Norwegian Forest Cat

Cat Breed Facts & Characteristics

Personality 

Norwegian Forest Cats are said to be a gentle cat that enjoys company but retains an independent streak. They aren’t typically lap cats. They are playful and enjoy climbing and jumping, so keep plenty of toys and scratchers available and be ready to enjoy playtime with a Norwegian Forest Cat. They are well suited to apartment living if they have plenty to keep them occupied. Keeping your Norwegian Forest Cat indoors or in a cat friendly enclosure helps keep them safe from roads, other cats, snakes as well as helps to keep wildlife safe from your feline friend. 

Grooming

With medium to long hair with a woolly undercoat, brushing daily or every second day helps keep the coat tangle free as well as helps remove loose hair as the Norwegian Forest Cat does shed. That long coat can make it hard to see nasties like ticks and fleas so year-round flea control is recommended as well as tick control if in a tick area. 

Feeding

When choosing a food for a Norwegian Forest Cat, select a premium food appropriate to the cat's age and life stage, ideally that is formulated for optimal urinary health. Always the recommended feeding guides on the food to help avoid obesity and ensure appropriate nutrition. Always ensure cats have constant supply of fresh water available, and consider providing them with a water fountain, as many cats prefer drinking moving water.

Common Health Concerns 

With sensitive stomachs and urinary tracts, nutrition as noted above is very important in the Norwegian Forest Cat. Skin problems were also observed in the top five reasons why they visited the vet across 2019 and 2020, according to PetSure claims data. 

According to PetSure claims data across 2019 and 2020*, the five most common reasons for a Norwegian Forest Cat to visit the vet (excluding for routine visits like vaccinations) were: 

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Most popular Norwegian Forest Cat names

According to PetSure data from 2017-2020, the most popular names for Norwegian Forest cats were

Most popular names

1. Pablo
2. Cat
3. Freya
4. Missy
5. Asha
6. Bella
7. Bowie
8. Frank
9. Jaxon
10. Leo

Most popular female names

1. Freya
2. Missy
3. Asha
4. Bella
5. Bowie
6. Lexi
7. Molly
8. Momo
9. Storm
10. Tinka

Most popular male names

1. Pablo
2. Cat
3. Frank
4. Jaxon
5. Leo
6. Loki
7. Lucky
8. Meeko
9. Odin
10. Sir

Did you know?

The Norwegian Forest cat is the national cat of Norway. 

Norwegian Forest Cat FAQs

Are Norwegian Forest Cats expensive?

Norwegian Forest cats are generally priced between $800 to $1500 and depending on the breeder's popularity, the rare breed can range anywhere between $1200 to $5400 in Australia. 

Are Norwegian Forest Cats friendly?

Though they take a little time to get comfortable around people, Norwegian Forest cats are one of the most friendly and gentle breeds around. They love being around company and enjoy showing affection frequently.

Which is the bigger cat, Maine Coon or Norwegian Forest?

Though there isn't much size difference between both breeds of cats, Maine Coon cats generally grow bigger than Norwegian Forest Cats. Where a healthy male Maine Coon cat weighs around 5.9 to 8.2 kg and a mature female Maine Coon cat weighs around 3.6 to 5.4 kg; a healthy male Norwegian Forest cat weighs around 5.4 to 7.2 kg and a mature female Norwegian Forest cat weighs around 4 to 5.4 kg.

Can Norwegian Forest cats live in hot weather?

Big cats like the Norwegian Forest breed have thick coats and tough paws allowing them to adapt to freezing temperatures and heavy rain easily. Norwegian Forest cats do not live well in hot climates unless provided with air conditioning throughout the day.

Do Norwegian Forest cats shed?

Norwegian Forest cats are quite the high-maintenance breed when it comes to their grooming. They have dense undercoats that shed heavily and require a lot of combing to keep away knots and maintain their beautiful look.

Where can I get a Norwegian Forest Cat?

Your local animal shelter or rescue organisation is the best place to look for a cat as shelters generally have many cats. It may be possible to find a Norwegian Forest Cat through a breed specific rescue. 

References

1. Wikipedia, Norwegian Forest Cat, Accessed on 02/03/2021
2. Cat Fanciers Association, The Norwegian Forest Cat, Accessed on 02/03/2021

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