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Norwegian Forest Cat vs Siamese
A large, quiet, shaggy and self-possessed climber against a slender, short-coated, very talkative cat that wants constant company.
Verdict
The profiles point opposite ways on nearly every score. The Norwegian Forest Cat is large, quiet and thickly coated, and it copes with a workday alone. The Siamese is slender, talks constantly, needs almost no grooming and scores 1 for independence, so it wants someone home. Choose the Norwegian Forest Cat for a calm cat with tall climbing space and a comb. Choose the Siamese if you are home often, enjoy a cat that follows you and answers back, and want a short coat.
Choose the Norwegian Forest Cat if
- You are out for a workday; it scores 4 for independence against 1.
- You want a quiet cat; it scores 2 for voice against 5.
- You have room for a large cat of 9-16 lb and tall perches.
- You will comb a thick coat through the spring moult.
Choose the Siamese if
- You want almost no grooming.
- You are home much of the day; it scores 5 for affection and 4 for energy.
- You want a very clever cat, scoring 5 for intelligence.
- You live in a smaller home; it scores 4 for apartments against 2.
Where they are alike
Both score 4 for children and other pets, and both are well-established breeds, the Siamese for much longer than the Norwegian Forest Cat. Each has a short health watch-list, which your vet can explain.
Side by side
| Norwegian Forest Cat | Siamese | |
|---|---|---|
| Group | Longhair and semi-longhair | Shorthair |
| Origin | Norway | Thailand (formerly Siam) |
| Size | Large | Medium |
| Typical weight | 9-16 lb (4-7.3 kg); males are larger | 6-12 lb (2.7-5.4 kg); males are larger |
| Lifespan | Commonly reported as 15 years or more | 12-15 years |
| Coat length | Long | Short |
| Coat | Long, glossy, water-repellent topcoat over a dense woolly undercoat, with a full ruff and bushy tail | Short, fine, glossy coat that lies close to the body, with no undercoat |
| Cat Fanciers' Association | Championship breed since 1993 | Championship breed since 1906 |
| How common | Uncommon | Common |
| Affection | 3 | 5 |
| Energy | 3 | 4 |
| Playfulness | 3 | 4 |
| Talkativeness | 2 | 5 |
| Grooming needed | 3 | 1 |
| Shedding | 4 | 2 |
| Good with children | 4 | 4 |
| Good with other pets | 4 | 4 |
| Happy alone | 4 | 1 |
| Trainability | 4 | 5 |
| Suits a small home | 2 | 4 |
| Allergies | 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 home with space and tall climbing that wants a friendly, steady, self-possessed cat and will comb it through the spring moult. | A person or family at home often who enjoys a cat that talks, follows them about and wants to be involved in everything. |
| Less suited to | A small flat with little height to climb, or anyone who wants a clinging lap cat. | Anyone out all day, anyone who wants a quiet cat, or a household that cannot give a lot of attention. |
| 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