| American Shorthair | Siamese | |
|---|---|---|
| Lifespan | 15-20 years | 11-15 years |
| Size | Medium | Medium |
| Weight | 8-15 lb | 8-15 lb |
| Energy | Moderate | Very high |
| Grooming | Low | Low |
| Shedding | Low | Low |
| With kids | Good with kids | Good with kids |
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.
The Siamese's famous 'talking' is not occasional chatter but a loud, persistent, opinionated yowl, and a bored or ignored Siamese will use it at 3am until someone gets up, which is not a personality quirk most new owners are warned about before buying.
American Shorthair ·
Siamese
Health problems, origin and what living with each is actually like.