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Abyssinian vs Devon Rex
Both are playful, people-seeking cats; the Devon Rex is smaller, clingier and suits flats, the Abyssinian is larger and busier.
Verdict
Both cats play hard, learn fast and want company. The Abyssinian has the higher energy score and the bigger frame, at about 8 to 12 lb, and suits a home with room to climb. The Devon Rex weighs about 6 to 9 lb, scores top marks for affection, is the least independent of the two and fits a small flat well. It also needs a warm home. Pick the Abyssinian for a roving climber and the Devon Rex for a clinging clown.
Choose the Abyssinian if
- You want the more energetic, athletic cat.
- You keep a cooler house and prefer a coat that needs no special warmth.
- You prefer a quieter voice than the Devon Rex offers.
- You want a long-established breed with a ticked coat.
Choose the Devon Rex if
- You live in a small flat, where it scores best of the two.
- You want a lap-seeking cat that loves to be near you.
- You can keep the house warm and handle its fragile whiskers gently.
- You are happy to ask your vet about its muscle, skin and kneecap watch-list.
Where they are alike
Both rank at the top for play, and both have short coats that shed lightly. Both get on well with children and other pets, and both want someone at home.
Side by side
| Abyssinian | Devon Rex | |
|---|---|---|
| Group | Shorthair | Rex, hairless, fold and dwarf |
| Origin | United Kingdom, with ancestry traced to the Indian Ocean coast and Southeast Asia | Devon, England |
| Size | Medium | Small |
| Typical weight | 8-12 lb (3.6-5.4 kg) | 6-9 lb (2.7-4.1 kg); males are somewhat 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 | Soft, short, wavy coat with sparse, curled guard hairs; fragile whiskers |
| Cat Fanciers' Association | — | Championship breed since 1983 |
| How common | Common | Common |
| Affection | 3 | 5 |
| Energy | 5 | 4 |
| 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 | 1 |
| Trainability | 5 | 4 |
| Suits a small home | 3 | 5 |
| 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 Devon Rex sheds less hair than many cats, but allergens also come from saliva and skin. |
| Suits | An active household that enjoys play and wants a bright, busy cat that follows its people around. | A warm, busy home with someone around much of the day and a taste for a clinging, playful cat. |
| 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 left empty all day, or someone who wants a calm cat that keeps its distance. |
| 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