Norwegian Forest Cat

Is a Norwegian Forest Cat right for you?

The Norwegian Forest Cat, or "Wegie", is a large, powerful breed shaped by natural selection in Scandinavian forests. A water-repellent double coat, strong climbing ability, and a calm temperament. It is often confused with the Maine Coon; the two are separate breeds.

The most distinctive trait of this breed is its passion for climbing. In the wild it is one of the few cats able to descend a tree trunk head first, and indoors it seeks out the highest point.

Before you adopt

When buying a kitten, ask for the GSD IV (glycogen storage disease type 4) genetic test, the PKD test, and cardiac screening results. GSD IV is specific to this breed and the test should be standard.

Also ask about hip dysplasia screening; it has been reported in large cat breeds.

Norwegian Forest Cats appear in breed rescues; adopting an adult means the size and coat care needs are already visible.

Temperament

The Norwegian Forest Cat is calm, balanced, and independent. It is affectionate but not clingy; it is content to spend time on its own and then comes and sits beside you.

It does not like being forced onto a lap. It makes contact, but on its own terms; read this as the style of a self-assured breed rather than coldness.

It is wary of strangers but is not a cat that hides; it observes and then decides.

The urge to climb is very strong. It finds the highest point in the house and lives there. Thanks to powerful hind legs it jumps impressive distances.

Its voice is soft and used sparingly.

It is not shy of water; because its coat is water-repellent it does not mind getting wet.

The kitten period is very long; this breed matures fully at four to five years of age.

Health issues and lifespan

Average lifespan is 12 to 16 years. As a natural breed it is generally robust.

• Glycogen storage disease type IV (GSD IV): An inherited metabolic disease specific to this breed. Affected kittens are usually lost at birth or in the first months; survivors show muscle weakness and tremor. A genetic test exists and responsible breeders test the parents.
• Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM): The most common heart disease in cats; also reported in this breed. Periodic echocardiography is recommended.
• Polycystic kidney disease (PKD): A genetic test exists.
• Hip dysplasia: Reported in large cat breeds; avoiding jumping and a stilted gait are the signs.
• Retinal dysplasia: An eye developmental disorder reported in this breed.
• Obesity: Being large and being overweight are different; the ribs should be palpable.
• Hairballs: Because of the dense coat, swallowed hair leads to frequent vomiting; regular brushing is the most effective prevention.

Feeding

An adult Norwegian Forest Cat (4-9 kg; males are markedly larger) needs the energy equivalent of 65-100 g of dry food per day.

• Kitten (2-18 months): Kitten food. This breed grows very slowly; an extended kitten period or a large-breed formula should be used and the switch should not be made early.
• Adult: High protein, low carbohydrate. Omega-3 content matters for coat quality.
• Senior (10+ years): Annual monitoring of kidney and cardiac values.

Food and water bowls should be wide and shallow; a large cat squashes its whiskers in a narrow bowl.

A fountain-type water bowl helps with water intake.

Grooming and coat

A water-repellent double coat. It is dense but mats less readily than the Maine Coon's.

• Brush two to three times a week; daily in spring. This breed sheds its winter coat all at once in spring, and during that period the house fills with hair.
• An undercoat rake is needed during seasonal changes.
• Matting risk is highest in the armpits, under the belly, on the ruff, and on the inner rear legs.
• The tail is very plumed and should be brushed.
• Bathing is generally unnecessary; the coat is so water-repellent that even wetting it is difficult.
• Nails every two to three weeks; this cat climbs a great deal.
• Teeth several times a week.
• A wide litter tray is needed; standard trays are inadequate for a large cat.

Living space and enrichment

The household layout for this breed should be built vertically:

1. A tall, sturdy cat tree. A structure reaching near the ceiling that will carry an 8 kg cat. For this breed it is a need, not a luxury.
2. Wall shelves and climbing routes. A cat that lives in trees in the wild; the need for vertical movement is real.
3. A solid scratching post. Tall and vertical; it should be able to stretch to full length.
4. Play twice a day. Wand toys, hunting simulation.
5. A cool corner. A cool room and ceramic flooring in summer; the thick coat struggles in heat.
6. A safe window. A screen is essential; this breed jumps.
7. Indoors. For safety and for wildlife, it should not be let out freely.

History

The Norwegian Forest Cat is a native breed that developed naturally in Scandinavia over centuries. Its Norwegian name is "Norsk Skogkatt". Harsh winter conditions selected for a water-repellent outer coat, a dense undercoat, furry paws that make walking on snow easier, and powerful climbing ability.

The breed appears in Norwegian folklore and in Viking-era narratives; the cats said to pull the goddess Freyja's chariot are claimed to be of this breed. It is suggested that it travelled on Viking ships as a rat catcher and may in that way have reached North America and become one of the ancestors of the Maine Coon; this is a hypothesis, not a proven fact.

In the middle of the 20th century the breed came close to extinction through interbreeding with street cats. Norwegian enthusiasts began conservation work in the 1930s, the Second World War interrupted it, and it resumed in the 1970s.

King Olav V declared it the national cat of Norway in 1972. FIFe recognised it in 1977, and the first individuals left the country in the same year.