The Norwegian Forest Kitten

A Norwegian Forest kitten is a sturdy and robust feline. Learn about this smart and intrepid breed.

Often compared to the Maine Coon cat, Norwegian Forest kittens have their origins in Norway during the time of the Vikings. They have a history as a working cat, killing rodents on farms. Through the centuries the breed adapted its characteristic thick fur and strong body to deal with the harsh climate of Norway. They became most popular in the 1930’s and by the 1990’s have developed fully into its own and gained championship status in the Cat Fancier’s Association.

Physical Appearance

Photo by Quatre Mains @ flickr.com

Norwegian Forest cats are heavy and stocky in terms of their build. Their build is adaptation due to the Norwegian Forest cat’s ancestry in the cold Scandinavian wilderness. The cats have a thick glossy coat of fur and can be either long-haired or short-haired.

Norwegian Forest cats are smart and strong felines. They have triangular shaped heads with large sturdy paws. Adult Norwegian Forest cats can to be quite heavy. Adult males up to 16 pounds Females up to 12 pounds. Forest Cats have puffy flowing tails.

Back legs are longer than the front legs. Long back legs make them excellent climbers. Have almond shaped eyes and tufts of fur coming from their ears, used for protection in cold climate.

Colors

Norwegian Forest cats come in a variety of patterns and colors. Solid, parti-color, smoke, and tabby are common patterns for the breed. Eye colors range from green to gold. Some may have blue eyes.

Temperament

Norwegian forest cats are playful animals. Their independent spirits were developed from surviving the harsh climate of Norway. They’re great hunters and love to play games of fetch. They also have an intense focus when it comes to stalking prey. Norwegian Forest cats love humans and companionship. However, depending upon the individual cat, they Norwegian may or may not be a lap cat.

Norwegian Forest cats are friendly and make great house pets. They get along well with other household pets and children. A Norwegian cat may develop an affinity towards one particular family member. The cats love toys and climbing on high perches.

Care

Norwegian Forest cats can have both short and long-hair. Short-haired Norwegian cats are easy to groom. Simply coat the coat once per week. Long-haired cats need more attention. Norwegians tend to grow longer coats in the colder months and shorter coats in the warmer months. They also tend to shed more in the warmer months.

Both long-haired and short-haired do have a wooly undercoat and a silk top coat. Norwegian cat skin tends to produce quite a bit of oil. Oil protects the skin against dry cold air. The protective oil on the skin and fur can make bathing somewhat complicated. It may be necessary to use a degreaser to remove the oil and then use a shampoo. Drying is also complicated due to the Norwegians thick fur. Make sure all soap is thoroughly washed from the fur and dry the fur gently avoiding extreme heat.

Development

Norwegian Forest kittens are quite slow to mature. It may take between 4 or 5 years for the kittens to reach full maturity. In the mean time, keep feeding the Norwegian Forest kittens regular meals and leave some food out so that they can graze all day long.

Like most developing kittens, Norwegian Forest cats may go thorough growth spurts. They may have periods of immense growth followed by periods of stalled growth.

Health

Norwegian Forest cats are overall a healthy hardy breed. They are not known to have any major genetically related disorders.

Remember…a Norwegian Forest kitten can be a curious and fiercely independent adventurer in your home.

Photo by Quatre Mains @ flickr.com

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