Abyssinian vs Oriental vs British Shorthair Cat Breed Comparison
"Find similarities and differences between Abyssinian vs Oriental vs British Shorthair"
Compare Abyssinian and Oriental. Which is better: Abyssinian or Oriental or British Shorthair?
![]() | ![]() | ![]() |
| Name | Abyssinian | Oriental | British Shorthair |
|---|---|---|---|
| Origins | |||
| Group | Natural | Natural | Natural |
| Popularity Rank | 10 | 16 | 3 |
| Reviews | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| User Ratings | |||
| Other Names
What other names do they have? | Abys | Oriental Shorthair | Highlander, Highland Straight, Britannica |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price
Which one is cheaper, Abyssinian vs Oriental vs British Shorthair cat? | $900 to $1500 | $800 to $1500 | $1,500 to $3,000 |
| Cost Of Ownership | High | Moderate | Moderate |
| Breed Recognition |
The International Cat Association (TICA) Cat Fanciers' Association (CFA) American Cat Fanciers Association (ACFA) | No data available |
The International Cat Association (TICA) American Cat Fanciers Association (ACFA) The Cat Fanciers' Association (CFA) Fédération Internationale Féline (FIFe) |
Abyssinian vs Oriental vs British Shorthair Size, Appearance and Physical Traits Comparison
| Size
Which is bigger, Abyssinian or Oriental or British Shorthair cat? | Medium The medium-sized cats usually weigh 10-15 pounds and are 8-11 inches long from the nose down. | Small The small-sized cats usually weigh 5-11 pounds and are 7-10 inches long from the nose down. | Large The large-sized cats usually weigh 10-20 pounds and are 10-16 inches long from the nose down. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weight
Which is heavier, Abyssinian or Oriental or British Shorthair? | Male: 8 - 12 pounds, Female: 6 - 8 pounds | Male: 8 - 12 pounds, Female: 6 - 8 pounds | Males: 12–18 pounds, Females: 9-15 pounds |
| Bite Force | Weak Bite Strength: Less than or around 10 PSI | Weak Bite Strength: Less than or around 10 PSI | Strong Bite Strength: Greater than or around 15 PSI |
| Body Type |
Foreign (Oriental) Abyssinian have a slender, elongated body with a narrow chest and long legs. |
Foreign (Oriental) Oriental have a slender, elongated body with a narrow chest and long legs. |
Cobby This body type is a mix between the cobby and foreign types. |
| Ear Shape |
Large Pointed Wide-set |
Large Pointed Wide-set |
Medium Rounded Wide-set |
| Eye Color |
Gold Green | Green |
Gold Copper |
| Hair Color and Pattern |
Ruddy Red Blue Fawn | All coat colours and patterns, including solid, tabby, tortoiseshell, bicolor, tricolor, and colorpoint. | Wide range of colors and patterns, including solid, tabby, bicolor, and more. |
| Coat
What is the difference between Abyssinian, Oriental and British Shorthair coats? | Shorthair | Short Hair | Short Hair |
| Leg Lenght | Medium | Medium | Medium |
| Whisker Length | Short | Medium | Medium |
| Musculature | Lean | Muscular | Muscular |
| Head Shape | Triangular | Triangular | Round |
| Toe Count |
5 front 4 back |
5 front 4 back |
5 front 4 back |
| Eye Shape And Orientation | Almond-shaped | Almond-shaped | Round |
| Night Vision | |||
| Paw Size | Medium | Medium | Medium |
| Nose Structure | Straight | Straight | Button |
| Neck Length | Medium | Medium | Medium |
| Fur Texture |
Fine Short Silky |
Soft Curled |
Soft Curled |
| Bone Density | Medium | Medium | Medium |
| Flexibility | High | High | High |
| Bone Structure |
Slender Fine | Robust | Robust |
| Tail Length | Long and Tapered | Long and Tapered | Long and Tapered |
| Sleep Patterns |
Active Less Sleep |
Calm More Sleep |
Active Less Sleep |
Abyssinian vs Oriental vs British Shorthair Special Abilities Comparison
| Attention Span | Long, focused and curious | Long, vocal and social | Long, enjoys calm activities |
|---|---|---|---|
| Guarding Instinct | Moderate | Low | High |
| Protection Instincts | Moderate | Low | High |
| Climbing Ability | High | High | Moderate |
| Jumping Ability | Excellent | Good | Moderate |
| Swimming Ability | Poor | Poor | Poor |
| Water Affinity | |||
| Rescue Capability | Poor | Poor | Moderate |
Abyssinian vs Oriental vs British Shorthair Health Comparison
| Litter Size | 3-5 Kittens | 2-4 Kittens | 2-4 Kittens |
|---|---|---|---|
| Special Needs |
Active Intelligent Requires mental stimulation |
Affectionate Moderate grooming |
Low maintenance Independent |
| Breeding | Requires experienced breeders, moderate litter size | Requires grooming knowledge, small to moderate litter size | Easy to breed, large litter size |
