Norwegian Forest is a particular breed for unique cats who stand out from others with their soft and fluffy fur, long puffed tails, and the size that is larger than medium.
This double-coated animal has not only a fascinating appearance but also is a very playful and friendly companion for humans and other pets.
Very obedient and non-talkative, a Norwegian Forest cat should easily meet the needs for a person who is looking for a pet that will quietly sit next to you while you are working.
The listed sections below will help you to find out more information about the Norwegian Forest cat breed. Enjoy!
- Norwegian Forest cat appearance and characteristics
- Norwegian Forest personality and temperament
- Norwegian Forest cat intelligence
- The history of Norwegian Forests
- Grooming a Norwegian Forest
- What to expect when keeping a Norwegian Forest cat
- How big does a Norwegian Forest cat get?
- What do Norwegian Forests eat?
- How long do Norwegian Forest cats live?
- Can Norwegian Forest cats be kept with other pets?
- How much does a Norwegian Forest cost?
Norwegian Forest cat appearance and characteristics
Norwegian Forests truly do have an outstanding appearance and they definitely are beautiful to look at. One of the main features of these cats is the water resistant coating. It appears to be created from two layers – fluffy and smooth fur on top with a warm undercoat.
This type of coating might appear bigger during the winter season when it’s cold because this is the time when the undercoat gets thicker. Despite the fact that a Norwegian Forest is naturally larger than a medium cat, its puffed fur makes it look even bigger!
Norwegian Forest cats can come in different colors and have various patterns on their fur. Their eyes are big and almond-shaped that appear to be mostly green, gold, or copper. However, white or whitish Norwegian Forests can have blue eyes or they can be odd, e.g. one eye is blue, the other is green.
The body of a Norwegian Forest cat is solid and has strong muscles, especially on the thighs. The back legs of this breed appear to be longer than the front ones, the paws are rounded and big. Also, males tend to grow larger than Norwegian Forest females.
Other appearance details include a long and puffed tail that is the pride of every Norwegian Forest cat. This particular animal has a head that looks like an upside down triangle with medium-shaped straight ears and a short and muscular neck.
Norwegian Forest personality and temperament
Norwegian Forests are strong, quiet, and friendly personalities. These cats won’t bother you with frequent meows or yowls as the level of their vocality is very low. You will supposedly be able to enjoy morning sleep or a great nap without your beloved one screaming at you to get up.
Furthermore, these animals are human and pet-friendly. They show affection towards anyone they appreciate. A Norwegian Forest can become a great companion not only for you but also for your child. Nevertheless, this particular cat breed doesn’t act aggressively or rough on new playmates.
Norwegian Forest cats have a lot of strength and endurance as their ancestors were used to living in the wild of Norway’s forests during unpleasant and very tough weather conditions. A Norwegian Forest cat is definitely not a cry baby.
Continuously, these pets are very playful and get involved into all types of activities due to their high energy level. They are great climbers, so don’t forget to make or purchase something they can climb on or you might find your cat often heading to the top of your every closet!
Nevertheless, Norwegian Forest cats are obedient and this gives you a chance of training your pet to listen to you and make less mess around the house. Also, it’s intelligence might play a role in learning a lot of commands.
Norwegian Forest cat intelligence
Even though Norwegian Forests haven’t been marked as the smartest cats in the world, they still have proper intelligence and shouldn’t be referred to a foolish animal. All cats are more or less smart and very clever creatures!
If you own or are just looking for a Norwegian Forest cat, you can definitely teach it some tricks such as sit, high-five, fetch, etc. Nevertheless, this breed has lived in the wild since very old times and nature is always in a Norwegian Forest’s heart.
If you decide to start taking your cat outside for walks or just playing games, a Norwegian Forest should get used to it very quickly as these animals are adapted for living not only in a human’s house but also outside. No wonder it’s called a Norwegian Forest.
The history of Norwegian Forests
Norwegian Forest is a naturally developed cat breed that supposedly came to Norway from Europe. It is thought that the Norwegian Forest cat, also known as skogkatt (forest cat in Norwegian), has already existed for a very long time.
These speculations come from some facts mentioned in the Narce mythology. The myths and their poems have been created approximately in 800 c.e. – 1200 c.e. and mention big longhaired domestic cats that already exist for thousands of years.
However, the question if this really was the Norwegian Forest cat mentioned, still arises and people can only guess whether it is true or not. The ancestors of Norwegian Forests were probably short hairs that had to adapt to ruff weather conditions in Norway.
This particular cat breed was on the verge of extinction after the end of World War 2. Gladly, there were people who really appreciated this special breed and put all the effort for it to glow with its beauty again. These animals (also gently called Wegies) were brought to the USA at the end of the 20th century.
Grooming a Norwegian Forest
Since Norwegian Forests are definitely not shorthaired animals, their long and fluffy coating will need more regular care than just a few licks by the cat itself. Here is where another duty for the pet owner occurs.
Pick a high-quality brush that couldn’t hurt the cat’s skin and brush the fur thoroughly once or twice per week. Make sure that you do it slowly and gently as some tangled hair might occur. Brush the coating until it is smooth and silky again.
I would also like to advise you to take additional care of your cat’s health and appearance if you let it go outside from some time to time. Make sure to regularly and accurately check the fur for ticks and fleas. Note that parasites can be harder to find in such fluffed and long coating!
Also, don’t forget the ears. Cats can easily get ear mites and this might happen to your pet too. Seek a treatment from the vet if your cat’s ears are filled with dark brown wax, the animal keeps shaking its head and scratching its ears constantly.
What to expect when keeping a Norwegian Forest cat
As we have already mentioned, a Norwegian Forest is probably the cat that will help you spare some sleeping time by not yelling at your face to wake up and free you from additional house work by making less mess around.
