Norwegian Forest vs British Shorthair
Compare Norwegian Forest and British Shorthair side by side and get a clear picture of what sets the breeds apart. Explore differences in size, weight, temperament, activity level, and other key traits to more easily decide which breed best fits your lifestyle and circumstances.
Characteristic
Norwegian Forest
British Shorthair
Breed type
Purebred
Purebred
Height
30 – 35 cm
30 – 36 cm
Weight
5 – 10 kg
3 – 8 kg
Life expectancy
12 – 15 years
12 – 17 years
Child friendly
5/5
2/5
Energy level
4/5
2/5
Intelligence
4/5
3/5
Trainability
4/5
4/5
Health
4/5
4/5
Grooming needs
4/5
4/5
Shedding
4/5
3/5
Barking level
0/5
0/5
Aggressiveness
0/5
0/5
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Characteristics
Norwegian Forest
Great with kids
High energy
Super smart
Easy to train
British Shorthair
Easy to train
Summary
About Norwegian Forest
The Norwegian Forest cat is a large, muscular Scandinavian breed with a dense, water‑resistant double coat and strong climbing ability. Slow to mature, they are gentle, affectionate, and intelligent, needing vertical space, regular grooming, and play to stay healthy and content.
About British Shorthair
British Shorthairs are sturdy, medium‑large cats with round faces, dense plush coats and many colours, best known in blue with copper eyes. Calm, quietly affectionate and suited to indoor or apartment life, they mature slowly and need moderate play, grooming and weight control.
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