| Dietary Preferences | High protein, low carbs | Low fat, high fiber | High protein, wet food |
| Solo Time Tolerance | High | High | Medium |
| Noise Sensitivity | Low | Low | Moderate |
| Genetic Diversity | Low | Low | Moderate |
| Sensitivity To Changes | Medium sensitivity | High sensitivity | Medium sensitivity |
| Food Motivation | Moderate | Low | High |
| Feeding Schedule |
Twice a day Morning and Evening |
Twice a day Morning and Evening |
Twice a day Morning and Evening |
| Maintenance Level | Low | Low | Moderate |
| Exercise Needs | High | Medium | Medium |
| Life Expectancy
Which will live longer, Abyssinian or Oriental or British Shorthair? | 14-15 years | 12-14 years | 12-17 years |
| Energy Level
Which is more energetic, Abyssinian vs Oriental vs British Shorthair cat? | The Abyssinian cat has a very high energy level. | The Oriental cat has a very high energy level. | The British Shorthair cat has a lower energy level than other cats. |
| Hypoallergenic
Which cat is hypoallergenic, Abyssinian or Oriental or British Shorthair? | No Abyssinian cats don't do well with allergy sufferers by causing an allergic reaction. | Yes Oriental cats do well with allergy sufferers by causing fewer allergic reactions. | No British Shorthair cats don't do well with allergy sufferers by causing an allergic reaction. |
| Common Health Issues
Which cat is healthier, Abyssinian vs Oriental vs British Shorthair? | High Abyssinians tend to have more frequent health issues than other breeds. | High Orientals tend to have more frequent health issues than other breeds. | Low Very healthy cat breed. |
| Health Problems |
Pyruvate Kinase Deficiency (PKD) Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) Periodontal Disease |
Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM) Asthma |
Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM) Obesity Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD) |
| Climate | Hot | Temperate | Temperate |
| Cold Tolerance | High | Medium | Medium |
| Heat Tolerance | High | Medium | Medium |
| Breeding Difficulty | Medium | Medium | Easy |
Abyssinian vs Oriental vs British Shorthair Characteristics and Personality Comparison
| Common Vocalizations | Quiet meows and chirps | Loud and talkative | Soft and gentle meows |
|---|---|---|---|
| Interaction With Other Pets | Generally good, enjoys companionship | Good, very social and playful | Good, calm and tolerant |
| Facial Expression | Alert and curious | Vocal and affectionate | Calm and easygoing |
| Tail Behavior | Flicks tail when excited | Vocal and affectionate tail movements | Gentle swaying when calm |
| Explorer Instincts | High | Moderate | Moderate |
| Attention Needs | High | High | Low |
| Protectiveness | Moderate | Low | High |
| Territoriality | High | Low | High |
| Independence | High | High | High |
| Response To Commands | High | High | Moderate |
| Adaptability To Indoor Life | High | High | High |
| Hunting Drive | High | High | Moderate |
| Play Style |
Active Curious Interactive |
Active Social Playful |
Playful Gentle Calm |
| Escape Tendencies | High | High | Low |
| Curiosity | High | High | Moderate |
| Hunting Skills | High ⬆️ | Moderate ⏺️ | Moderate ⏺️ |
| Reaction To Strangers | Friendly | Friendly | Cautious |
| Stalking Behavior | High | High | Moderate |
| Aggression Level | Moderate | Low | Low |
| Training Difficulty | Moderate | Easy | Moderate |
| Agility | High | High | Moderate |
| Travel Compatibility | High | Medium | Medium |
| Activity | Highly Active | Moderately Active | Moderately Active |
| Compatibility With Other Animals |
High Friendly Tolerant |
Playful Medium |
Playful Medium |
| Household Noise Tolerance | High | Medium | Medium |
| Playfulness | Energetic Explorer. Abyssinian are extremely playful and energetic. | Active Adventurer. Oriental are quite playful and enjoy frequent play sessions. | Balanced Playmate. British Shorthair have a balanced playfulness. |
| Trainability | Highly Trainable: Abyssinian cat breeds are the most intelligent, responsive, and eager to learn, making them excellent candidates for training, obedience, and tricks. | Average Trainability: Oriental cat breeds are less interested in training and obedience, but can still learn basic commands and routines with enough practice and rewards. | Moderately Trainable: British Shorthair cat breeds require more patience, repetition, and reinforcement to learn new commands and behaviors, but can still be trained successfully with consistent efforts. |
| Lap Cat
