Compare
Cornish Rex vs Persian
A small, athletic, thin-coated rex against a calm, long-coated, flat-faced lap cat that needs daily combing and regular vet care.
Verdict
The Cornish Rex and the Persian sit at opposite ends of almost every score. The Cornish is small, scores top marks for energy and play, and has a thin coat that needs little care. The Persian is the calmest cat here, scores lowest for energy and voice, and has a long coat that needs combing every day and sheds heavily. Choose the Cornish for an active, close companion in a warm home. Choose the Persian for a placid indoor lap cat if you can afford grooming and vet care.
Choose the Cornish Rex if
- You want a playful, athletic cat.
- You want little grooming and light shedding.
- You prefer a small cat of 6 to 9 lb.
- You would rather not manage the flat-face health issues.
Choose the Persian if
- You want a quiet, gentle cat for a calm home.
- You will comb a long coat every day.
- You live in a small home, where the Persian rates top marks.
- You will plan for kidney, breathing, eye and heart checks with your vet.
Where they are alike
Both rate well with children and other pets, and both are CFA championship breeds. Both suit a household where someone is home through the day.
Side by side
| Cornish Rex | Persian | |
|---|---|---|
| Group | Rex, hairless, fold and dwarf | Longhair and semi-longhair |
| Origin | Cornwall, England | Named for Persia (Iran); developed in Europe |
| Size | Small | Medium |
| Typical weight | 6-9 lb (2.7-4.1 kg); males are slightly larger | About 7-12 lb (3.2-5.4 kg) |
| Lifespan | 12-15 years | Studies put the median near 11 to 12.5 years |
| Coat length | Short | Long |
| Coat | Very fine, soft, tightly waved coat of down hair only, with no guard hairs | Long, dense, fine coat standing off the body, with a full ruff and brush tail |
| Cat Fanciers' Association | Championship breed since 1964 | Championship breed since 1906 |
| How common | Uncommon | Common |
| Affection | 5 | 4 |
| Energy | 5 | 1 |
| Playfulness | 5 | 2 |
| Talkativeness | 3 | 1 |
| Grooming needed | 2 | 5 |
| Shedding | 2 | 5 |
| Good with children | 4 | 4 |
| Good with other pets | 4 | 4 |
| Happy alone | 2 | 3 |
| Trainability | 4 | 3 |
| Suits a small home | 4 | 5 |
| 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 Persian's long coat sheds heavily and holds dander, and people who react to cats often react to this breed. |
| Suits | An active household that wants a playful, people-loving cat and can keep the home warm. | A quiet indoor home where someone has the time to comb a long coat every day and wants a gentle, undemanding companion. |
| Less suited to | A cold house, a home that is empty all day, or anyone who wants a calm lap cat. | A busy or noisy house, a home that cannot afford regular grooming and vet care, or anyone who wants an athletic, climbing 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