Norwegian Forest Cat

Like every breed, the Norwegian Forest Cat is not the right fit for every home. Based on the breed’s typical traits:

• Children

  Usually better with older, calmer children.

• Other cats

  Usually enjoys the company of other cats.

• Dogs

  Often gets on with a cat-friendly dog.

• Indoors and outdoors

  Usually happier with access outdoors.

• Being left alone

  Often copes well alone during the day.

• First-time owners

  Often suits first-time cat owners.

Not yet reviewed by a vet. This is general information, not veterinary advice: speak to your vet about your own cat’s health.

• Glycogen storage disease type IV

  An inherited disorder in which affected kittens are stillborn or die soon after birth, although some develop normally until four or five months old. Both parents must carry the gene for a kitten to be affected. A DNA test can detect affected and carrier cats, and the breed's GCCF advisory committee recommends testing breeding cats where the disease may be present in a line.

• Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM)

  Purina lists this disease, in which the heart muscle becomes abnormally thick and cannot beat effectively.

• Pyruvate kinase deficiency

  A disease that causes anaemia through the loss of red blood cells. A DNA test is available.

• Feline urinary syndrome

  The GCCF says there is some anecdotal evidence that the breed is susceptible to this urinary condition, and that care should be taken with diet.

Responsible breeders and rescues are happy to talk about health, and any pressure to decide quickly is a reason to walk away. Before taking a Norwegian Forest Cat home, it is reasonable to ask about:

• Health testing of the parents. Ask which health tests the parents have had for conditions known in the breed, and to see the results.
• Veterinary and vaccination records. Kittens should have had a first vaccination and a vet check, with records you can take home.
• Microchip information. In England, cats must be microchipped and registered by 20 weeks old. Ask who the chip is registered to and how the transfer works.
• Registration paperwork. Registration papers, where they apply, record pedigree. They do not by themselves prove health or how a kitten was raised.

There are two costs: bringing a Norwegian Forest Cat home, and looking after one well. Kitten prices depend on the breeder, health testing and demand; the adverts below show what sellers are asking today.

Ongoing costs are the ones new owners most often underestimate: food, insurance (which usually rises with age), routine vet care, vaccinations and parasite treatment, dental care, grooming, litter, scratching posts and toys, and a cattery or a sitter for holidays. Budget for the whole of the cat’s life, typically 14–16 years, not just the first year.

If you have decided the Norwegian Forest Cat suits your life, take the same care choosing where your cat comes from. Meet the kitten in person, see it with its mother, and look at how the litter is raised.

• Check who you are dealing with: every Mypetzilla advert shows the seller type and what we have checked.
• Ask about health testing, vaccinations and the microchip before you commit.
• Take your time. Do not be rushed by deposits or "last one left" stories.
• Meet in person before paying anything, and keep conversations on Mypetzilla.

Norwegian Forest Cats do come up for adoption, through rescue organisations, breed rescues and private rehoming, often because an owner’s circumstances have changed rather than any fault of the cat. An adult cat arrives as a known quantity: its size, coat and character are already on show.

Rescues will usually talk you through the cat’s history, any medical care, and the home it needs, including children, other animals and time alone. Be honest about your circumstances: a good rescue would rather place a cat once, well.