Abyssinian vs Somali vs Norwegian Forest Cat Breed Comparison

"Find similarities and differences between Abyssinian vs Somali vs Norwegian Forest" Compare Abyssinian and Somali. Which is better: Abyssinian or Somali or Norwegian Forest?

Size, Appearance and Physical Traits Special Abilities Health Characteristics and Personality Grooming Show differences only

Name	Abyssinian	Somali	Norwegian Forest
Origins	Ethiopia	Somalia	Norway
Cat Breeds By Country Of Origin
Group	Natural	Mutation	Natural
Popularity Rank	10	62	14
Reviews	0	0	0
User Ratings

Other Names What other names do they have?	Abys	Fox Cat, Long-Haired Abyssinian	Skogkatt, Skaukatt, Norsk Skogkatt, Norsk Skaukatt, Weegie
Price Which one is cheaper, Abyssinian vs Somali vs Norwegian Forest cat?	$900 to $1500	$1000 to $1500	$900 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	Norwegian Forest Cat Club Norwegian Forest Cat Fanciers' Association

Abyssinian vs Somali vs Norwegian Forest Size, Appearance and Physical Traits Comparison

Size Which is bigger, Abyssinian or Somali or Norwegian Forest 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 Somali or Norwegian Forest?	Male: 8 - 12 pounds, Female: 6 - 8 pounds	Male: 10 - 12 pounds, Female: 6 - 10 pounds	Male: 12 - 16 pounds, Female: 9 - 12 pounds
Bite Force	Weak Bite Strength: Less than or around 10 PSI	No data available	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.	Semi-foreign Somali have a moderate build, more elongated than cobby cats but not as slender as foreign cats.	Substantial Norwegian Forest are large and heavy-boned with a strong, muscular build.
Ear Shape	Large Pointed Wide-set	Large Pointed Tufted	Large Pointed Tufted Wide-set
Eye Color	Gold Green	No data available	Gold Green
Hair Color and Pattern	Ruddy Red Blue Fawn	No data available	All coat colours and patterns, except colorpoint, chocolate, and lilac; most commonly seen in tabby patterns.
Coat What is the difference between Abyssinian, Somali and Norwegian Forest coats?	Shorthair	Long Hair	Long Hair
Leg Lenght	Medium	Medium	Large
Whisker Length	Short	Medium	Medium
Musculature	Lean	Slender	Muscular
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	Concave	Straight
Neck Length	Medium	Medium	Medium
Fur Texture	Fine Short Silky	Short Dense	Silky Long
Bone Density	Medium	Medium	Medium
Flexibility	High	High	High
Bone Structure	Slender Fine	Slender Fine	Robust
Tail Length	Long and Tapered	Plumed	Plumed
Sleep Patterns	Active Less Sleep	Average	Active Less Sleep

Abyssinian vs Somali vs Norwegian Forest Special Abilities Comparison

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

Abyssinian vs Somali vs Norwegian Forest Health Comparison

Litter Size	3-5 Kittens	1-3 Kittens	2-4 Kittens
Special Needs	Active Intelligent Requires mental stimulation	Active Intelligent Requires stimulation	Active High grooming
Breeding	Requires experienced breeders, moderate litter size	Requires careful selection, moderate litter size	Requires grooming knowledge, large litter size
Dietary Preferences	High protein, low carbs	Balanced diet	High protein, low carbs
Solo Time Tolerance	High	High	High
Noise Sensitivity	Low	Moderate	Moderate
Genetic Diversity	Low	Moderate	High
Sensitivity To Changes	Medium sensitivity	High sensitivity	Medium sensitivity
Food Motivation	Moderate	Moderate	High
Feeding Schedule	Twice a day Morning and Evening	Twice a day Morning and Evening	Three times a day Morning, Afternoon, and Evening
Maintenance Level	Low	Moderate	Moderate
Exercise Needs	High	High	Medium
Life Expectancy Which will live longer, Abyssinian or Somali or Norwegian Forest?	14-15 years	12-16 years	12-16 years
Energy Level Which is more energetic, Abyssinian vs Somali vs Norwegian Forest cat?	The Abyssinian cat has a very high energy level.	The Somali cat has a very high energy level.	The Norwegian Forest cat has an average energy level.
Hypoallergenic Which cat is hypoallergenic, Abyssinian or Somali or Norwegian Forest?	No Abyssinian cats don't do well with allergy sufferers by causing an allergic reaction.	No Somali cats don't do well with allergy sufferers by causing an allergic reaction.	No Norwegian Forest cats don't do well with allergy sufferers by causing an allergic reaction.
Common Health Issues Which cat is healthier, Abyssinian vs Somali vs Norwegian Forest?	High Abyssinians tend to have more frequent health issues than other breeds.	High Somalis tend to have more frequent health issues than other breeds.	High Norwegian Forests 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) Periodontal Disease Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM)	Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM) Hip Dysplasia Glycogen Storage Disease IV
Climate	Hot	Temperate	Cold
Cold Tolerance	High	Medium	Medium
Heat Tolerance	High	High	Medium
Breeding Difficulty	Medium	Medium	Medium

Abyssinian vs Somali vs Norwegian Forest Characteristics and Personality Comparison

