When it comes to choosing cats there are not very many breeds to chooses from.  Most people choose based the decison on the color or type of coat that they have.  The main difference that can exsist between them would be the length of the coat.  Most people have short hair cats, but some people long for that big fluffy lap cat.  There are two main differences with the two cats, they are the care of the fur, and the difference in the level of allergens.

Now it seems pretty obvious that there would be more care with a long haired cat, but some people do not sometimes realize.  Short hair cats need only be brushed once or twice a week, the rest of the work they should be able to manage on their own.  However, a long haired cat needs much more help maintaining they beautiful coat.  They will need to be brushed much more often, maybe three or four times a week.  Also, because the hair is long they may have problems using the litter box, and you may have to cut certain undesireable things out of the hair.  Also, with long haired cats you may not notice problems with the skin or notice things like ear mites.  These are easy to fix things if they are noticed early enough.  With a short haired cat these problems might be noticed much faster and easier.

The other main factor is the allergen factor.  For most people this is already a problem and is something that you need to be consience about.  Contrary to popular belief it is not the hair that effects most people, but is a protein found in the urine, dander, and saliva.  So the actual hair length itself does not make you more allergic, but it does allow for more of the allergens to be present.  On the other hand, a short hair cat has less hair to carry allergens around, and can clean itself more throughly, removing those harmful proteins.

Both cats will make great pets its just important to choose the one that will best fit into your lifestyle.