The Norwegian Forest cat, locally called “Norsk skogkatt,” is a mild-mannered feline with a sweet and loving personality. This breed has a remarkably long and thick coat with a robust and muscular body.
You can also tell if your cat is a Norwegian Forest cat if they have a triangular-shaped head and large almond eyes.
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Identifying a Norwegian Forest cat
This breed is also commonly called “Wegie” and it hails from Norway. Norse fairy tales speak of a cat so huge and furry that Freya, the Norse goddess of love, used these mythical cats to pull her carriage.
Over time, the giant cat was referred to by the locals as Skoggkat, which translates to “Forest Cat.”
You now have a glimpse of the roots of the Norwegian Forest Cat. Let’s now proceed with assessing Wegie’s physical and behavioral characteristics. The following checklist has everything you need to know about these pretty longhaired cats with the bushy tail.
Recognizing physical attributes
Large almond shaped eyes
The Norwegian Forest cat has wide, almond-shaped eyes. The breed’s eye color comes in all standard colors, such as green, gold, or copper. White Wegies usually have blue eyes, but some white cats have “odd eye color,” where one is blue, while the other is a different one.
Norwegian Forest cats are often mistakenly identified as Maine Coons, but you can quickly tell the difference between the two breeds from the shape of their eyes. Wegies have almond-shaped eyes while the Maine Coon features round-shaped eyes.
A long and thick coat
One of the Norwegian Forest cat’s striking features is its long, thick, and glossy coat. It has a dense, double-layered, weather-resistant coat. During summer, the cat looks somewhat naked compared to the extremely dense coat it grows during winter. The coat consists of a waterproof top layer, a woolly undercoat, and long guard hairs.
They have a nice warm, waterproof double coat. The wooly undercoat keeps the cat warm and happy even in the cold Scandinavian winters.
You should notice the thick tufts of hair prominent around the cat’s neck, face, and thighs. The wegie’s paws are also heavily tufted, and the tail is long and bushy.
Norwegian Forest cats comes in almost any colors and patterns, except the lilac and chocolate colors. However, the most common color of this breed is brown tabby with white.
Triangular-shaped head
Wegies can be identified by their distinctive triangular head shape. You’ll notice an equilateral triangle shape from the firm chin to the base of the ears. The nose is straight, and it has a flat forehead. The ears are medium-sized, have a rounded tip, and have thick tufts of hair.
Large and muscular body
The Norwegian Forest cat has a strong muscular build. This breed is heavily boned and is thick muscled. The thick muscles are most notable on the neck and legs of the cat. The paws are big and sometimes may look oversized, which matches the size of the body. And the abundance of their thick and long fur makes them look even bigger than they are.
Cat fanciers categorize the Skogkatt as a large-sized cat, particularly males. Male Norwegian Forest cats have an average weight of 10-22 pounds, while females are about 9-12 pounds. With this kind of build, they take a longer time to mature compared to other breeds and won’t reach maturity until the age of five.
Identifying the NFC’s personality and behavior
Affectionate and loving cat
The Norwegian Forest cat is a vocal, sweet and affectionate cat. This cat is a best-friend material feline. It will follow you around and likes to get involved in whatever you’re doing.
It doesn’t want to be left alone, but is also independent, meaning it will decide when it wants affection from you. You’ll find your Wegie snuggling and curling up on your lap when it needs some attention.
Natural-born hunters
Experts suggest that this breed’s roots can be traced back from a lineage of wild forest cats known for hunting. Even today, they still have their hunting skills and get very excited when it’s after its favorite toy. Wegies will stalk and chase the toys as if the toys were prey.
You’ll probably also notice your cat’s territorial personality. You may find your Norwegian Forest cat roaming and patrolling inside your house from time to time.
Wegies love high places
This Cat Breed is moderately active and very fond of climbing on high spots in your house. You may see this cat napping on elevated platforms such as the top of the refrigerator or shelves. Experts say that Wegies developed this love for high places they still lived in the forest, climbing trees and hunting for food.
Love for water
This cat breed has a huge affinity for water. You may find your NFC curiously staring at a free-flowing faucet or dipping its paws in the fish tank. And if given a chance to go near a stream or lake, this cat may go swimming or even catch fish.
Common questions about Norwegian Forest cats
How much is a Norwegian forest cat?
Cat enthusiasts consider Norwegian Forest cats a minority breed. And this means that they have a premium price. You can get a good quality show-standard cat for $1,200-$1,500. But if you are not planning on bringing your Wegie to a show, then you can have a pet quality kitten for $650-$800. Adopting a Wegie from a rescue center is also an option, where it may only cost $75-$100.
Are Norwegian Forest cats friendly?
Norwegian Forest cats are generally intelligent and friendly. They are very good at interacting with family members and always love being around them. They can adapt quickly and are great with kids and other pets at home. This breed is a sociable feline. However, they get easily scared and don’t do well with high-energy pets like dogs.
How much does Norwegian Forest cat eat?
An average Wegie cat tends to eat 10-15 times a day. Just a few bites at a time. This method is called free-feeding, and it works well, but this will increase the risk of obesity.
Another way of feeding Wegies is by giving them two measured meals per day. A cat that weighs around 5-9 pounds can eat a daily amount of ⅔ cup of cat food. Give them ⅓ cup in the morning and ⅓ cup at night.
Is my Norwegian Forest cat a purebred?
The best way to figure out if your cat is purebred, or if it is a smaller percentage Norwegian cat and some other cat breeds, is to get a DNA test taken. It is both easy and not that expensive to get a DNA test online.
You cat read more about the best cat DNA test online here. A DNA test can also be really great at figuring out if your cat is proon to any diseases like heart disease or Glycogen Storage Disease IV that is common in this breed.
Final thoughts
Their long, thick coats along with their huge and muscular body can help you quickly identify this breed. Norwegian Forest cats are affectionate and friendly with their family members. They are large cats with a mild temperament.
