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Abyssinian vs Oriental vs Somali Cat Breed Comparison

"Find similarities and differences between Abyssinian vs Oriental vs Somali" Compare Abyssinian and Oriental. Which is better: Abyssinian or Oriental or Somali?
 
 
 
Name Abyssinian Oriental Somali
OriginsEthiopia flagEthiopia United States flagUnited States Somalia flagSomalia
Cat Breeds By Country Of Origin
Group Natural Natural Mutation
Popularity Rank101662
Reviews000
User Ratings

Other Names
What other names do they have?
Abys Oriental Shorthair Fox Cat, Long-Haired Abyssinian
Price
Which one is cheaper, Abyssinian vs Oriental vs Somali cat?
$900 to $1500 $800 to $1500 $1000 to $1500
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 No data available

Abyssinian vs Oriental vs Somali Size, Appearance and Physical Traits Comparison

Size
Which is bigger, Abyssinian or Oriental or Somali 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.
Small
The small-sized cats usually weigh 5-11 pounds and are 7-10 inches long from the nose down.
Weight
Which is heavier, Abyssinian or Oriental or Somali?
Male: 8 - 12 pounds, Female: 6 - 8 pounds Male: 8 - 12 pounds, Female: 6 - 8 pounds Male: 10 - 12 pounds, Female: 6 - 10 pounds
Bite ForceWeak Bite Strength: Less than or around 10 PSI Weak Bite Strength: Less than or around 10 PSI No data available
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.
 Semi-foreign
Somali have a moderate build, more elongated than cobby cats but not as slender as foreign cats.
Ear Shape Large
Pointed
Wide-set 		Large
Pointed
Wide-set 		Large
Pointed
Tufted
Eye Color Gold
Green 		Green No data available
Hair Color and Pattern Ruddy
Red
Blue
Fawn 		All coat colours and patterns, including solid, tabby, tortoiseshell, bicolor, tricolor, and colorpoint. No data available
Coat
What is the difference between Abyssinian, Oriental and Somali coats?
Shorthair Short Hair Long Hair
Leg Lenght Medium Medium Medium
Whisker Length Short Medium Medium
Musculature Lean Muscular Slender
Head Shape Triangular Triangular Triangular
Toe Count 5 front
4 back 		5 front
4 back 		5 front
4 back
Eye Shape And Orientation Almond-shaped Almond-shaped Almond-shaped
Night Vision
Paw Size Medium Medium Medium
Nose Structure Straight Straight Concave
Neck Length Medium Medium Medium
Fur Texture Fine
Short
Silky 		Soft
Curled 		Short
Dense
Bone Density Medium Medium Medium
Flexibility
High
High
High
Bone Structure Slender
Fine 		Robust Slender
Fine
Tail Length Long and Tapered Long and Tapered Plumed
Sleep Patterns Active
Less Sleep 		Calm
More Sleep 		Average

Abyssinian vs Oriental vs Somali Special Abilities Comparison

Attention Span Long, focused and curious Long, vocal and social Moderate, playful and affectionate
Guarding Instinct Moderate Low Moderate
Protection Instincts Moderate Low Moderate
Climbing Ability High High High
Jumping Ability Excellent Good Excellent
Swimming Ability Poor Poor Moderate
Water Affinity
Rescue Capability Poor Poor Moderate

Abyssinian vs Oriental vs Somali Health Comparison

Litter Size 3-5 Kittens 2-4 Kittens 1-3 Kittens
Special Needs Active
Intelligent
Requires mental stimulation 		Affectionate
Moderate grooming 		Active
Intelligent
Requires stimulation
Breeding Requires experienced breeders, moderate litter size Requires grooming knowledge, small to moderate litter size Requires careful selection, moderate litter size
Dietary Preferences High protein, low carbs Low fat, high fiber Balanced diet
Solo Time Tolerance High High High
Noise Sensitivity Low Low Moderate
Genetic Diversity Low Low Moderate
Sensitivity To Changes
Medium sensitivity
High sensitivity
High sensitivity
Food Motivation Moderate Low Moderate
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 High
Life Expectancy
Which will live longer, Abyssinian or Oriental or Somali?
14-15 years 12-14 years 12-16 years
Energy Level
Which is more energetic, Abyssinian vs Oriental vs Somali cat?
The Abyssinian cat has a very high energy level.
The Oriental cat has a very high energy level.
The Somali cat has a very high energy level.
Hypoallergenic
Which cat is hypoallergenic, Abyssinian or Oriental or Somali?
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
Somali cats don't do well with allergy sufferers by causing an allergic reaction.
Common Health Issues
Which cat is healthier, Abyssinian vs Oriental vs Somali?
High
Abyssinians tend to have more frequent health issues than other breeds.
High
Orientals tend to have more frequent health issues than other breeds.
High
Somalis tend to have more frequent health issues than other breeds.
Health Problems Pyruvate Kinase Deficiency (PKD)
Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA)
Periodontal Disease 		Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA)
Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM)
Asthma 		Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA)
Periodontal Disease
Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM)
Climate Hot Temperate Temperate
Cold Tolerance High Medium Medium
Heat Tolerance High Medium High
Breeding Difficulty Medium Medium Medium

