While British Shorthair comes from Great Britain, Persian has Persia (known as Iran today) origin.

But honestly, breeds' origin doesn't reveal a lot about it, so please keep reading to learn more about these interesting breeds.

Although both breeds share the same origin (Great Britain), it's important to consider their differences as well.

Here is some basic information about these breeds:

British Shorthair vs Persian Appearance

British Shorthairs are longer.

British Shorthairs have an average length of 22 to 25 inches and a weight of 7 to 17 pounds.

On the other side Persians, have a typical length of 14 to 18 inches and an average weight of 7 to 12 pounds.

Temperament

No doubt, each cat has its own temperament, but we'll try to make some generalizations and help you choose the breed that will fit

Affectionate with Family

British Shorthairs and Persians are known as breeds with a medium need to be around people. They will meow at you when feeding time comes, and they will come to you for cuddles, but they will equally demand their time.

They may come to you when they want and it can be a matter of only a few minutes. They may also decide to spend an entire day on their spot.

For those who want an independent cat, these breeds are to be considered welcoming. To enable the balance they need, think about installing a cat window seat.

Kid-Friendly

It's no secret that cats and kids tend to keep their distance apart, as kids often see them as moving toys and rush to grab them. This is something that cats aren't comfortable with, and will react in defense.

That being said, if you have kids, you shoud probably get a 4, as they are usually more patiente with children than 2s are.

Of course, each cat is different, and proper socialization and introduction is neccessery.

Friendly Toward Strangers

British Shorthairs are more friendly than Persians. What does it mean to you?

Generally you should avoid Persians in some cases:

• Your home is always full of people
• You like to make parties at your home
• You consider getting a cat for office or working place
• You travel a lot and plan to leave your cat with your friends
• You plan traveling or commuting with your cat in the transporter

Otherwise no worries, both breeds should do fine, just Persians might be a more reserved in the beginning when meeting new people.

Pet Friendly

Cats being generally friendly is one thing, but being friendly toward other pets is a completely different thing.

This trait must be taken into account if you've got another pet, so let's see do these breeds compare.

British Shorthairs are generally more pet friendly than Persians.

Cats usually tolerate dogs because they are not so territorial beings as dogs are, but make sure that their introduction is done safely.

If you notice your feline moving away from pets, do not force them to mingle, or spend time together. As a general rule, cats and birds shouldn't be under the same roof.

Potential for Playfulness

In general, cats tend to play. They may not enjoy long playtime sessions, but they should display some playfulness.

A lack of interest in play is often a clear indicator that the cat isn't feeling well. Luckily, if you get British Shorthair or Persian, you should know that they are not naturally into playtime.

Both British Shorthair or Persian are calm and peaceful cats who prefer to be left alone. They won't refuse cuddling seasons, but you won't see them chasing a ball around your place either.

They are great as indoor cats, and more than suitable for apartment living. What they need is their corner to spend their days without major activities.

General Health

A healthy diet, proper grooming, and exercise should keep your feline in top shape.

British Shorthairs are usually considered as a healthy and resilient breed and should reach their senior years without major issues, as long as you deal with responsible breeders and provide regular veterinarian check-ups.

Unfortunately, the same doesn't stand for Persians.

Their health is considered as average or below average, so if you decide to get a Persian, be sure to choose a reputable breeder, known for breeding cats with good genetics.

Grooming

Cats are natural groomers. They may love to hide, get into small holes, and explore different scents, but they will do their best to clean themself afterward.

Owning a Persian will be more demanding than owning a British Shorthair as they require more grooming.

But don't let this fret you. Each breed requires grooming (brushing, trimming nails, hair trimming and combining, shaving mats, etc), it's just a matter of how frequently you should groom them.

Shedding

Nobody enjoys the facts cats shed, but if you hate that, you should probably stick to British Shorthairs, as they shed less than Persians.

However, don't forget that all cats need regular brushing, but how often depends on the breed.

Cats are not too fond of being handled, so invest in high-quality (and proper) grooming tools to make the brushing process easier and short.

Tendency to Vocalize

There are two types of cats: talkative, and silent.

But there are also two types of people: people who like talkative cats, and people who don't.

Therefore, you should consider this characteristic when you're choosing the perfect cat breed.

With British Shorthair, you will probably deal with a breed with a high tendency to be vocal, while Persians are often described as a breed with a medium tendency to vocalize.

Intelligence

Both breeds are described as smart cats. They may not be super intelligent, but they do have their own rhythm of doing things right.

Just like the majority of cats, they will know the sound of their name, and might even know the name of the people living inside their household.

As cats of average intelligence, both breeds' intelligence is comparable to that of a 2-year-old human toddler. At least, this is the case if your cat is an adult cat and not a kitten.

Kittens have their own process of learning things which is far slower.

All in all, these breeds are for you if you want a cat that will learn but won't push you to provide them with daily mental challenges.

The Final Word

We hope our British Shorthairs vs Persians comparison helped you to choose the right breed for you.

You can use the tool below to make a new comparison.