Norwegian Forest CatCharacteristics, history, behaviour and care

The breed's ancestors may have been the shorthaired cats brought to Norway by the Vikings around the year 1000, and longhaired cats brought later. Siberian and Turkish Angora cats are also possible relatives. Forest cats lived for centuries in the forests of Norway and were probably ship's cats on Viking vessels too.

During the Second World War, the breed almost disappeared. A programme run by the Norwegian breed club saved it. King Olav V declared it the official cat of Norway. Norwegian breeder Carl-Fredrik Nordane obtained registration with FIFe in 1977; it was recognised in Sweden in 1978, in Britain in 1989 and at CFA in 1994.

How the breed developed

• Around the year 1000 – the Vikings' cats reach Norway.
• Second World War – the breed almost disappears.
• 1977 – recognised by FIFe.
• 1989 – recognised in Britain.
• 1994 – recognised by CFA.

• Families with children and other cats. It is calm and friendly.
• Homes with room to climb. It is an excellent climber, with strong claws.
• People who want a calm but playful cat. It stays playful all its life.
• People with time for brushing. The long coat needs weekly brushing, more often during moulting.

It is a strong, larger-than-average cat: females weigh 3.6–8 kg and males 4.5–9 kg. It has a long, solid body, long legs and a bushy tail. Its very strong claws make it an excellent climber, even on rocks.

General appearance

The head is shaped like an equilateral triangle, with a strong chin and a straight profile; a square or round head is considered a fault. The eyes are almond-shaped and slanted. The ears are large, broad at the base and set high, with lynx-like tufts at the tips.

The coat has a long, thick, glossy, water-repellent top layer and a woolly undercoat, most of all on the legs, chest and head, where it forms a ruff. All colours are accepted, including the sepia and mink variants. French Wikipedia says the final colour can appear from 5 months, but sometimes only settles at 2–3 years.

Related breeds and how to tell them apart

The Maine Coon and the Siberian are also large, longhaired cold-climate cats. One legend even says the Maine Coon descends from the Vikings' cats. The Norwegian can be recognised by its triangular head with a straight profile.

The FIFe profile says its calm, friendly nature is the result of careful selection by breeders. It is intelligent, calm and affectionate, with a playful spirit that lasts all its life, and becomes deeply attached to its family. Wikipedia says it has lots of energy and makes high-pitched, chirping sounds.

Socialisation

It gets on well with people and other animals; German Wikipedia says it usually accepts other cats in its “territory” too, even in an apartment.

A kitten gets used to new people, noises and other animals most easily in its first months of life.

Habits at home

Like all cats, it sleeps a lot: usually 12–16 hours a day. It is most active early in the morning and in the evening, but partly adapts to the family's routine.

Cats instinctively bury their droppings, so it quickly learns to use a litter tray. It scratches rough surfaces to shed the old outer layer of its claws, so it needs a scratching post or board.

It has lots of energy and loves to climb. Cats that spend a lot of time outdoors become fast hunters, but the breed can also adapt to indoor life.

Tips for a balanced life

• Change its toys from time to time, so it does not get bored.
• Play with it in short sessions, several times a day.
• If it goes outside, let it do so in a fenced area or on a balcony with a safety net.

Coat care

French Wikipedia says that, like any longhaired cat, it needs brushing once a week. In spring it loses its winter coat and needs brushing more often.

Common health problems

The FIFe profile says the breed's health is a priority for FIFe breeders, through careful selection and genetic testing. Wikipedia nevertheless mentions glycogen storage disease type IV, a rare but fatal inherited disease caused by a mutation of the GBE1 gene. The breed can also have hip dysplasia, inherited cardiomyopathy and, in one study, an eosinophilic granuloma complex with a possible inherited cause.

Recommended genetic tests

There is a genetic test for glycogen storage disease type IV (the GBE1 gene), and FIFe breeders test the parents. The heart can be checked by ultrasound.

Is it hypoallergenic?

Cat allergy is caused mainly by the Fel d 1 protein, found in saliva and skin glands; it is behind the allergy in 90% of people who are allergic to cats. Kittens, females and neutered males produce less of it, but still enough to trigger symptoms. No breed is completely hypoallergenic.

