Norwegian Forest Cat

The Norwegian Forest Cat, called the Wegie for short, is the stuff of Viking legend. These big longhairs have lived in Norway for centuries, and they appear in Norse myth as the cats that pulled the goddess Freya’s chariot. King Olav V named the breed the official cat of Norway.

It is built for a cold, wet climate. A long double coat with a dense woolly underlayer sheds rain and snow, topped by a full ruff, tufted lynx-tipped ears, and a long bushy tail. Big and muscular, the Wegie is a powerful climber that descends trees head-first.

For all its wild looks, the temperament is gentle and friendly. The Norwegian Forest Cat is calm, patient, and sociable, fond of its family without being demanding, and happy to watch the household from a high perch.

It is often confused with the Maine Coon, and the two share a similar size and rugged build, but they developed an ocean apart and differ in head shape and coat. The Wegie is slow to mature, reaching full size at around five years.

The Wegie is a calm, friendly giant that likes to survey its home from up high. It is sociable without being clingy, patient with children and other pets, and content to spend part of the day on its own, though it enjoys company when it is offered.

The water-shedding double coat needs regular brushing, with a heavy molt in spring that calls for daily attention. The breed is sturdy but can carry the heart condition HCM, a kidney condition, and a rare metabolic disorder called GSD IV, so reputable breeders test for them.