Breed comparison
Siamese or Oriental Shorthair: Which breed should you choose?
Siamese and Oriental Shorthair are two cat breeds often compared by prospective owners. Here’s a point-by-point comparison to help you decide: size, temperament, purchase price, monthly budget, and compatibility with your lifestyle.
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Key takeaways
- Siamese and Oriental Shorthair are a similar size (2–6 kg).
- Siamese costs less to buy: €600 – €1,200 compared with €600 – €1,500 for Oriental Shorthair.
- The monthly budget is similar for both breeds: about €95 per month.
- Both breeds need a similar level of daily activity (4/5).
- Oriental Shorthair scores higher for “Families and children”: 5/5 compared with 4/5 for Siamese.
- Oriental Shorthair scores higher for “Apartment living”: 5/5 compared with 4/5 for Siamese.
- Oriental Shorthair scores higher for “First-time owners”: 3/5 compared with 2/5 for Siamese.
- Siamese lives longer on average: 15–21 years compared with 12–15 years for Oriental Shorthair.
Our verdict
Choose Siamese if you’re looking for…
- Homes often at home: The Siamese thrives with available people who enjoy interacting often with their cat.
- Fans of expressive cats: It is well suited to those who appreciate a communicative, lively companion close to the family.
- Stimulating apartment living: It can live very well indoors if the environment offers games, height, and regular activities.
Choose Oriental Shorthair if you’re looking for…
- Homes often at home: This breed thrives with available people who enjoy interacting with their cat.
- Enriched apartment living: It can live very well indoors if the space offers games, height and stimulation.
- Fans of expressive cats: Its communicative temperament appeals to those looking for a very interactive companion.
Detailed comparison
| General information | ||
|---|---|---|
| Origin | Thailand | United Kingdom |
| Build | Medium | Medium |
| Height at the withers | 20–30 cm | 20–30 cm |
| Weight | 2–6 kg | 2–6 kg |
| Coat | Short, silky | Short, fine and silky |
| Life expectancy | 15–21 years | 12–15 years |
| Average price | €600 – €1,200 | €600 – €1,500 |
| Monthly budget | ≈ €95 | ≈ €95 |
| Compatibility | ||
| Families and children | Very good | Excellent |
| Daily exercise needs | High | High |
| Apartment living | Very good | Excellent |
| First-time owners | Fair | Good |
| Other pets | Very good | Excellent |
| Tolerance of being alone | Fair | Limited |
| Vocalization | Very talkative | Very talkative |
| Strengths and weaknesses | ||
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