What you can expect is a calm, quiet, and intelligent family member that will likely sit on your lap while you work with your computer. These animals are very loving to everyone who shows them some care. They also should get along well with other pets if you have some.
However, Norwegian Forests are still playful creatures, so they will require some movement and playtime from you. For your pet to not get bored, get some objects that it can climb on, and enjoy some playtime with your cat at least 10-15 minutes per day. It will help the animal to get rid of all of the pent up energy.
All in all, we can say that a Norwegian Forest is a great combination of many characteristics, features, and a friendly personality. These cats aren’t very sensitive creatures, so they won’t care if it’s colder in your house than usual.
Norwegian Forest cat relevant information and facts
If you are deeply interested in this specific and unique cat breed, you can find more relevant information below.
How big does a Norwegian Forest cat get?
An interesting fact about Norwegian Forests is that they are low-maturing cats that aren’t fully grown until they reach 5 years! This is a long time compared to some other cat breeds that reach full maturity at ages of approximately 1-2 years.
I also mentioned that Norwegian Forests are bigger than medium cats. They can grow up to weigh anywhere from 6 to 10 kgs. Talking about their length, it can reach up to between 30-46 cm. Quite a biggy, yes?! Males from this particular breed tend to grow larger than the females.
What do Norwegian Forests eat?
Keep in mind that the quality of food can affect the health and lifespan of your pet. Your cat shouldn’t eat “junk” just like humans shouldn’t if they want to stay healthy, energetic, avoid diabetes, getting obese, and other diseases.
Due to the fact that cats are carnivores, there should be no more than 5% of carbs in their diet as they can’t digest such food properly like some other animals. Norwegian Forests are hunters from their nature and enjoy food that is rich in protein, i.e. meat.
If you provide a Norwegian Forest a different type of diet, it can turn out to be picky and refuse to eat its food or just take a few nips and go away. So, always make sure that the meals you are giving to your pet are meat-based or fish-based.
Also, avoid food brands that add a lot of sugar. You don’t want your cat to become obese, do you? Furthermore, you can mix dry food with wet food as the latter includes more water (for proper daily intake) and can provide a higher nutritional value.
How long do Norwegian Forest cats live?
The lifespan of a Norwegian Forest cat doesn’t differ from other animals from the cat family. These pets can lead a life of approximately 14-16 years. Remember that the healthier your cat stays, the longer and happier it lives.
Sadly, there are some diseases that have been discovered in the Norwegian Forest breed and can appear in some cats. Learn more about them:
- Retinal dysplasia.
Retinal dysplasia is, thankfully, not a hard condition. It is known to be a specific type of eye defect that relates in random spotting on the retina of the cat’s eye. Gladly, it doesn’t affect the animal’s vision.
- Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is a heart condition that can affect different cat breeds. The heart’s walls thicken and it starts struggling to pump blood properly. Even though there is no evidence that this disease is inherited by Norwegian Forests, it can still appear in one life stage or another. To add, this condition is a little bit more common in males.
- Glycogen Storage Disease IV.
Glycogen Storage Disease IV is a rare condition that comes inherited. The cat turns ill because the metabolism of glucose becomes disrupted. Sadly, there are usually no accurate signs of the disease and it often relates to the death of newborn kittens. If you want to check your Norwegian Forest cat for this disease, ask for a DNA test at the vet clinic.
- Polycystic kidney disease.
Polycystic kidney disease is a condition that becomes more and more progressive with time and destroys the cat’s kidneys. Such disease is possible to discover by completing an ultrasound test on a Norwegian Forest cat that is 10 months or older.
Can Norwegian Forest cats be kept with other pets?
Norwegian Forest cats are naturally very gentle and friendly animals. So, if you’re looking for a great companion for yourself or for your other cat/pet, we should say a big YES. These animals are not aggressive and tend to be soft even with little children.
However, every cat still is slightly different and ones can communicate better than others, so there will always be at least a small concern. If you are looking for a playmate for your other pet, it is the best that you introduce both animals during their early months as the chances here for them do get along are bigger.
Furthermore, if you are expecting a good companion for yourself, all you have to do is shower your cat with love, take care of its health, and give it attention, e.g. regular playtime, soft massages, scratches, etc. Also, don’t forget that patience is the key, so don’t be too pushy or rough!
How much does a Norwegian Forest cost?
If you are looking for a Norwegian Forest cat, the highest chances are to get one for a price between £600 to £1,100. The cost can vary depending on the age, appearance of the cat, the location, and other relevant factors.
Keep in mind that this is just a starter price and more money will definitely be required for taking care of your pet. Never forget doctor appointments as your cat will need to get vaccinated (£70 – £100) and neutered (£30-£40 for males and £40-£50 for females).
Also, don’t forget that vaccines are usually a regular thing for which you will have to visit the vet every year. Continuously, you might need to get your pet microchipped that will also add about £20-£30 to your expenditure and save some extra money in case your cat catches some type of illness.
Nevertheless, this is not it. You will also need to think about food and equipment for your pet. High-quality food brands often cost more but note that the type of food your cat consumes can do a big part on its health. Finding appropriate meals might be harder if your pet has some food allergies.
Furthermore, you will need to provide your beloved one with food and water bowls, bedding, litter and the litter box itself, hairbrushes, nail clippers, toys. However, you can save some money by crafting some toys of your own, e.g. make an interesting tunnel out of multiple paper boxes.
Here we come to the end of this article and we hope that you have enjoyed it all! As you can see, the Norwegian Forest cat breed is definitely a unique one that can be appreciated by many cat lovers worldwide who are looking for a quiet, strong, and refined friend.
Which fact about Norwegian Forest cats did you find the most interesting? Share your opinion with us!