Abyssinian vs Oriental vs Somali 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, playful and friendly
Facial Expression Alert and curious Vocal and affectionate Active and playful
Tail Behavior Flicks tail when excited Vocal and affectionate tail movements Active and playful tail movements
Explorer Instincts High Moderate High
Attention Needs High High High
Protectiveness Moderate Low Moderate
Territoriality High Low Moderate
Independence High High High
Response To Commands High High High
Adaptability To Indoor Life High High High
Hunting Drive High High High
Play Style Active
Curious
Interactive 		Active
Social
Playful 		Active
Curious
Playful
Escape Tendencies High High High
Curiosity High High High
Hunting Skills High ⬆️ Moderate ⏺️ High ⬆️
Reaction To Strangers Friendly 😊 Friendly 😊 Friendly 😊
Stalking Behavior High High High
Aggression Level Moderate Low Low
Training Difficulty Moderate Easy Easy
Agility High High High
Travel Compatibility High Medium Low
Activity
Highly Active
Moderately Active
Highly Active
Compatibility With Other Animals High
Friendly
Tolerant 		Playful
Medium 		High
Friendly
Tolerant
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.
Active Adventurer. Somali are quite playful and enjoy frequent play sessions.
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.
Challenging to Train: Somali cat breeds are more stubborn, independent, and less receptive to training, requiring specialized techniques and more persistence to achieve desired results.
Lap Cat
Which cat is lap type, Abyssinian or Oriental or Somali?
Yes
This cat loves to sit on his owner's lap.
Yes
This cat loves to sit on his owner's lap.
No
This cat sits on its owner's lap less than other breeds.
Temperament
Which one has a better personality, Abyssinian or Oriental or Somali?
Active Energetic Mischievous
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.
Somali 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 Somali?
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.
High: Somali cats are genuinely loyal, soft and gentle, loving and affectionate cats toward their handlers.
Child Friendly
Which cat is more kid-friendly, Abyssinian or Oriental or Somali?
The Abyssinian cat is a child-friendly breed.
The Oriental cat is a child-friendly breed.
The Somali cat is a child-friendly breed.
Dog Friendly
Which cat is more dog-friendly, Abyssinian or Oriental or Somali?
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.
Dog-friendly: Somali cats generally get on well with dogs.
Intelligence
Which cat is smarter, Abyssinian vs Oriental vs Somali?
Outstanding: Abyssinian is one of the brightest cat breeds.
Outstanding: Oriental is one of the brightest cat breeds.
Outstanding: Somali is one of the brightest cat breeds.
Social Needs
Which cat is more social, Abyssinian or Oriental or Somali?
Lots: this cat breed needs lots of social interaction.
Lots: this cat breed needs lots of social interaction.
Lots: this cat breed needs lots of social interaction.
Stranger Friendly
Which cat is more stranger friendly, Abyssinian or Oriental or Somali?
Above-average: this cat breed gets on well with strangers.
Average: this cat breed gets on relatively well with strangers.
Very: this cat breed gets on very well with strange people.
Vocalization
Which cat is the loudest, Abyssinian or Oriental or Somali?
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 Somali Grooming Comparison

Seasonal Shedding Low Low Moderate
Grooming Tools Needed Brush
Nail Clipper
Comb 		Brush
Comb
Deshedding Tool 		Brush
Nail Clipper
Comb
Dental CareHigh High Moderate
Grooming
Which is easier to groom, Abyssinian or Oriental or Somali?
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.
Moderate Maintenance
Grooming your Somali cat is an essential part of caring for their health and well-being.
Shedding
Which cat sheds less, Abyssinian or Oriental or Somali?
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.
Moderate
This cat breed is of average shedding.

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