Common Vocalizations	Quiet meows and chirps	Soft and gentle meows	Quiet and infrequent meows
Interaction With Other Pets	Generally good, enjoys companionship	Good, playful and friendly	Good, adaptable and friendly
Facial Expression	Alert and curious	Active and playful	Independent and alert
Tail Behavior	Flicks tail when excited	Active and playful tail movements	Independent and alert tail movements
Explorer Instincts	High	High	High
Attention Needs	High	High	Moderate
Protectiveness	Moderate	Moderate	High
Territoriality	High	Moderate	High
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 Curious Playful	Active Curious Playful
Escape Tendencies	High	High	High
Curiosity	High	High	High
Hunting Skills	High ⬆️	High ⬆️	Moderate ⏺️
Reaction To Strangers	Friendly 😊	Friendly 😊	Friendly 😊
Stalking Behavior	High	High	High
Aggression Level	Moderate	Low	Low
Training Difficulty	Moderate	Easy	Moderate
Agility	High	High	High
Travel Compatibility	High	Low	Low
Activity	Highly Active	Highly Active	Moderately Active
Compatibility With Other Animals	High Friendly Tolerant	High Friendly Tolerant	Playful Medium
Household Noise Tolerance	High	Medium	Medium
Playfulness	Energetic Explorer. Abyssinian are extremely playful and energetic.	Active Adventurer. Somali are quite playful and enjoy frequent play sessions.	Balanced Playmate. Norwegian Forest 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.	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.	Average Trainability: Norwegian Forest cat breeds are less interested in training and obedience, but can still learn basic commands and routines with enough practice and rewards.
Lap Cat Which cat is lap type, Abyssinian or Somali or Norwegian Forest?	Yes This cat loves to sit on his owner's lap.	No This cat sits on its owner's lap less than other breeds.	No This cat sits on its owner's lap less than other breeds.
Temperament Which one has a better personality, Abyssinian or Somali or Norwegian Forest?	Active	Mischievous	Sweet
Adaptability Which cat has a higher adaptability potential?	Abyssinian 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.	Norwegian Forest cats adapt very well to lifestyle changes and basically all living environments.
Affection Level Which is the more affectionate cat breed: Abyssinian vs Somali vs Norwegian Forest?	High: Abyssinian 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.	High: Norwegian Forest cats are genuinely loyal, soft and gentle, loving and affectionate cats toward their handlers.
Child Friendly Which cat is more kid-friendly, Abyssinian or Somali or Norwegian Forest?	The Abyssinian cat is a child-friendly breed.	The Somali cat is a child-friendly breed.	The Norwegian Forest cat is a child-friendly breed.
Dog Friendly Which cat is more dog-friendly, Abyssinian or Somali or Norwegian Forest?	Dog-friendly: Abyssinian cats generally get on well with dogs.	Dog-friendly: Somali cats generally get on well with dogs.	Very dog-friendly: Norwegian Forest owners often find that their cats get along very well with the family dog.
Intelligence Which cat is smarter, Abyssinian vs Somali vs Norwegian Forest?	Outstanding: Abyssinian is one of the brightest cat breeds.	Outstanding: Somali is one of the brightest cat breeds.	Smart: Norwegian Forest's has great intelligence.
Social Needs Which cat is more social, Abyssinian or Somali or Norwegian Forest?	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 Somali or Norwegian Forest?	Above-average: this cat breed gets on well with strangers.	Very: this cat breed gets on very well with strange people.	Average: this cat breed gets on relatively well with strangers.
Vocalization Which cat is the loudest, Abyssinian or Somali or Norwegian Forest?	Low Low vocalization cats are a category of cats that typically make less noise than other cats.	Low Low vocalization cats are a category of cats that typically make less noise than other cats.	Moderate

Abyssinian vs Somali vs Norwegian Forest Grooming Comparison

Seasonal Shedding	Low	Moderate	High
Grooming Tools Needed	Brush Nail Clipper Comb	Brush Nail Clipper Comb	Brush Comb Deshedding Tool
Dental Care	High	Moderate	Moderate
Grooming Which is easier to groom, Abyssinian or Somali or Norwegian Forest?	Low Maintenance Occasional grooming is recommended to keep the Abyssinian coat in good condition.	Moderate Maintenance Grooming your Somali cat is an essential part of caring for their health and well-being.	Moderate Maintenance Grooming your Norwegian Forest cat is an essential part of caring for their health and well-being.
Shedding Which cat sheds less, Abyssinian or Somali or Norwegian Forest?	Minimal This cat breed sheds much less than the average.	Moderate This cat breed is of average shedding.	Moderate This cat breed is of average shedding.

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Abyssinian vs Somali vs Norwegian Forest Cat Breed Comparison

Abyssinian vs Somali vs Norwegian Forest Size, Appearance and Physical Traits Comparison

Abyssinian vs Somali vs Norwegian Forest Special Abilities Comparison

Abyssinian vs Somali vs Norwegian Forest Health Comparison

Abyssinian vs Somali vs Norwegian Forest Characteristics and Personality Comparison

Abyssinian vs Somali vs Norwegian Forest Grooming Comparison

Popular Cat Compares

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