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Cornish Rex vs Norwegian Forest Cat
A small, clingy, high-energy cat with a thin coat against a large, self-possessed longhair that sheds heavily each spring.
Verdict
Think of a clinging sprinter against a steady climber. The Cornish Rex is small, scores top marks for affection and energy, and needs company and warmth. The Norwegian Forest Cat is Large, friendly but scores high for independence, so it copes with time alone far better. It needs a combed coat through the spring moult and height to climb, and it rates poorly for small flats. Choose the Cornish for a close companion, and the Norwegian Forest Cat for a calmer, self-reliant one.
Choose the Cornish Rex if
- You want a cat that stays close and plays all day.
- You have a small or medium home, where the Cornish rates well.
- You want a thin coat with little grooming.
- You will keep the house warm.
Choose the Norwegian Forest Cat if
- You want a large, easygoing cat that copes better with time alone.
- You have space and tall climbing for it.
- You will comb a thick coat, especially through the spring moult.
- You will ask the breeder about glycogen storage disease type IV, heart disease and hip dysplasia.
Where they are alike
Both rate well with children and other pets. Both are friendly, intelligent cats recognised as CFA championship breeds, and both are Uncommon.
Side by side
| Cornish Rex | Norwegian Forest Cat | |
|---|---|---|
| Group | Rex, hairless, fold and dwarf | Longhair and semi-longhair |
| Origin | Cornwall, England | Norway |
| Size | Small | Large |
| Typical weight | 6-9 lb (2.7-4.1 kg); males are slightly larger | 9-16 lb (4-7.3 kg); males are larger |
| Lifespan | 12-15 years | Commonly reported as 15 years or more |
| Coat length | Short | Long |
| Coat | Very fine, soft, tightly waved coat of down hair only, with no guard hairs | Long, glossy, water-repellent topcoat over a dense woolly undercoat, with a full ruff and bushy tail |
| Cat Fanciers' Association | Championship breed since 1964 | Championship breed since 1993 |
| How common | Uncommon | Uncommon |
| Affection | 5 | 3 |
| Energy | 5 | 3 |
| Playfulness | 5 | 3 |
| Talkativeness | 3 | 2 |
| Grooming needed | 2 | 3 |
| Shedding | 2 | 4 |
| Good with children | 4 | 4 |
| Good with other pets | 4 | 4 |
| Happy alone | 2 | 4 |
| Trainability | 4 | 4 |
| Suits a small home | 4 | 2 |
| Allergies | No breed is hypoallergenic. The thin coat sheds less hair than most, but allergens come from saliva and skin as well as fur. | No breed is hypoallergenic. The Norwegian Forest Cat sheds heavily each spring, and people who react to cats usually react to it too. |
| Suits | An active household that wants a playful, people-loving cat and can keep the home warm. | A home with space and tall climbing that wants a friendly, steady, self-possessed cat and will comb it through the spring moult. |
| Less suited to | A cold house, a home that is empty all day, or anyone who wants a calm lap cat. | A small flat with little height to climb, or anyone who wants a clinging 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