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Norwegian Forest Cat vs Tonkinese
A large, shaggy, quiet and independent cat against a medium, silky short-coated one that is playful, talkative and needs company.
Verdict
Size, coat and need for company separate these two. The Norwegian Forest Cat is large, thickly coated and self-possessed, and it copes with a workday alone. The Tonkinese is medium, short-coated, scores 5 for affection and for playfulness and scores 1 for independence, so it wants a household that is home. Choose the Norwegian Forest Cat for a calm, sturdy cat with tall climbing space and a comb. Choose the Tonkinese for a clever, moderately talkative cat that needs almost no grooming.
Choose the Norwegian Forest Cat if
- You are away for a workday; it scores 4 for independence against 1.
- You want a large cat of 9-16 lb with a full ruff and bushy tail.
- You prefer a quiet voice, scoring 2 against 4.
- You have tall climbing space and will comb through a heavy spring moult.
Choose the Tonkinese if
- You want a short, silky coat; it scores 1 for grooming against 3.
- You are home much of the day, since the breed is prone to loneliness and boredom.
- You have children and other pets; it scores 5 for both against 4.
- You want a smaller home pet; it scores 4 for apartments against 2.
Where they are alike
Both are intelligent cats scoring 4 or higher, and both are uncommon. Each is a CFA championship breed, the Norwegian Forest Cat since 1993 and the Tonkinese since 1984.
Side by side
| Norwegian Forest Cat | Tonkinese | |
|---|---|---|
| Group | Longhair and semi-longhair | Shorthair |
| Origin | Norway | Canada and the United States |
| 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 | Typically 12-16 years |
| Coat length | Long | Short |
| Coat | Long, glossy, water-repellent topcoat over a dense woolly undercoat, with a full ruff and bushy tail | Medium-short, close-lying, fine, silky coat with a lustrous sheen |
| Cat Fanciers' Association | Championship breed since 1993 | Championship breed since 1984 |
| How common | Uncommon | Uncommon |
| Affection | 3 | 5 |
| Energy | 3 | 4 |
| Playfulness | 3 | 5 |
| Talkativeness | 2 | 4 |
| Grooming needed | 3 | 1 |
| Shedding | 4 | 2 |
| Good with children | 4 | 5 |
| Good with other pets | 4 | 5 |
| 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 family or a person at home much of the day that wants a sociable, clever, moderately talkative cat. |
| Less suited to | A small flat with little height to climb, or anyone who wants a clinging lap cat. | Anyone out for long hours; the breed is prone to loneliness and boredom. |
| 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