Norwegian Forest Cat vs European Shorthair - Breed Comparison

Norwegian Forest Cat vs European Shorthair - Breed ComparisonEuropean Shorthair is originated from Sweden but Norwegian Forest Cat is originated from Norway. Both European Shorthair and Norwegian Forest Cat are having almost same weight. Both European Shorthair and Norwegian Forest Cat has almost same life span. Both European Shorthair and Norwegian Forest Cat has same litter size. European Shorthair requires Low Maintenance. But Norwegian Forest Cat requires Moderate Maintenance

Basic Information

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Sweden
Norway
Weight Male:
4 - 6 kg
8 - 14 pounds
3 - 9 kg
6 - 20 pounds
Weight Female:
4 - 6 kg
8 - 14 pounds
3 - 9 kg
6 - 20 pounds
Life Span:
12 - 18 Years
14 - 16 Years
Litter Size:
2 - 6
2 - 6
Other Names:
Housecats
Wegie, Gentle Giant
Colors Available:
brown or copper or blue. , yellow, black ad blue with eyes that are green, red, White, cream
Many colors and patterns
Coat:
Short with no undercoat
Thick and long haired
Shedding:
Minimal
Moderate
Temperament:
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Docile, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Quiet, Responsive, Social, Stubborn, Sweet, Territorial
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Curious, Docile, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Quiet, Responsive, Social, Territorial
Grooming:
Low Maintenance
Moderate Maintenance
Trainability:
Easy
Easy
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
Yes

History

european shorthairThe European Shorthair is a cat breed that hails from Sweden but it also has roots that go back to the Roman Empire.

It is referred to as a natural cat breed, which means that the cat came about naturally without any human intervention.

The cat has had great hunting skills and this has what has made it sought after as a cat to keep rodents at bay. It became a famous housecat as well.

norwegian forest catThe beautiful Norwegian Forest cat has a thick fur to survive the snow and icy weather in Norway. It is the official cat of Norway.

It originated in Northern Europe. It is believed that the cat was brought to Norway from Great Britain way back in the time of the Vikings. It is also believed that it reproduced with farm cats and has become the modern-day Norwegian Forest breed.

They were discovered in the early twentieth century by cat enthusiasts and in 1938 an organization was established devoted to this breed.

Also, a club was started for the cat in Oslo so as to preserve the breed. The 2nd World War saw the cat all but disappear but a breeding program was started. It was registered in Europe by the 1970s, and in 1994 by the American Cat Fanciers Association and others.

Description

european shorthair kitten - descriptionThese domestic cats of Europe are a medium- to large-sized cat, weighing between 4 and 6kg, though some can be heavier.

The European Shorthair has a fairly large head and medium-sized ears. The body is robust and round shaped. The cat’s short coat without an undercoat comes in a range of colors and patterns such as white, cream, red, black and blue with eyes that are green, yellow, brown or copper or blue.

Temperament:

The European Shorthair is known for its adaptable nature and the cat is able to fit into different lifestyles with ease. It's a cat that will live happily with children, pets, adults and seniors.

The cat loves his human family and loves becoming involved with fun games and activities. It's an intelligent cat too and cat food puzzles help him to think about how to get his food.

Even though your cat is social with his human family, it becomes fairly shy and nervous of strangers.

norwegian forest cat kitten - descriptionThis domestic cat is a natural breed with a thick coat of long water-resistant fur and a woolly undercoat. The coat can be in many colors and patterns.

This is a big, strong, heavy boned cat with a bushy tail and long legs. It’s larger than your regular cat and can weigh anything between 3 and 9kg. The eyes are almond-shaped and can be any color while the large ears are high set.

Temperament:

In spite of this being a large cat, they are energetic and yet they don’t like being around boisterous, energetic pets. They are friendly, calm, gentle, and intelligent and enjoy being part of a human family.

They tend to be a bit reserved around strangers. It’s not a demanding cat and can entertain himself with his toys.

Characteristics

european shorthair cat - characteristicsThe European Shorthair is such a sweet cat and he is able to adapt fairly easily to new environments. It is such an ideal cat for households with singles, couples, families, and seniors as it adapts its personality to suit, getting on well with other pets as well.

The cat loves his human family and wants to please, but loves to play too, being active and playful. Having one of these cats in your home is like bringing in a treasured gem.

norwegian forest cat cat - characteristicsRemember that your large Norwegian Forest cat likes to scratch so you want to provide him with a scratching post. He is so companionable, you want to reward him by ensuring you make his life as easy as possible.

