- Are you planning to adopt a cat?
- Are you at a point where you can’t decide whether to go for Himalayan cats or Siamese cats because of their similarities?
Many new pet parents are confused about whether to go for Siamese cats vs. Himalayan cats because the two cat breeds appear similar. They both possess a similar point color pattern and have strikingly beautiful features. But there are a lot more differences. The two cat breeds differ in appearance, personality, grooming needs, life expectancy, and a lot more. Let’s get started with understanding the differences between Siamese cats vs. Himalayan cats but before we get into the details, let’s take a closer look at each of the two cat breeds.
Siamese Cats
Siamese cats are a natural breed with an ancient origin. The cat breed came from Thailand and made its way to the U.S. and European countries in the 19th century. Since then, the Siamese cat is a popular cat breed that’s famous for its fabulous looks and super-friendly behavior.
With a long and sleek physique and a semi-long pointed and distinctly colored coat, the Siamese cat’s ears, nose, and leg are different from the rest of the body. The original color of the purebred Siamese cat is a seal point, which is quite rare today. However, you can find Siamese cats in various colors on their points, including blue, chocolate, lynx, and lilac.
The striking feature of a Siamese cat is the amicable personality of the pet. Siamese cats are social and enjoy the company of humans and other pets. Moreover, they are very active and demand the owner’s attention. If they feel overwhelmed or ignored, they are also quite vocal, so you as a pet owner need to a lot of time and attention to your Siamese cat.
Himalayan Cats
Unlike the Siamese cats, Himalayan cats are a crossbreed between Persian cats and Siamese cats. Hence the Himalayan cats are a result of human intervention. And because Himalayan cats are crossbred between Siamese cats and Persian cats, they share a few features and personality traits of both the Siamese and Persian cats.
The Himalayan cats are long-haired, furry cats that are available in various colors. Moreover, they have a rounder face and rounder facial features that give them a more bulky appearance. The Himalayan cats have thicker legs and shorter, thicker necks.
If you look at the personality of Himalayan cats, they are a playful cat breed, but they are not very active, curious, and vocal. The breed is more of a laid-back type of pet that needs a lot of grooming because of its thicker, longer fur.
Differences Between Siamese cats vs. Himalayan Cats
Let’s take a closer look at the difference between the two cat breeds so you can make an informed choice.
The Origin
The Siamese cats are a natural breed. They are much older than the Himalayan cats; however, the latter is a result of human intervention. When humans bred Siamese cats and Persian cats, the crossbred was named Himalayan cats. Because of the Siamese cats’ DNA, the Himalayan cats appear familiar to the Siamese cat breed. However, since it is a crossbred between Siamese and Persian cats, the resulting Himalayan cats also have physical features and personality traits that appear similar to the Persian cats.
Appearance
Perhaps the most obvious difference between Siamese cats vs. Himalayan cats is the length of their coat. The two cat breeds may have a similar color tone, but the length of coats differentiates between the two. Siamese cats have a much shorter length of coat compared to Himalayan cats. On the other hand, Himalayan cats have a long, fluffy coat.
Apart from the difference in length of the coat, there is a difference in the body features of Siamese cats vs. Himalayan cats. At a glance, the Himalayan and the Siamese cats may look alike because of the similarity in color, but if you take a closer look, you will realize that the two cat breeds are strikingly different.
The Himalayan cats have a round face, a short nose and because of this distinct nose shape, the face of Himalayan cats look flatter. Moreover, if you look at the ears, the Himalayan cats have small, circular ears. Furthermore, the legs and the neck of Himalayan cats is short and thick. The cat breed has a thick tail with a lot of hair.
On the other hand, Siamese cats have a long and sleek physique with long legs and a long, thin tail with few hair on the tail. Moreover, the facial features of Siamese cats are also different from Himalayan cats. Siamese cats have a triangular-shaped face with long triangular ears.
In all, the Himalayan cats are a lot more boney compared to the sleek and tall figured Siamese cats.
Another difference in the appearance of the Siamese cats vs. Himalayan cats is the difference in their colors. The Siamese cats are available in four traditional seal point colors where certain body areas have a distinct color. On the other hand, the Himalayan cats are available in various color combinations.
Personality
Apart from their appearance, the two cat breeds differ significantly when it comes to personality. Siamese cats tend to be more active and playful. Moreover, they thrive on human attention, so they love to be around you. In fact, Siamese cats love to be involved in all aspects of your life regardless of what you want. Furthermore, Siamese cats are loud and are also quite vocal about their needs.
On the other hand, Himalayan cats are laid-back and quiet felines who enjoy being groomed. They are also quite playful and social, but they are not as active, vocal, and happening as Siamese cats. Himalayan cats are not as vocal as Siamese cats.
Grooming Needs
Because of the obvious difference in the length of the coat, there is a stark difference in the grooming needs of Siamese cats vs. Himalayan cats. The latter requires a lot more grooming, thanks to their long coat. In fact, the Himalayan cats need grooming every day to maintain their look. Moreover, Himalayan cats also need frequent grooming to reduce the risk of developing mats which can cause infection and can also grow into the skin if not treated well in time.
On the other hand, Siamese cats do not have a frequent need for grooming. In fact, brushing your short-haired Siamese cat once a week is usually enough, but if you have a Siamese cat with long hair, it’s best to brush your Siamese cat at least twice a week.
Life Expectancy
Siamese cats have a much longer life span when compared to Himalayan cats. While you can expect your Siamese cat to live up to 20 years and even longer, Himalayan cats have a life expectancy between 12 and 15 years.
Siamese Cats vs. Himalayan Cats – Which One to Choose?
Given the details mentioned in this post, we will surely appear of the differences between Siamese cats vs. Himalayan cats. The Siamese cats are a natural breed, whereas the Himalayan cats are a crossbred between Siamese and Persian cats. Hence, they share features and character traits of both Siamese and Persian cats. Moreover, there is a striking difference in the coat length and physical features of Siamese and Himalayan cats. The Siamese cats have a short coat, whereas the Himalayan cats are furrier and have a longer coat. Moreover, the Siamese cats are more sleek and tall compared to the boney Himalayan cats.
Apart from their appearance, the two cat breeds also differ in their temperament and personality. The Siamese cats thrive on human interaction and want to stay involved in all aspects of your life, but that’s not the case with more mellow and less vocal Himalayan cats. Given the difference in their coat’s length, the two cat breeds have varying grooming needs. While the Himalayan cats need a lot more regular grooming, that’s not the case with the short-haired Siamese cat. Lastly, there is a difference in the life expectancy of the two cat breeds. You can find Siamese cats living longer compared to the Himalayan cats.
So if you want to choose between a Siamese cat vs. a Himalayan cat, it all comes down to you. If you are a stay-at-home person who enjoys the company of a vocal and demanding cat that doesn’t need a lot of grooming, then a Siamese cat is for you. But if you prefer a laid-back pet that’s not quite demanding but needs a lot of grooming, then Himalayan cats are for you.
