Compare
Norwegian Forest Cat vs Sphynx
A large, thickly coated, independent cat against a medium, hairless, very needy one; opposite coats, opposite needs for company.
Verdict
These are opposites in coat, energy and time alone. The Norwegian Forest Cat is large, shaggy, quiet and independent, and it sheds heavily each spring. The Sphynx is medium, hairless, playful and scores 1 for independence, so it needs someone home most of the day, plus regular bathing and skin care. Choose the Norwegian Forest Cat for a calm, sturdy cat and a comb. Choose the Sphynx if you are home often and want a warm, outgoing, attention-loving cat and do not mind the skin routine.
Choose the Norwegian Forest Cat if
- You are out for a workday; it scores 4 for independence against 1.
- You want a quiet cat, scoring 2 for voice against 3.
- You have room for a large cat and tall perches.
- You prefer combing a coat to bathing a bare cat.
Choose the Sphynx if
- You want a cat that sheds almost no hair; it scores 1 for shedding against 4.
- You want a very playful cat, scoring 5 for playfulness against 3.
- You are at home most of the day and want a score of 5 for affection.
- 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 list hypertrophic cardiomyopathy as a concern. Each is a CFA championship breed, the Norwegian Forest Cat since 1993 and the Sphynx since 2002.
Side by side
| Norwegian Forest Cat | Sphynx | |
|---|---|---|
| Group | Longhair and semi-longhair | Rex, hairless, fold and dwarf |
| Origin | Norway | Toronto, Canada |
| 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 | Often quoted at 10-15 years |
| Coat length | Long | Hairless |
| Coat | Long, glossy, water-repellent topcoat over a dense woolly undercoat, with a full ruff and bushy tail | Hairless or covered in fine down; skin feels like suede |
| Cat Fanciers' Association | Championship breed since 1993 | Championship breed since 2002 |
| How common | Uncommon | Common |
| Affection | 3 | 5 |
| Energy | 3 | 4 |
| Playfulness | 3 | 5 |
| Talkativeness | 2 | 3 |
| Grooming needed | 3 | 4 |
| Shedding | 4 | 1 |
| Good with children | 4 | 4 |
| Good with other pets | 4 | 4 |
| Happy alone | 4 | 1 |
| Trainability | 4 | 4 |
| 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. | No breed is hypoallergenic. The main cat allergen comes from saliva and skin, not only hair, so a hairless cat can still trigger symptoms. |
| 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 most of the day that wants a warm, outgoing, attention-loving cat and does not mind regular bathing. |
| 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 cat that can live outdoors, or anyone who dislikes skin care routines. |
| Registries that recognise it |
|
|
| Health conditions to watch |
|
|
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