Norwegian Forest Cat Insurance, Care and Health Advice
The Norwegian Forest Cat (aka the Wegie or Skogkatt in their native Norway) is built to survive in harsh Scandinavian winters - so it’s not surprising that they tend to take life in their stride. Kitted out with that thick, furry coat this breed is fearless, full of energy and willing to explore life to the full. And with their sweet temperament and sense of fun, these gentle giants will settle in quickly to become part of the family.
If you want information about the Norwegian Forest Cat breed, and what it would take to own one of these fluffy felines, you’re in the right place.
Norwegian Forest Cat Facts
Is a Norwegian Forest Cat Right for Me?
Norwegian Forest Cats love the great outdoors, they’re a good choice for owners who live in an area where it’s safe to roam and who are looking for an outdoors cat. That said, they adapt well to their environment, so a Norwegian Forest may be kept as an indoor cat.
This is usually a friendly, very sociable cat. They’re up for fun and games and the occasional cuddle, but the Norwegian Forest isn’t a natural choice if you’re looking for a lap cat; they’d rather be playing and exploring than spending hours in front of the TV.
They’re quick on their feet and not easily fazed, so they make excellent playmates for the kids. They also usually get along well with dogs (especially if they’ve grown up together in the same household). Just be careful of any smaller animals, these guys have a high prey drive! It’s thought that Forest Cats were making themselves useful as mousers on Viking longships way back in the 1st Century.
What Are Norwegian Forest Cat Kittens Like?
Forest Cat kittens are extremely lively and bold. They love to jump, and play get up to mischief! This breed love company, so getting a pair of kittens is a great way of ensuring they always have another furry friend to play with. This breed is rarely nervous, so long as they’re socialised well when they’re kittens.
Life with a Norwegian Forest Cat
The Norwegian Forest will usually choose a favourite person within the family; someone who they’ll follow around more than anyone else. That said, they’re rarely clingy, and if there’s something more interesting happening elsewhere in the home, they’ll be off to explore it. They can be wary around strangers at first, but once intros have been made, this breed makes friends pretty easily.
The Norwegian Forest can be let out at night – that thick coat means they’re more than capable of handling a UK winter. But just bear in mind that traffic poses a big risk to even the most streetwise cat. Especially if you live in a busy area, the safest option could be to let your buddy out in the back garden – or keep them indoors at night.
Wegies aren’t a breed that need attention 24/7, especially if they have another feline companion. So, if your cats are kept indoors and you’re at work all day, it’s not the end of the world. They love the company of other cats, so with lots of toys to play with, they’ll cope quite well being left home alone while you’re out.
Caring for Your Norwegian Forest Cat
These big, muscular cats can burn up a lot of energy. They’re not known for being greedy and are not usually fussy eaters – but that’s not to say that you shouldn’t be fussy when it comes to what to feed them. Consult with your vet on the most appropriate feeding regime, bearing in mind that this will alter gradually as your Wegie gets older.
Given the chance, these cats will often eat way more than what’s good for them – so go easy on the treats. A strong sturdy build is normal; but pudginess is definitely something to be avoided as it can lead to a whole range of health issues, from joint problems to breathlessness.
That thick, fluffy coat is actually a lot easier to keep clean than it looks. It’s naturally designed to keep your buddy warm and not get matted. So most of the time, brushing once or twice a week should be enough to get rid of dead hairs and remove any tangles. They tend to shed the most in Spring and Autumn - so step up the brushing to keep on top of it.
Especially if your buddy loves exploring the great outdoors, their ears can be a magnet for dirt. Make sure you take a good look inside once or twice a week - and gently wipe away any debris to prevent infection.
Being a smart, athletic cat, the Norwegian Forest likes to keep active. They love climbing to the highest point in the room to get a good look at what’s going on. They’re not afraid of jumping either - and will often dive back down, headfirst. Investing in a climbing post is a good idea to keep them entertained.
If you have more than one Wegie they’ll play happily together for hours, but they do enjoy fun and games with their humans too. They love to play with all sorts of toys, so taking some time a couple of times a day to play with your Wegie will make them very happy and will use up some of that excess energy!
Norwegian Forest Cat Insurance
If you have your eye on a Norwegian Forest, it would be worth considering their insurance too. Being a natural explorer can come fraught with a little danger. You never know when one of their daredevil leaps from their cat post will end in a less than perfect landing. They may be famous for righting themselves mid-air, but accidents can happen.
To prepare you for these and any illness your Forest Cat could come down with, it’s worth having an eye on Norwegian Forest cat insurance. Everypaw’s Cat Insurance can be there for you and your kitty. There are 6 levels of Lifetime Insurance to choose from, and each policy comes with a range of additional benefits when you need them the most.
