Norwegian Forest Cats

The Norwegian Forest cat is a longhaired cat that is originally from the forests of Scandinavia as the name indicates. Norwegian Forest Cats are sometimes called “Wegies.” This cat breed travelled with the Vikings, protecting their food and grain stores from rodents. They are thought to be descendents of the Turkish Angora, Siberian cats from Russia, and Scottish wild cats. Though this cat breed has probably been domesticated for over a thousand years, Norwegian Forest Cats only became one of the CFA registered cat breeds in 1993.

This sturdy cat seems to have been designed for winter weather. The hair from inside the ears is long, which serves to protect the ears from snow and wind. Norwegian Forest Cats have small tufts of hair between their toes. The longhaired coat keeps the cat protected from winter elements. Under its longhaired coat, the Norwegian Forest Cat has an undercoat that helps keep the cat warm. They shed their undercoats in the spring.

Despite their silky, longhaired coat, they have very little need for grooming. They should be brushed daily during times that they are shedding. Norwegian Forest Cats have a large variety of colorings. The solid colorings of Norwegian Forest cats are black, blue, white, red, and cream. Other than solid coloring, they can be patched, one of the solid colors with white, blue-cream with white, tortoiseshell, spotted, calico, or tabby. They also come in silver, shaded, cameo, smoke, or ticked colorings.

The tails of Norwegian Forest Cats are long and bushy. Norwegian Forest Cats have large, muscular bodies. The eyes of Norwegian Forest Cats are large and almond-shaped with a slight upwards slant. The eyes can be green, gold, green-gold, or copper. White cats can have blue or odd eyes. The ears are medium to large with rounded tips.

If the Norwegian Forest Cats are well socialized throughout their early years, they are likely to be very people-oriented. They can be quite affectionate and may seek attention by following and watching the cat owner. Norwegian Forest Cats mature slowly. They are not full-grown until they are approximately five years old. Norwegian Forest Cats typically weigh eight to eighteen pounds.