Norwegian Forest vs Maine Coon vs British Shorthair Cat Breed Comparison

"Find similarities and differences between Norwegian Forest vs Maine Coon vs British Shorthair" Compare Norwegian Forest and Maine Coon. Which is better: Norwegian Forest or Maine Coon or British Shorthair?

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

Name	Norwegian Forest	Maine Coon	British Shorthair
Origins	Norway	United States	United Kingdom
Cat Breeds By Country Of Origin
Group	Natural	Natural	Natural
Popularity Rank	14	4	3
Reviews	0	1	0
User Ratings

Other Names What other names do they have?	Skogkatt, Skaukatt, Norsk Skogkatt, Norsk Skaukatt, Weegie	Coon Cat, Maine Cat, Maine Shag, Snowshoe Cat, American Longhair, The Gentle Giants	Highlander, Highland Straight, Britannica
Price Which one is cheaper, Norwegian Forest vs Maine Coon vs British Shorthair cat?	$900 to $1500	$1200 to $2000	$1,500 to $3,000
Cost Of Ownership	Moderate	High	Moderate
Breed Recognition	Norwegian Forest Cat Club Norwegian Forest Cat Fanciers' Association	The International Cat Association (TICA) Cat Fanciers' Association (CFA) Maine Coon Breeders and Fanciers Association	The International Cat Association (TICA) American Cat Fanciers Association (ACFA) The Cat Fanciers' Association (CFA) Fédération Internationale Féline (FIFe)

Norwegian Forest vs Maine Coon vs British Shorthair Size, Appearance and Physical Traits Comparison

Size Which is bigger, Norwegian Forest or Maine Coon or British Shorthair cat?	Large The large-sized cats usually weigh 10-20 pounds and are 10-16 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.	Large The large-sized cats usually weigh 10-20 pounds and are 10-16 inches long from the nose down.
Weight Which is heavier, Norwegian Forest or Maine Coon or British Shorthair?	Male: 12 - 16 pounds, Female: 9 - 12 pounds	Male: 15-25 pounds, Female: 8-12 pounds	Males: 12–18 pounds, Females: 9-15 pounds
Bite Force	Strong Bite Strength: Greater than or around 15 PSI	Strong Bite Strength: Greater than or around 15 PSI	Strong Bite Strength: Greater than or around 15 PSI
Body Type	Substantial Norwegian Forest are large and heavy-boned with a strong, muscular build.	Substantial Maine Coon are large and heavy-boned with a strong, muscular build.	Cobby This body type is a mix between the cobby and foreign types.
Ear Shape	Large Pointed Tufted Wide-set	Large Tufted Wide-set	Medium Rounded Wide-set
Eye Color	Gold Green	Gold Green	Gold Copper
Hair Color and Pattern	All coat colours and patterns, except colorpoint, chocolate, and lilac; most commonly seen in tabby patterns.	All coat colours and patterns, including solid, tabby, tortoiseshell, bicolor, tricolor, and colorpoint; most common is the brown classic tabby pattern.	Wide range of colors and patterns, including solid, tabby, bicolor, and more.
Coat What is the difference between Norwegian Forest, Maine Coon and British Shorthair coats?	Long Hair	Longhair	Short Hair
Leg Lenght	Large	Medium	Medium
Whisker Length	Medium	Long	Medium
Musculature	Muscular	Solid	Muscular
Head Shape	Triangular	Square	Round
Toe Count	5 front 4 back	Polydactyl (extra toes commonly)	5 front 4 back
Eye Shape And Orientation	Almond-shaped	Square	Round
Night Vision
Paw Size	Medium	Large	Medium
Nose Structure	Straight	Concave	Button
Neck Length	Medium	Long	Medium
Fur Texture	Silky Long	Silky Long	Soft Curled
Bone Density	Medium	High	Medium
Flexibility	High	Medium	High
Bone Structure	Robust	Slender Fine	Robust
Tail Length	Plumed	Plumed	Long and Tapered
Sleep Patterns	Active Less Sleep	Calm More Sleep	Active Less Sleep

Norwegian Forest vs Maine Coon vs British Shorthair Special Abilities Comparison

Attention Span	Long, independent and active	Long, playful and intelligent	Long, enjoys calm activities
Guarding Instinct	High	High	High
Protection Instincts	High	High	High
Climbing Ability	High	High	Moderate
Jumping Ability	Good	Good	Moderate
Swimming Ability	Good	Good	Poor
Water Affinity
Rescue Capability	Good	Good	Moderate