Common Norwegian Forest Cat Health Problems by Vetstream
We all want our cats to be healthy and Norwegian Forest cats are a pretty healthy breed. But Wegies can still be affected by the odd problem, so we have joined up with veterinary experts, Vetstream, to explain all about these potential problems.
Glycogen Storage Disease Type IV is a rare disease that can affect Norwegian Forest cats. It’s an inherited metabolic condition caused by a deficiency in an enzyme that’s needed for the metabolism of glycogen. Signs are neurological as glycogen builds up in nerves and muscles. Sadly, there isn’t any treatment and affected cats shouldn’t be bred from.
Hip Dysplasia affects the hip joint causing pain and lameness and affected cats will be reluctant to jump. Signs often show in cats when they’re less than a year old. HD is usually managed with anti-inflammatory drugs or a veterinary diet, but in severe cases surgery might be necessary. Breeders should have their parent cats graded for hip dysplasia so if you buy a kitten, you can be confident your Wegie will be healthy and happy.
Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a common serious heart condition. It causes the heart muscle to thicken which can cause heart failure and blood clots. This condition can be diagnosed using ultrasound scanning (echocardiography). Lifelong medication will be needed for Wegies with this condition. Norwegian Forest cat breeders should have their cats tested so that their kittens don’t inherit HCM.
Norwegian Forest Cats are one of many cat breeds that can be affected by this inherited disease. It’s an autosomal recessive trait. This means a cat must inherit two copies of the faulty gene for the condition to develop. A DNA test can confirm if a cat is affected or is a carrier. These cats shouldn’t be used for breeding.
Quick Norwegian Forest Cat Q&A
Wegies are pretty easy to spot because they look like wild cats. They have a long, thick shaggy coat with tufty hair around the neck which looks a bit like a lion's mane! They also have thick tufty hair on their ears and in between their toes, their face and legs are very fluffy too.
They can often be mistaken for a Maine Coon, but it's actually quite easy to tell them apart just by checking out the shape of their eyes; Wegies have large almond-shaped eyes.
Other physical characteristics to look out for are their thick muscly neck and legs. They’re also big boned and have big paws. Wegies come in all sorts of colours and patterns, but brown tabby and white are the most common.
Like most cats, this breed likes to chat occasionally. But they’re only likely to get vocal if they want your attention. Even when they do meow, they have a quiet voice, so if you prefer a quieter life, a Wegie is the breed for you!
Wegies live to around 16 years old which is pretty average age for a lot of cat breeds. As with any breed, if your cat comes from a healthy line of breeding cats your buddy should live a long, healthy and happy life.
This breed is pretty low maintenance. They love people and don’t mind children. They love other cats and even get on well with dogs too. So yes, they tick all of the ‘good family pet’ boxes!
Norwegian Forest Cats are large cats, typically weighing between 10 to 16 pounds, with males often being larger than females.
Norwegian Forest Cats are friendly, independent, and adaptable, known for their affectionate nature and playful yet calm demeanor.
That’s All You Need to Know About Wegies
With their thick, fluffy coats and sweet personalities, Wegies make excellent pets. They love being outdoors where they can put their hunting and climbing skills to use but they can adapt to being indoor cats too. Just make sure they have lots of toys they can chase and ambush and perches or cat trees they can climb up. And remember they’ll need their coats brushed a couple of times a week to keep them looking their best.
Content provided from Vetstream's Vetlexicon Felis.
Vetlexicon is the world’s largest peer-reviewed online clinical reference source. All our content is written and peer-reviewed by over 1,000 of the world’s leading veterinarians, ensuring relevance, accuracy and quality.
Brownlie S, Fox P, Nicholls P K & Watson P (online) Heart: hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. In: Vetlexicon Felis. Vetstream Ltd, UK. Website: www.vetstream.com/treat/felis/diseases/heart-hypertrophic-cardiomyopathy
Day M & Giger U (online) Pyruvate deficiency. In: Vetlexicon Felis. Vetstream Ltd, UK. Website: www.vetstream.com/treat/felis/diseases/pyruvate-kinase-deficiency
Franklin R, Garosi L & Marsella R (online) Storage disease. In: Vetlexicon Felis. Vetstream Ltd, UK. Website: www.vetstream.com/treat/felis/diseases/storage-disease
Langley-Hobbs S & Wallace A M (online) Hip: dysplasia. In: Vetlexicon Felis. Vetstream Ltd, UK. Website: www.vetstream.com/treat/felis/diseases/hip-dysplasia
Vetstream Ltd (online) Norwegian Forest Cat. In: Vetlexicon Felis. Vetstream Ltd, UK. Website: www.vetstream.com/treat/felis/freeform/norwegian-forest-cat