What You Don’t Know About…Norwegian Forest Cats
July 1, 2025
Candilee Jackson
Introduction
The Cat Fanciers’ Association warns that you should expect the unexpected when sharing your home with this breed – you might see him flying through the air in a long jump from one perch to the next, or snaking his way among your bric-a-brac. Sociable and outgoing, the Norwegian Forest Cat is easily trainable, gets along well with children of all ages, and with other household pets. Additionally, because of its “toe-out” stance, this cat can run down a tree, headfirst! 2
A Little History, If You Please!
A natural breed originating in Northern Europe, the Norwegian Forest Cat is well adapted to cold climates. Well-insulated, this lovely cat has a woolly undercoat, topped by a long, glossy topcoat which repels water. Norwegian mythology tells of a fairy cat that dwelt in the mountains and could climb sheer rock faces. The “skogkatt” was beloved by Freya, the Norse goddess of love and beauty, who traveled in a feline-drawn chariot. It seems likely that Viking explorers may have brought a few Forest Cats with them to keep their ships free of rodents, so they could have arrived on the east coast of North America in the late 900s AD. 1
Discovered by cat enthusiasts in the twentieth century, the Norwegian Forest Cat Club was formed in Oslo, Norway, in 1938. Interestingly, this lovely breed became nearly extinct during World War II, when the Norwegian Forest Cat Club developed an official breeding program. Not leaving Europe until the 1970s, a pair of Wegies came to the United States in November 1979. The breed was accepted for registration by CFA in 1987, and received full championship status in 1993. 1 Also in the 1970s, King Olaf V of Norway named the Norwegian Forest Cat the official cat of Norway. 2
Living With …
A long-time Midwesterner, Brook Cole serves CFA as Breed Council Secretary. Nordictale Cattery is Brook’s pride and joy. A “cat person” for most of her life, Brook lost her “college kitty,” Griffin, in 1999. Saddened by the loss of her companion, Brook turned to what was then Cat Fancy Magazine, where Brook discovered Nancy Eckert and Fig Cattery, who lived not that far from her. “That was it. GP Fig Flashpoint became my first show cat. CH Fig Fly Away Tilly of Nordictale, DM, soon followed him. These cats have been my passion, and I honor the many preservation breeders who have maintained the Norwegian Forest Cat in all their Nordic Glory,” stated Brook.
Brook reports that “Norwegian Forest cats are easygoing and maintain a sense of constant companionship. Whether sleeping on their back in the middle of the floor or chirping at birds from the windowsill, the Norwegian Forest Cat graces the room with a unique wisdom. I can’t promise lap cats all night, but they are steadfast companions in our home.”
Warming to her subject, Brook shared that the cats particularly love “Clean Sheet Day.” “There is nothing better than the silent call to action, and soon, the game begins. Taking turns and dabbling under the parachute, the Forest Cats add their tale on special chores in our house.”
Launching their cattery, AngelForest, in 2017, a couple in Texas was mentored by Leesa and Mike Altschul of Surreal Persians, also in Texas. Basically, falling into Norwegian Forest Cats, this couple was introduced to their first Wegie when they adopted one from PetSmart! Surprisingly, this baby was a registered pedigreed cat, and it was love at first sight. After an impressive show season, they led him to a national win.
They are not shy about sharing their love for this breed. When asked what was different about these cats compared to other breeds, they responded: “Everything! These are the smartest, most intelligent cats we’ve ever been around. Sometimes they can be too smart. They are affectionate lap cats with so much personality. Not lazy at all. They are active, silly, and extremely beautiful.”
Living with an active cat can be interesting. “Sometimes it can be like living with toddlers, but in such a good way. They are our constant companions, who hang around wherever we are. They have opinions and will not be pushed around or ‘made’ to do anything. They enjoy the company of other cats and seem to do best with their own kind. They can absolutely tell their breed from other breeds,” said the couple.
Eastern Canada is the home of Nancy Kerr, who opened her cattery, Kerrisma, in 2008. Mentored by Mary Mulrennan of Irlu Cattery, Nancy was introduced to Brook Cole of Nordictale Cattery, and Nancy was soon good friends with several Norwegian Forest Cat breeders. Nancy stated that she had begun her adventures with CFA and pedigreed cats with the Maine Coon Cat, but felt drawn to Mary, who was a regular at local CFA cat shows. “I contacted Mary to adopt a kitten, and the rest is history!” reported Nancy.
Norwegian Forest Cats “are sweet and affectionate without being clingy. They love to communicate in trills and chirps.” Their ability to learn tricks and commands indicates intelligence and the desire to please. Nancy also says that Wegies get along well with children, dogs, and other cats.
Following other Wegie owners, Nancy shared their love of high places. “They are not fond of closed doors, and they are nosy and like to supervise family activities. “They work together to get what they want, and sometimes they are almost too smart for MY own good!”
Making this writer smile broadly, Nancy shared some “tails out of school:” “I taught my first Norwegian to climb a step stool. The only problem was that he would climb up while I was on it! They are also fond of baked goods. My brother met my first NFC female on the other side of a muffin he was trying to eat!”
Lorraine and Michael Shelton, Eastvale, California, state, “The thing that always strikes me about them is how easygoing and adaptable they are. They are great at adjusting to new situations, making them great pets and show cats. They travel, stay in hotels, live in new homes, and take everything in stride. And it doesn’t hurt that I think they’re the most beautiful cats around, especially their ‘bedroom eyes.’
