Siamese vs Oriental Shorthair
The Oriental Shorthair has the same slim, big-eared Siamese shape, so they are often confused. The big difference is colour: the Siamese is always pointed, while the Oriental comes in hundreds of colours and patterns.
Side by side
| Siamese | Oriental Shorthair | |
|---|---|---|
| Origin | Thailand (once Siam) | Britain and the USA |
| Size | Medium, slim | Medium, slim |
| Weight | Usually 3 to 5.5 kg | Usually 3 to 5 kg |
| Lifespan | Often 12 to 18 years | Often 12 to 15 years |
| Coat | Short, fine and sleek | Short, fine and glossy, lying close to the body |
| Energy | 4 out of 5 | 4 out of 5 |
| Affection | 5 out of 5 | 5 out of 5 |
| Chattiness | 5 out of 5 | 5 out of 5 |
| Grooming needed | 1 out of 5 | 1 out of 5 |
| Good with children | 4 out of 5 | 4 out of 5 |
| Good with other pets | 4 out of 5 | 4 out of 5 |
Scores are our own rough guide. Every cat is different.
The main differences
- Colour: the Siamese has dark points on a pale body and always has blue eyes, while the Oriental can be almost any colour, usually with green eyes.
- Variety: the Oriental is bred in solids, tabbies, smokes and tortoiseshells, as well as pointed-type coats in some registries, so there is far more choice.
- Personality: both are talkative, clever and people-hungry, though the Siamese is often described as slightly more intense.
- Health: they share many of the same concerns, including dental disease, breathing problems and eye conditions.
Choose a Siamese if
- You love the classic pointed look and blue eyes
- You want a famously chatty, devoted companion
- You want the best-known, most widely available of the two
Choose a Oriental Shorthair if
- You want the Siamese shape in a different colour
- You like green eyes and a coat that is a solid, tabby or other colour
- You want a chatty, clever cat with more choice of looks
Our verdict
Choose by looks, because the personalities are very alike. Both want company, talk a lot and need play. Ask breeders about dental, breathing and eye health testing for either.
Read the full guides: Siamese and Oriental Shorthair. Or see more cat breeds. This is a friendly overview, not veterinary advice.
Questions people ask
What is the difference between a Siamese and an Oriental Shorthair?
Colour and pattern. The Siamese is pointed with blue eyes, and the Oriental comes in many colours and patterns, usually with green eyes. The shape is the same.
Are Oriental Shorthairs as noisy as Siamese?
Yes, both are famously chatty.
