartilage disorder. The Siamese is slender, active, very talkative and scores 1 for independence, so it needs someone home. Choose the Scottish Fold only after weighing that welfare debate with your vet. Choose the Siamese if you are home often and enjoy a cat that follows you and answers back.

Choose the Scottish Fold if

• You want a quiet cat, scoring 2 for voice against 5.
• You want a calm cat; it scores 2 for energy against 4.
• 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 Siamese if

• You want almost no grooming; the short fine coat scores 1 against 2.
• You want the cleverer, more playful cat, scoring 5 for intelligence and 4 for playfulness.
• You want the more affectionate cat, scoring 5 against 4.
• You want a breed with a shorter watch-list of two items and no ear-fold welfare debate.

Where they are alike

Both are short-coated, score 4 for children and other pets, and are common breeds. Each is a CFA championship breed, the Siamese since 1906 and the Scottish Fold since 1978.