“They do tend to live up to the ‘Forest Cat’ name – they like to be in high places so they can watch what’s going on, and they can jump surprisingly well. They want to know what you’re doing and will follow you around the house to monitor things. They don’t like closed doors, because they don’t know what’s happening behind them! They want to be near their people and can be very affectionate, but they usually aren’t lap cats. They’re rarely aggressive around other cats. Even whole males can frequently live together and are usually great with kittens.
“They’re really pretty easy cats to take care of, as longhairs go. Most of the year, a weekly combing is enough to keep them in condition, and they stay very clean. Since they shed their ‘winter pajamas’ in the spring, that’s the one time of year when more frequent grooming is needed.”
Wendy and Jeff Carson of WorkingCat Cattery in Hanover, Massachusetts, shared their thoughts on their beloved Wegies: “Norwegians may not ‘love’ water or try to swim like Turkish Vans, but they tend to be very unconcerned about it. Our first Norwegian, Bandit (GP Kitzn’s Bandit of WorkingCat) would regularly hang out on the side of the tub during my shower, and on several occasions, he hopped in to join me. I had to keep a spare towel on hand to dry him off after his showers. Our current Norwegian family members like to supervise showers and frequently hang out in the bathtub at home and on the road for shows.”
The stories that refer to them as “doglike” are not exaggerations. Generally, they are not lap cats, but they bond strongly to their human family and like to know where they are and where they’ve been. “Truggy (GC, GP, RW Mesterkatter Truggy of WorkingCat) will follow us to the door almost every morning when we leave for work. And at least one of the Wegies will likely hear the garage door opener and run down to greet us when we arrive home,” said Wendy.
They are a slow-maturing breed, up to five years to reach full maturity in every aspect, but a large breed. “It is quite ridiculous to watch a sixteen-pound, three-year-old bounce straight up in the air like a kitten when pouncing on a toy, but for him, he’s just playing like any normal ‘kitten.’”
Calling Hillsboro, Ohio, home, Dr. Tracy Reveal shared her family story of a longhaired cat strongly resembling a Norwegian Forest Cat who adopted them many years ago. “She was the best cat, and I searched until I could find one with her distinctive features.” Tracy found exactly what she was looking for in the Norwegian Forest Cat.
“Our first true introduction was when we adopted ‘CC,’ our NFC from breeder Brook Cole. I had followed Brook’s Instagram page and knew right away we wanted to pursue a kitten if the chance arose,” stated Tracy. With regards to the specific features that piqued her interest, Tracy continued, “They have beautiful, distinctive noses which are not so pronounced like a Maine Coon. However, their ears are very similar. CC has distinctive ‘tips’ of fur at the peaks of her ears, with long hair extending from her ears. I’m unsure if this is true for all NFCs, but our girl’s tail is big, fluffy, beautiful, and she’s only six months old. Her tail indicates what she’s up to. Her tail normally lies up and over her back, pointing back towards her head when she’s ‘on a mission’ (like to eat or pick up her toys). The more excited she gets, the puffier her tail gets. She likes to climb, but unfortunately, she usually lands where you wouldn’t want a cat — on the kitchen countertop or table!” laughed Tracy.
“We’ve nicknamed our girl ‘CC,’ for ’Crazy Cat,’ for a reason. When she’s not napping and wanting to cozy up to us, or with our nanny cat and large lab, CC is in full ‘zoomies’ mode and will run around the house, whether she’s being chased or not. She is so funny and has started to jump beneath the couch cover to ‘hide,’ then jumps out to scare us or get the dog’s attention,” relates Tracy.
Linda Wurzburger calls College Heights Estates, Maryland, home and is another satisfied Norwegian Forest Cat owner, servant, staff, guardian, or whatever her cats need at the moment. Linda began her story with Wegies some 30 years ago, when her family was looking for a cat that would get along well with their Siberian Husky. Having recently lost their cat, Linda stated, “I was looking for another black-and-white cat, and there was a breeder at the cat show with a litter of black-and-white Norwegians. She let me hold the female, and during our conversation, I discovered she had been born on our anniversary. It was love at first sight, and she went home with me.
Living with a Norwegian is unlike having a typical cat. “They are like having a small dog. They follow you, come when called, love to be petted, walk on a leash, and love to travel, especially in a pack. Our two Wegies love to car-ride and go places with the dog.” Continuing, Linda shared that after losing one of their Norwegians, the family decided it would be best to adopt TWO Wegies because it was apparent the family “group loves to be in a pack, just like our Siberian Husky, a trait we just love.”
And the Last Word …
Dr. Tracy is the writer for the Last Word, and she stated what everyone indicated in their e-interviews: The Norwegian Forest Cat “becomes the center of our busy household, and is very much a clown in our family circus. We can count on her to make us laugh at least once or twice daily!”
Editor’s Note: Thank you to the breeders and pet owners who plowed through their photo files for pictures! Barbara Chronakis, Leah Osteen Dow, Nancy Kerr, Dr Tracy Reveal.
References
- n.d. Breed Profile: The Norwegian Forest Cat. Accessed April 17, 2025 https://cfa.org/breed/norwegian-forest-cat/
- Fawcett, Kirstin. 2017. 10 Furry Facts About Norwegian Forest Cats. July 7, 2022. Accessed April 24, 2025. https//:mentalfloss.com/article(69586/10-furry-facts-about-norwegian-forest-cats