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The Norwegian Forest Cat is a smart, beautiful, and friendly Cat that originated in northern Europe.
Thought to have been brought to Norway by the Vikings in 1000A.D, this marvelous breed has been around for a while now.
A Norwegian Forest Cat is known for its long, smooth, and silky outer coat that can repel water; It also has a woolly insulating inner coat.
Norwegian Forest Cat History
The exact origin history of the Norwegian Forest cat is not fully known, but we can look at a few theories to get a possible idea of their true origins.
Some people believe that the Norwegian Forest cat directly resulted from mating between the Turkish Angora and the Siberian; the latter has its origins in Russia while the former in Turkey.
Another theory is that the long-haired cats that the Vikings and the Crusaders brought to Europe reproduced, and over a few generations, the modern Norwegian Forest cat was born.
The most probable role of the Norwegian Cat’s ancestors was to catch rats on ships of the Vikings.
Norwegian Forest Cat Key Facts
The Norwegian Forest Cat is built to survive the harsh climate of northern Europe.
Their long outer coat is fully water-resistant; This protects the Cat from coming in contact with cold water or from the snow melting and seeping into their coat.
They also have an inner coat which is dense, thick, and warm; This coat prevents heat loss from the body and keeps the Cat warm.
The first club formed in the name of the Norwegian Forest was called the Norwegian Forest Cat Club.
The club worked hard to preserve and solidify the standards related to the breed. But these efforts were greatly diminished during the 2nd world war.
How Big Do Norwegian Forest Cats Get?
The Norwegian Forest is a large-sized cat that can make other smaller cats look weak in comparison.
These big cats have a sturdy, strong, and solid build, which becomes prominent as you first lay eyes on them.
The males weigh between 10 – 20 pounds, while the females weigh 8 – 18 pounds.
Norwegian Forest Cat Lifespan
This amazing Cat is healthy and strong. On average, they live between 12 – 16 years.
You can ensure that they live towards the upper end of this scale by taking good care of them and using the right accessories, including cat shampoo, cat litter ,etc.
How Much Does An Norwegian Forest Cat Cost?
The Norwegian Cat is known for its royal looks, and people are ready to pay a lot for it. You can expect to pay around $900 – $1500 for a kitten.
You may have to pay even more if you are buying from a reputable, in which case the price can be as much as $2,500.
Norwegian Forest Cat Personality
The Norwegian Cat is smart, playful, and interactive; they love forming deep bonds with their family and becoming an integral part of it.
They are highly empathetic, and attuning themselves to their owner’s mood gives them the ability to connect with them on a deep level.
These playful cats are usually good around other pets and children.
But due to their large size, it is generally a good idea to keep them away from the toddler.
Additionally, you want to ensure that there is always an escape route present whenever there are kids around.
Caring For An Norwegian Forest Cat
The Norwegian Cat is a large cat that requires care and attention to grow and flourish, including physical and psychological care.
You need to keep in mind a few things if you want to ace being a successful cat owner.
These include adequate nutrition, caring for activity needs, and proper grooming. In the following section, we will explore these things in detail.
Norwegian Forest Cat Nutrition
As a large-sized cat, the Norwegian requires more high-quality food than smaller cats to maintain its large body.
Many previous cat owners mistake feeding the Norwegian the same amount of food they fed their previous small-sized cats.
But this is a bad idea as the caloric requirements of this Cat are way more.
How To Groom An Norwegian Forest Cat?
Brushing the Norwegian Cat is a little more difficult than other shorthaired cats.
As they have two coats, it is best to brush them at least 3 to 4 times a week and daily during shedding season.
The brushing using cat brush will ensure that their scalp gets proper nutrients by stimulating local blood flow.
Additionally, brushing will remove any extra loose hair from the coat and reduce shedding significantly.
It would help if you also planned a bath at least once every month.
But keep in mind that the coat is water repellant, so you may have to put in more effort to clean it properly.
Trimming the nails and brushing their teeth should be an integral part of their weekly grooming routine.
Norwegian Forest Cat Activity Levels
The Norwegian Forest cat is active, athletic, and fun-loving.
These large cats love to interact with their owner, which is most evident in their habit of following their owner around the house.
The Norwegian Cat also loves to play with cat toys and various games, and due to their high intelligence, they learn pretty quickly.
But as they are large, they get tired quickly, and you may notice them napping a lot.
But this is normal as cats like to preserve their energies during the day and hunt during the night.
However, if you notice that your cat is not moving around and is gaining weight, visit the vet immediately.
Norwegian Forest Cat Health Concerns
The Norwegian Cat is generally a healthy breed. But they can suffer from a few diseases, including kidney diseases, heart diseases, and Perinatal hypoglycemic collapse.
Another problem found in this breed is a mutation in their GBE1 gene. This can lead to neuromuscular degeneration and can lead to death.
The only way to protect your Cat from these diseases is to get your cat from a reputable breeder.
You may have to pay a little extra, but the amount of effort these breeders put into breeding these cats and ensuring that there are no faulty genes in them is worth paying the money for.
Sources
Recommended Reading
- 10 Best Cat Litters of 2022
- 10 Best Cat Toys of 2022
- 10 Best Cat Beds of 2022
- 10 Best Cat Accessories of 2022
- 10 Best Automatic Litter Boxes of 2022
- 10 Best Cat Anti Scratch Spray of 2022
- 10 Best Cat Backpacks of 2022
- 10 Best Cat Collars of 2022
- 10 Best Cat Drinking Fountains of 2022
- 10 Best Cat Harnesses & Leashes of 2020
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