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Abyssinian vs Cornish Rex
Both are top-energy, playful cats; the Cornish Rex is smaller, more affectionate and needs a warm home.
Verdict
These two are close, and the deciding point is the coat and the warmth it implies. Both score at the top for energy and play, both enjoy company and both need daily activity. The Cornish Rex is smaller, at about 6 to 9 lb, scores top marks for affection and has a fine wavy coat of down hair only, so it needs a warm home. The Abyssinian is a little larger, has a ticked coat that copes with ordinary room temperatures and keeps a quieter voice.
Choose the Abyssinian if
- You keep a cooler home and want a coat that needs no special warmth.
- You prefer a quieter voice.
- You want the higher intelligence score and a cat for puzzle games.
- You want a slightly larger, lean cat of about 8 to 12 lb.
Choose the Cornish Rex if
- You want the most affectionate of the two, with top marks for closeness.
- You want a small, slim cat with big ears and an unusual waved coat.
- You can keep the house warm all year.
- You like a cat that plays hard and then curls up with you.
Where they are alike
Both rank at the top for energy and play and both do best with someone at home. Both get on well with children and with other pets.
Side by side
| Abyssinian | Cornish Rex | |
|---|---|---|
| Group | Shorthair | Rex, hairless, fold and dwarf |
| Origin | United Kingdom, with ancestry traced to the Indian Ocean coast and Southeast Asia | Cornwall, England |
| Size | Medium | Small |
| Typical weight | 8-12 lb (3.6-5.4 kg) | 6-9 lb (2.7-4.1 kg); males are slightly larger |
| Lifespan | 10-13 years | 12-15 years |
| Coat length | Short | Short |
| Coat | Fine, close-lying coat with a ticked (agouti) pattern; each hair carries several bands of colour | Very fine, soft, tightly waved coat of down hair only, with no guard hairs |
| Cat Fanciers' Association | — | Championship breed since 1964 |
| How common | Common | Uncommon |
| Affection | 3 | 5 |
| Energy | 5 | 5 |
| Playfulness | 5 | 5 |
| Talkativeness | 2 | 3 |
| Grooming needed | 1 | 2 |
| Shedding | 2 | 2 |
| Good with children | 4 | 4 |
| Good with other pets | 4 | 4 |
| Happy alone | 2 | 2 |
| Trainability | 5 | 4 |
| Suits a small home | 3 | 4 |
| Allergies | No breed is hypoallergenic. The short coat is easy to keep clean, but people who react to cats may still react to an Abyssinian. | No breed is hypoallergenic. The thin coat sheds less hair than most, but allergens come from saliva and skin as well as fur. |
| Suits | An active household that enjoys play and wants a bright, busy cat that follows its people around. | An active household that wants a playful, people-loving cat and can keep the home warm. |
| Less suited to | Anyone who wants a calm lap cat, or a home where the cat is alone for long stretches. | A cold house, a home that is empty all day, or anyone who wants a calm lap cat. |
| Registries that recognise it |
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| Health conditions to watch |
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Facts come from each breed's profile. Scores run from 1 (low) to 5 (high) and describe a breed in general. Every cat is an individual, so meet the cat before you decide.
Last reviewed November 7, 2026