Hardy, intelligent and muscular, the Norwegian Forest cat is one of the more active breeds of the Felines. Affectionately known as 'Wegies', these cats love to climb and hunt. With a love of water and a water-repellent coat, they're great at fishing, too.
Facts & advice
Norwegian Forest
A true nature lover who loves spending time in the great outdoors
Vital stats
Swipe to view more
| Size: | Large |
| Coat: | Long and thick |
| Life span:9 | 12+ years |
| Temperament: | Sociable, playful, independent |
Norwegian Forest personality & temperament
The Norwegian Forest cat is a lovely cat that will show you lots of affection – but on its own terms.
- The Norwegian Forest cat personality is friendly and sociable. When effectively socialised from an early age, they love the company of humans and other pets, often seeking you out to curl up for some company.
- The friendly Norwegian Forest cat temperament means they form strong bonds with their owner and when children learn to balance between play and rest time, they make ideal family pets. They’re a fantastic choice for first-time cat owners, too.
- However these cats also need their own space and often prefer this to bedding down on someone’s lap. While they’re very happy to be in the same room as you, they might not always want to be held.
- This also means they’re not as dependent as other breeds and this can make them more easily adjusted into your home routine.
Norwegian Forest food & diet
These adventurous and playful gentle giants eat more than your average feline friend and require a diet high in protein.
- The best food for Norwegian Forest cats should cater to their needs as a larger breed, as they tend to eat more than the average cats.
- Norwegian Forest cats require a meat-based diet, as all cats are obligate carnivores.
- But you will need to ensure your cat doesn’t eat too much and become overweight - a timed food dispenser may be handy for this, as well as feeding enrichment and interactive play.
- As with any pet, always ensure there’s plenty of fresh water available, placed away from their food bowl. Norwegian Forest cats love water so, if this can be incorporated into play, all the better!
Norwegian Forest grooming & coat care
Thick and fluffy, Norwegian Forest cat coats can be more high maintenance than others, and will change from season to season.
- While in many ways they appear similar to the Maine Coon breed, there are notable differences. Namely, Norwegian Forest cats’ fur is long all over their body, whereas the Maine Coon has shorter fur on their torso with longer fur on their face, tail, and chest.
- The Norwegian Forest cat’s coat is specially “designed” to keep them warm during harsh Scandinavian winters. Due to the sheer thickness their coat, Wegies are often quite warm in the UK climate, and generally prefer to sit beside you instead of on your lap so they don’t get too warm.
- This beautiful water-resistant coat comes in a variety of beautiful colours and patterns, the most recognisable being the brown tabby or tortoiseshell and white.
- It’s important to know how to groom Norwegian Forest cats as their coats can get matted otherwise. Grooming should be introduced gently to young kittens, using positive reinforcement techniques.
- However, they’re fairly adept at looking after their own coats, so brushing once a week can be plenty as long as you do it properly.
The breed is also known for shedding their coat in summer and this can be quite heavy, so grooming a Norwegian Forest cat becomes particularly important during this period
Norwegian Forest training & behaviour
This lovely cat can be lots of fun but they’ll need access to the outdoors and lots of toys and games to prevent boredom.
- Norwegian Forest cats can retain their kitten behaviour a lot longer than other breeds, so they can be a lot of fun to be around. They love to play, but they’ll let you know when they feel like it!
- They are strong and natural hunters so this means making sure you have plenty of cat toys and games to keep them occupied. They might bring you a series of prey into the home if their hunting instinct isn’t satisfied!
- This also means that Norwegian Forest cats aren’t the best choice if you already have smaller pets such as rabbits, guinea pigs or mice.
- The Norwegian Forest cat loves to roam and are excellent climbers so make sure they have plenty of outdoor space, ideally with high perches, to exercise in.
- The Norwegian Forest cat, while sociable, also needs some time alone, so it’s important to ensure your cat also has a safe place inside to retreat to.
Common Norwegian Forest health conditions
As a cat owner you will want what’s best for your pet’s health so they can live a long, happy life. Like all breeds, Norwegian Forest Cats are prone to certain health conditions. To help you be more aware and prepared for these potential ailments if they should arise, we have put together information on the health issues that we see the most in Norwegian Forest Cats.
There are many kinds of eye disorders in cats. Norwegian Forest Cats may experience problems with the light-sensitive part of their eye known as the retina. This can result from inflammation or detachment, due to trauma or high blood pressure. They may also suffer from conjunctivitis (inflammation of the insides of a cat’s eyelids); glaucoma (caused by increased pressure inside the eyeball); cataracts (opacity of the lens); or entropion (inward rolling of the eyelids). Treatment of each eye condition depends on the type and severity of the problem, although many are treated using eyedrops.
