| American Shorthair | Balinese | |
|---|---|---|
| Lifespan | 15-20 years | 12-15 years |
| Size | Medium | Medium |
| Weight | 8-15 lb | 4-10 lb |
| Energy | Moderate | Moderate |
| Grooming | Low | Moderate |
| Shedding | Low | Moderate |
| With kids | Good with kids | With supervision |
The 'all-American working cat' story implies a hardy, mixed-heritage constitution, but this is a closed pedigree bred like any other purebred, and Cornell's feline health center lists American Shorthair among the breeds with an elevated rate of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy — the same silent heart disease people specifically worry about in Maine Coons.
A Balinese is essentially a Siamese in a long coat, which means it comes with the same small foundation gene pool and the same documented risk of progressive retinal atrophy, an inherited disease that degrades vision — choosing it over a Siamese for the coat doesn't buy you a healthier cat.
American Shorthair ·
Balinese
Health problems, origin and what living with each is actually like.