Norwegian Forest vs Maine Coon vs British Shorthair Health Comparison

Litter Size	2-4 Kittens	1-3 Kittens	2-4 Kittens
Special Needs	Active High grooming	Active High grooming	Low maintenance Independent
Breeding	Requires grooming knowledge, large litter size	Requires grooming knowledge, large litter size	Easy to breed, large litter size
Dietary Preferences	High protein, low carbs	High protein, balanced diet	High protein, wet food
Solo Time Tolerance	High	High	Medium
Noise Sensitivity	Moderate	Low	Moderate
Genetic Diversity	High	High	Moderate
Sensitivity To Changes	Medium sensitivity	Medium sensitivity	Medium sensitivity
Food Motivation	High	High	High
Feeding Schedule	Three times a day Morning, Afternoon, and Evening	Twice a day Morning and Evening	Twice a day Morning and Evening
Maintenance Level	Moderate	Moderate	Moderate
Exercise Needs	Medium	Medium	Medium
Life Expectancy Which will live longer, Norwegian Forest or Maine Coon or British Shorthair?	12-16 years	12-15 years	12-17 years
Energy Level Which is more energetic, Norwegian Forest vs Maine Coon vs British Shorthair cat?	The Norwegian Forest cat has an average energy level.	The Maine Coon cat has an average energy level.	The British Shorthair cat has a lower energy level than other cats.
Hypoallergenic Which cat is hypoallergenic, Norwegian Forest or Maine Coon or British Shorthair?	No Norwegian Forest cats don't do well with allergy sufferers by causing an allergic reaction.	No Maine Coon cats don't do well with allergy sufferers by causing an allergic reaction.	No British Shorthair cats don't do well with allergy sufferers by causing an allergic reaction.
Common Health Issues Which cat is healthier, Norwegian Forest vs Maine Coon vs British Shorthair?	High Norwegian Forests tend to have more frequent health issues than other breeds.	Low Very healthy cat breed.	Low Very healthy cat breed.
Health Problems	Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM) Hip Dysplasia Glycogen Storage Disease IV	Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM) Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) Hip Dysplasia	Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM) Obesity Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD)
Climate	Cold	Temperate	Temperate
Cold Tolerance	Medium	Medium	Medium
Heat Tolerance	Medium	Medium	Medium
Breeding Difficulty	Medium	Easy	Easy

Norwegian Forest vs Maine Coon vs British Shorthair Characteristics and Personality Comparison

Common Vocalizations	Quiet and infrequent meows	Quiet chirps and trills	Soft and gentle meows
Interaction With Other Pets	Good, adaptable and friendly	Excellent, very social and friendly	Good, calm and tolerant
Facial Expression	Independent and alert	Friendly and intelligent	Calm and easygoing
Tail Behavior	Independent and alert tail movements	Gentle swaying tail	Gentle swaying when calm
Explorer Instincts	High	Moderate	Moderate
Attention Needs	Moderate	Moderate	Low
Protectiveness	High	High	High
Territoriality	High	Moderate	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 Playful	Social Playful Gentle	Playful Gentle Calm
Escape Tendencies	High	Moderate	Low
Curiosity	High	High	Moderate
Hunting Skills	Moderate ⏺️	High ⬆️	Moderate ⏺️
Reaction To Strangers	Friendly 😊	Friendly 😊	Cautious
Stalking Behavior	High	High	Moderate
Aggression Level	Low	Moderate	Low
Training Difficulty	Moderate	Easy	Moderate
Agility	High	High	Moderate
Travel Compatibility	Low	Low	Medium
Activity	Moderately Active	Moderately Active	Moderately Active
Compatibility With Other Animals	Playful Medium	Playful Medium	Playful Medium
Household Noise Tolerance	Medium	Medium	Medium
Playfulness	Balanced Playmate. Norwegian Forest have a balanced playfulness.	Active Adventurer. Maine Coon are quite playful and enjoy frequent play sessions.	Balanced Playmate. British Shorthair have a balanced playfulness.
Trainability	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.	Moderately Trainable: Maine Coon cat breeds require more patience, repetition, and reinforcement to learn new commands and behaviors, but can still be trained successfully with consistent efforts.	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, Norwegian Forest or Maine Coon or British Shorthair?	No This cat sits on its owner's lap less than other breeds.	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, Norwegian Forest or Maine Coon or British Shorthair?	Sweet	Adaptable	Affectionate
Adaptability Which cat has a higher adaptability potential?	Norwegian Forest cats adapt very well to lifestyle changes and basically all living environments.	Maine Coon 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: Norwegian Forest vs Maine Coon vs British Shorthair?	High: Norwegian Forest cats are genuinely loyal, soft and gentle, loving and affectionate cats toward their handlers.	High: Maine Coon 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, Norwegian Forest or Maine Coon or British Shorthair?	The Norwegian Forest cat is a child-friendly breed.	The Maine Coon cat is a child-friendly breed.	The British Shorthair cat is a child-friendly breed.
Dog Friendly Which cat is more dog-friendly, Norwegian Forest or Maine Coon or British Shorthair?	Very dog-friendly: Norwegian Forest owners often find that their cats get along very well with the family dog.	Very dog-friendly: Maine Coon 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, Norwegian Forest vs Maine Coon vs British Shorthair?	Smart: Norwegian Forest's has great intelligence.	Outstanding: Maine Coon 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, Norwegian Forest or Maine Coon or British Shorthair?	Lots: this cat breed needs lots of social interaction.	Average: they need as much social interaction as the average cat.	Average: they need as much social interaction as the average cat.
Stranger Friendly Which cat is more stranger friendly, Norwegian Forest or Maine Coon or British Shorthair?	Average: this cat breed gets on relatively well with strangers.	Very: this cat breed gets on very well with strange people.	Below average: this cat breed tends to have difficulty getting along with strangers.
Vocalization Which cat is the loudest, Norwegian Forest or Maine Coon or British Shorthair?	Moderate	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.

Norwegian Forest vs Maine Coon vs British Shorthair Grooming Comparison

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

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