Heart disease in cats refers to when the heart’s structures aren’t working as they should be. There are two categories of heart disease: congenital (meaning the cat is born with it) and acquired (meaning the disease develops later in life). Congenital heart diseases include defects in the wall of the heart, abnormal valves and blood vessels. Norwegian Forest Cats are prone to a disease called hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, which can lead to heart failure. Whilst this condition is not curable, it can be treated with lifelong medication.
Kidney disease is caused by infections, toxins (especially licking anti-freeze) as well as age related changes. Although many signs of kidney disease are the same as those for any problem with the urinary tract (frequent, painful attempts to urinate, and blood in the urine for example), there may be some differences. Norwegian Forest Cats are prone to a condition of the kidneys where multiple cysts form within the organ, which compromises kidney function. Medication and special diets can be used to treat most kidney problems although surgery may be required for cysts.
Conditions that affect a cat’s bladder and urethra are collectively known as feline lower urinary tract disease (FLUTD), which is more commonly referred to as cystitis. Norwegian Forest Cats can suffer from these conditions, which can be caused by stress, not urinating enough, infections and bladder stones or crystals. Cats suffering from cystitis make frequent, painful attempts to urinate, and blood is often found in the urine. Treatment depends on the cause, but cats diagnosed with cystitis will usually require pain relief, access to plenty of water, special diets and perhaps some help to reduce stress.
Cats can suffer from various joint, bone and ligament diseases, which are known as orthopaedic problems. One that Norwegian Forest Cats may suffer from is hip dysplasia, where the ball and socket of the hip joint do not develop properly. Hip dysplasia may not show until it has progressed to secondary arthritis (inflammation and bone changes in the affected joint that cause pain and lameness). Anti-inflammatory painkillers, joint supplements and sometimes surgery may be required to control arthritic pain in cats. These can be used from time to time or on an ongoing basis to make sure the cat is happy and comfortable.
What to know before you buy or rehome a Norwegian Forest cat
Norwegian Forest cats have one of the best temperaments of cat breeds - but what do you need to know before bringing home your cat?
- Norwegian Forest cats are quite independent, so if you’re looking for a cat that doesn’t need a lot of direct attention, this could be the breed for you.
- This active breed will happily entertain itself, but needs access to outdoor space to do so. This isn’t a breed which can adapt to indoor-only life, so a garden is necessary.
- Their temperament means that after proper socialisation, they’re happy in the company of young children and other pets, so will fit in well with your family.
- Norwegian Forest cats have a high prey drive and may not be a match for homes with smaller pets such as rabbits, hamsters or guinea pigs.
- Norwegian Forest cats have periods of heavy shedding so be prepared for lots of cat hair on your clothes and furniture
Norwegian Forest frequently asked questions
Norwegian Forest cats can live to around 12 years, though some can live longer.
Norwegian Forest cats can get on well with children, and slot well into family life if well socialised and introduced gradually, so they make a good first-time cat. They’re good at following instructions, but are also good at spending time alone, so aren’t too which makes them less demanding of attention. For humans looking for a feline companion that is generally laid back and independant, this is a great breed to consider. They may not respond well to young children who haven’t learned about a cat’s boundaries yet. As with any animal, Norwegian Forest cats should always be supervised around children to make sure everyone is safe and happy.
Many people describe Norwegian Forest cats as a dog-lover’s cat and in fact they can get on well with other cats and some dogs, but it is best tosocialise them early on, match them carefully and always take introductions slowly.
Norwegian Forest cats are often known as ‘Wegies’ by fans of the breed.
Norwegian Forest insurance considerations
Norwegian Forests sometimes suffer with certain health conditions and may require treatment. Petplan cat insurance offers peace of mind that they will always be protected.
We always offer these things as standard:
Physiotherapy
Physiotherapy & pet therapies
Along with physiotherapy, which is covered within the Vet Bills benefit, we also cover Pet Therapies like herbal medicine, homeopathy and acupuncture. You can also claim for hydrotherapy, up to £500 per illness/injury in dogs and cats (no additional limit for rabbits).
Related articles
Follow us
Petplan is a trading name of Pet Plan Limited (Registered in England No. 1282939) and Allianz Insurance plc (Registered in England No. 84638), Registered office: 57 Ladymead, Guildford, Surrey GU1 1DB.
Pet Plan Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Financial Services Register No. 311969. Allianz Insurance plc is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority. Financial Services Register No. 121849. Pet Plan Limited is a subsidiary of Allianz Insurance plc. Fitz All Media Limited is an Appointed Representative of Pet Plan Limited.