Other care

• A check-up at the vet once a year.
• Vaccinations and parasite treatment on the schedule set by the vet.
• Trim the claws if they do not wear down on their own.
• Clean its teeth or give it food that helps keep them clean.

The cat is a carnivore: it needs animal protein. Unlike a dog, it must get vitamin A, arachidonic acid and taurine from its food. Water is very important, because cats usually drink little; several water bowls around the house encourage it to drink.

Tips for a healthy diet

The table gives a starting estimate, calculated with the formula from the Merck Veterinary Manual for a healthy adult cat. The last column shows what this means in dry food with 3,500–4,000 kcal per kilogram. If you also feed wet food, reduce the dry portion.

• Adjust the portion to its weight: neutered cats put on weight easily.
• Weigh it monthly; the ribs should be easy to feel under your fingers.
• Kittens need more calories: Merck recommends 2.5 times the resting energy requirement.

Dangerous foods and substances

Some common household items are dangerous for cats:

• Lilies (and daylilies): they can destroy a cat's kidneys. Even the pollen or the water in the vase is dangerous.
• Paracetamol: extremely toxic to cats, which lack the enzyme that breaks it down. Never give it human medicines.
• Flea spot-ons and collars for dogs containing permethrin: the concentration meant for dogs is dangerous for cats.
• Foods: chocolate, coffee, alcohol, onions, garlic, grapes and raisins.

Maturity

Females usually reach sexual maturity at 5–10 months, and males at 5–7 months. The age varies from breed to breed.

Mating and pregnancy

Pregnancy in cats lasts 64–67 days, 65 on average. A first litter usually has fewer kittens than later ones. Only healthy cats that match the breed standard are used for breeding.

Blood type

Cats have blood type A, B or AB. Type A is the most common: in a study from England, 87.1% of non-pedigree cats and 54.6% of pedigree cats had type A. This matters for breeding: if the mother is type B and the kittens are type A, the antibodies in her first milk (colostrum) can destroy their red blood cells. The condition is called neonatal isoerythrolysis. That is why breeders test the blood type of both parents.

We found no published data on how common type B is in this breed; the test is done before mating anyway.

Caring for the kittens

Kittens are weaned at 6–7 weeks. They are ready to go to their new home at about 12 weeks, when they can be separated from their mother.

Neutering

Neutering used to be done at 6–9 months, but it is more and more often done before puberty, at around 3–6 months. It prevents unwanted kittens, urine marking in males and the loud “calling” of females in heat. A 2024 study found that neutered cats live one year longer on average. After the operation, the metabolism slows down and appetite increases, so the portion has to be reduced.

How to choose a kitten

• Ask for the pedigree from a recognised cat association (for example, a FIFe member).
• The kitten leaves its mother at about 12 weeks.
• Ask for the parents' genetic test result for glycogen storage disease type IV.
• Look at the mother and at the place where the kittens are raised: it should be clean, with kittens used to people.
• Ask about vaccinations, parasite treatment and the blood type of the parents.

• The official cat of Norway. King Olav V declared it the country's official cat.
• It climbs rocks. Its very strong claws help it climb even on rocks.
• A Viking ship's cat. Its ancestors probably caught mice on Viking ships.
• An explorer. One study found that Norwegian kittens explore and try to escape more often than Siamese, Oriental or Abyssinian kittens.

Skogkatt, the cat of legend

Norse legends speak of the “skogkatt”, a fairy cat that lives in the mountains and can climb steep rock faces where other cats cannot. The author Claire Bessant believes the legend may be about the ancestor of today's breed.

How big does it get?

Females weigh 3.6–8 kg and males 4.5–9 kg.

How is it different from the Maine Coon?

The Norwegian has a triangular head with a straight profile, the Maine Coon a squarer head and a broader muzzle.

Does it get on with other cats?

Yes, the FIFe profile describes it as friendly with other cats.

How often does it need brushing?

Once a week, more often in spring, when it moults.