Which cat is lap type, Abyssinian or Oriental or British Shorthair? | Yes This cat loves to sit on his owner's lap. | Yes This cat loves to sit on his owner's lap. | Yes This cat loves to sit on his owner's lap. |
| Temperament
Which one has a better personality, Abyssinian or Oriental or British Shorthair? | Active | Energetic | Affectionate |
| Adaptability
Which cat has a higher adaptability potential? | Abyssinian cats adapt very well to lifestyle changes and basically all living environments. | Oriental cats adapt very well to lifestyle changes and basically all living environments. | British Shorthair cats adapt very well to lifestyle changes and basically all living environments. |
| Affection Level
Which is the more affectionate cat breed: Abyssinian vs Oriental vs British Shorthair? | High: Abyssinian cats are genuinely loyal, soft and gentle, loving and affectionate cats toward their handlers. | High: Oriental cats are genuinely loyal, soft and gentle, loving and affectionate cats toward their handlers. | Average to High: British Shorthair cats are highly affectionate cats. |
| Child Friendly
Which cat is more kid-friendly, Abyssinian or Oriental or British Shorthair? | The Abyssinian cat is a child-friendly breed. | The Oriental cat is a child-friendly breed. | The British Shorthair cat is a child-friendly breed. |
| Dog Friendly
Which cat is more dog-friendly, Abyssinian or Oriental or British Shorthair? | Dog-friendly: Abyssinian cats generally get on well with dogs. | Very dog-friendly: Oriental owners often find that their cats get along very well with the family dog. | Very dog-friendly: British Shorthair owners often find that their cats get along very well with the family dog. |
| Intelligence
Which cat is smarter, Abyssinian vs Oriental vs British Shorthair? | Outstanding: Abyssinian is one of the brightest cat breeds. | Outstanding: Oriental is one of the brightest cat breeds. | Average: the British Shorthair cat has an average level of intelligence. |
| Social Needs
Which cat is more social, Abyssinian or Oriental or British Shorthair? | Lots: this cat breed needs lots of social interaction. | Lots: this cat breed needs lots of social interaction. | Average: they need as much social interaction as the average cat. |
| Stranger Friendly
Which cat is more stranger friendly, Abyssinian or Oriental or British Shorthair? | Above-average: this cat breed gets on well with strangers. | Average: this cat breed gets on relatively well with strangers. | Below average: this cat breed tends to have difficulty getting along with strangers. |
| Vocalization
Which cat is the loudest, Abyssinian or Oriental or British Shorthair? | Low Low vocalization cats are a category of cats that typically make less noise than other cats. | Frequent This cat breed meows very often. | Low Low vocalization cats are a category of cats that typically make less noise than other cats. |
Abyssinian vs Oriental vs British Shorthair Grooming Comparison
| Seasonal Shedding | Low | Low | Moderate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grooming Tools Needed |
Brush Nail Clipper Comb |
Brush Comb Deshedding Tool |
Brush Nail Clipper Comb |
| Dental Care | High | High | High |
| Grooming
Which is easier to groom, Abyssinian or Oriental or British Shorthair? | Low Maintenance Occasional grooming is recommended to keep the Abyssinian coat in good condition. | Low Maintenance Occasional grooming is recommended to keep the Oriental coat in good condition. | Low Maintenance Occasional grooming is recommended to keep the British Shorthair coat in good condition. |
| Shedding
Which cat sheds less, Abyssinian or Oriental or British Shorthair? | Minimal This cat breed sheds much less than the average. | High If you're looking for a cat that won't leave a trail of fur everywhere they go, you might want to rethink your choice of pet. | Minimal This cat breed sheds much less than the average. |
Popular Cat Compares
Sharing is caring.
Help our free service by spreading information about cat breeds.
Link to this: Abyssinian vs Oriental vs British Shorthair Cat Breed Comparison
<a href="https://dogell.com/en/compare-cat-breeds/abyssinian-vs-oriental-vs-british-shorthair">Abyssinian vs Oriental vs British Shorthair Cat Breed Comparison</a>
Help our free service by spreading information about cat breeds.
Link to this: Abyssinian vs Oriental vs British Shorthair Cat Breed Comparison
<a href="https://dogell.com/en/compare-cat-breeds/abyssinian-vs-oriental-vs-british-shorthair">Abyssinian vs Oriental vs British Shorthair Cat Breed Comparison</a>



