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Devon Rex vs Norwegian Forest Cat
A small, clinging, thin-coated rex against a large, self-possessed longhair that sheds heavily each spring and needs height to climb.
Verdict
The Devon Rex and the Norwegian Forest Cat differ most on attachment and size. The Devon is small, scores top marks for affection and play, and scores lowest for independence, so it needs a person close by. The Norwegian Forest Cat is Large, steady and friendly, scores high for independence and lower for affection, and does not cling. It needs a combed coat through the spring moult and rates poorly for small flats. Choose the Devon for a constant companion, and the Norwegian Forest Cat for a calmer, self-reliant one.
Choose the Devon Rex if
- You want a cat that stays on or near you.
- You live in a small home, where the Devon rates top marks.
- You prefer a thin coat that needs little grooming.
- You will ask your vet about hereditary myopathy, atopic dermatitis and patellar luxation.
Choose the Norwegian Forest Cat if
- You want a large, easygoing cat that does not cling.
- You have space and tall climbing.
- You will comb a thick coat, especially in spring.
- 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 and are CFA championship breeds. Both are intelligent and live 12 years or more.
Side by side
| Devon Rex | Norwegian Forest Cat | |
|---|---|---|
| Group | Rex, hairless, fold and dwarf | Longhair and semi-longhair |
| Origin | Devon, England | Norway |
| Size | Small | Large |
| Typical weight | 6-9 lb (2.7-4.1 kg); males are somewhat 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 | Soft, short, wavy coat with sparse, curled guard hairs; fragile whiskers | Long, glossy, water-repellent topcoat over a dense woolly undercoat, with a full ruff and bushy tail |
| Cat Fanciers' Association | Championship breed since 1983 | Championship breed since 1993 |
| How common | Common | Uncommon |
| Affection | 5 | 3 |
| Energy | 4 | 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 | 1 | 4 |
| Trainability | 4 | 4 |
| Suits a small home | 5 | 2 |
| Allergies | No breed is hypoallergenic. The Devon Rex sheds less hair than many cats, but allergens also come from saliva and skin. | No breed is hypoallergenic. The Norwegian Forest Cat sheds heavily each spring, and people who react to cats usually react to it too. |
| Suits | A warm, busy home with someone around much of the day and a taste for a clinging, playful cat. | 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 left empty all day, or someone who wants a calm cat that keeps its distance. | 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