When you decide to expand your family with a furry friend, there are many things to think about.
For instance, you'll want to think about the ideal cat breed for you, its temperament and behavior, and what to anticipate when sharing your living space with a specific feline companion.
For many of you, the cat’s estimated size, as well as its expected health and life expectancy, will certainly be essential.
Of course, taking care of the cat is also very important – its diet, exercise requirements, as well as grooming needs.
This brings us to the medium-haired kitten vs short-haired kitten debate. Which cat would be a better fit for you and your family? What are the differences between them?
Let's find out!
Medium Haired Kitten Vs Short Hair Overview
| Medium-haired kitten | Short-haired kitten | |
|---|---|---|
| Hair length | 2-5 inches | up to 2 inches |
| Grooming needs | Medium to high | Low |
| Shedding level | Medium to high | Low |
| Good for people with allergies | Potential for causing allergies | Yes |
How Are Medium-Haired And Short-Haired Kittens Different?
While some people love to see a lush coat in their kittens, others prefer short-haired kittens that don’t shed much and that don’t need to be brushed often.
However, does reality align with these preferences? Do shorthair cats still shed, too? Is it difficult to take care of a medium-haired kitten?
These are some questions we will elaborate on in future sections for you to get a fair perspective on the issue of medium haired kitten vs short hair.
Hair Length
According to the cat hair length chart, short-haired cats have fur that extends up to 2 inches, while medium-long-haired cats typically have fur that ranges from 2 to 5 inches in length.
Some of the most popular felines with short coats are American Shorthair, British Shorthair, Bengal, and Egyptian Mau.
The Birman, Ragdoll, Havana Brown, and Somali are some of the eligible beauties with medium-long coats.
Medium-haired kittens usually have silky coats that are long enough to still make them look elegant, but not long enough to be characterized as long-haired felines.
You can see a kitten with a medium-long coat in the video below.
Grooming Needs
Even if you haven’t had a kitten ever before, you might make an assumption that medium-haired cats have greater grooming needs in comparison to short-haired ones.
This is true, but you shouldn’t think that shorthaired cats don’t need grooming at all. They still shed, at least to some extent, and their coat needs care and maintenance.
Usually, it should be enough to brush a short-haired kitten once a week. But, this might change during spring and fall, as well as due to some other reasons for increased shedding in cats, such as poor nutrition, and stress or anxiety.
Of course, if you notice your short-haired kittens need grooming, you can brush them more often than once a week. You should use a slicker brush since this is the kind that suits short-haired cats the best.
If your kitten is healthy and young, she should be capable of self-grooming. In cases of specific health conditions—such as obesity or arthritis—she might require your assistance more regularly.
Medium-haired kittens will need grooming more often, approximately two to three times a week, since they are expected to shed more, and their coats are prone to tangling.
While these kittens don't shed as much as their long-haired counterparts, their beautiful coats place them in the ideal middle ground between excessive shedding and dense, short coats.
Brushing these cats a couple of times a week will keep their coats in a nice shape and will remove all the dead hair.
Which Kitten Is A Better Choice For You?
Medium haired kitten vs short hair: Which would better suit you and your family?
There are a couple of things you should consider when making this decision.
1. Cat Allergies
If you or any of your family members suffer from allergic reactions to cats, short-haired cats would be a better choice for you.
Short-haired cats produce less hair and dander, meaning that they’re less likely to cause an allergic reaction in humans.
According to WebMD, around 10% of U.S. citizens have pet allergies, where cat allergies are twice as common as dog allergies.
This is why so many people try to find hypoallergenic cats for sale. If you wish to ensure that your future cat won't elicit allergy symptoms, the best approach would be to spend a few hours with her before definitively deciding to welcome her into your home.
2. Climate You Live In
Coats serve cats as a form of insulation.
Therefore, kittens with medium-long coats will thrive better in cold climates. So, if you live in an area with this type of climate, a medium-haired kitten will be just fine with the weather, and you won’t have to worry about whether it’s cold for it.
On the other hand, short-haired kittens are more suitable for places with warm climates, since they don’t have as much hair to protect them from cold weather.
3. Coat Maintenance
Do you feel prepared and not bothered at all to brush your cat a couple of times a week? If this is the case, a kitten with medium-long fur shouldn't be a problem for you.
If you like a nice, luxurious coat on a cat, but not one that’s long, then a cat like this will be a perfect fit for you!
However, if this appears to be more effort than you're willing to invest, a short-haired kitten would likely be a more suitable option for you.
Kittens like this will usually need to be brushed only once a week, making them low-maintenance pets.
Conclusion
Choosing between a short-haired kitten and a medium-haired one will ultimately depend on your lifestyle and your preparedness for grooming your future pet.
Some people will also need to consider other factors, such as cat allergies, and the climate they live in.
You'll need to determine whether you lean towards a cat with a lavish yet not excessively lengthy fur or a short-haired counterpart that demands less grooming and has a lower potential for allergy triggers.
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