Known as a gentle giant, the beautiful and undemanding Norwegian Forest cat will appreciate a calm household where he can quietly enjoy the companionship of the humans he loves.

Health Problems

european shorthair kittens - health problemsEven if your European Shorthair appears to be well, it is a good idea to get used to taking your cat to the vet for an annual check-up.

To provide your cat with the best chance to remain healthy, good diet and exercise is imperative. Look out for an itchy skin too as this could well be a sign that your cat is being plagued by parasites. Parasites can be a terrible problem and it will need to be attended to by your vet.

Parasites and an itchy skin can be a nightmare for your pet and make him most miserable with excessive scratching and licking as well as thinning of hair.

A new kitten will also require being vaccinated to ensure he remains healthy. These injections protect your cat from life-threatening diseases. Usually, vets start vaccines at between 8 – 12 weeks of age to protect your cat against the likes of Feline Leukaemia Virus, Feline Infectious Enteritis and Cat Flu.

There are also other vaccinations you might want to consider such as rabies and chlamydia.

norwegian forest cat kittens - health problemsThe lifespan of this big, longhaired cat is usually 14 to 16 years, but you need to check out kidney and heart disease with this particular breed as well as patellar luxation.

You don’t want your cat having problems with the knee cap as this takes away from his ability to leap, pounce and crouch. It’s when the patella or kneecap is out of place. There may not necessarily be pain for your pet and in fact, your cat may not show any signs of abnormality till the condition has become quite advanced.

Your cat can actually become lame. You want to avoid this with the Norwegian as it's a particularly good climber.

Caring The Pet

european shorthair cats - caringEuropean Shorthairs like to groom themselves, but even so, you want to brush your cat once a week to keep the hair shiny and healthy. Make sure to trim your cat’s claws at the same time. It’s your time to feel for any unusual lumps or scratches on your feline friend’s skin. Check his eyes and make sure they are still bright and clear, look inside the ears to make sure they aren’t becoming clogged with dirt and wax and look inside the mouth to ensure no signs of gum- and tooth disease.

Your cat may well be outgoing with his human family, but his nervousness with strangers will require you providing him with a safe haven of his own. This might be his own bed which should be in a safe, dry, quiet area where he can retreat and feel more secure.

European Shorthairs love being outdoors and particularly if you have a female you’ll want her spayed to avoid her becoming pregnant. Cat shelters are already full of unwanted kittens and you don’t want to add to the burden. Also, have your male neutered too as he is ar less likely to want to roam. Spaying and neutering come with many health benefits too.

Be very careful of your cat’s diet. This is because the domestic cat is a carnivore and still essentially a predator, liking to hunt for their meat. They require a meat diet. However, cats have special dietary requirements and they require a balanced diet. All cats are individuals and they have different food likes and preferences, but they all need the best food there is to remain in peak condition. If you feed your cat commercially manufactured food, always follow the instructions on the label.

Provide your feline pet with cat accessories – food and water bowl, collar and tag, soft bedding, a climbing tree, scratching post, litter box, grooming accessories and toys.

norwegian forest cat cats - caringThe Norwegian has a long coat so you will need to brush it at least twice a week to keep it nice and shiny and free from tangles.

Trim your Norwegian forest cat’s claws. You will need a special nail clipper, but if you're nervous to cut the nails yourself, your vet or pet groomers can do it for you.

Cats battle quite a bit with periodontal disease and an excellent diet can help to prevent this. Cats hate you sticking a toothbrush into their mouths – they can become terrified - and it would b kinder to simply have your cat’s teeth checked out at the vet when you suspect that something might be wrong. At the same time, you can ask to have the inside of your cat’s ears checked for dirt and infection.

Keep your cat’s litter box spotlessly clean. These cats dislike a dirty litter box intensely. Remove all feces every single day – more often even if possible.

One good way to select the best food for your cat is to read the ingredients. The first two ingredients listed on the package should always be meat. Select a high-quality cat food. Keeping Norwegian Forest cats in good health requires high-quality cat food to meet all of your Norwegian forest cat’s nutritional needs.

You can feed your Norwegian Forest cat two meals per day. Always check with your veterinarian for a recommendation on how much and what to feed your cat.

Provide a constant supply of fresh, clean water for your Norwegian Forest cat.The bowl should be in an easy place for your cat to reach and in the shade.

Provide your Norwegian with a soft bed in a quiet, restful place.

Comparison with other breeds

  1. Norwegian Forest Cat vs Abyssinian - Breed Comparison
  2. Norwegian Forest Cat vs Aegean - Breed Comparison
  3. Norwegian Forest Cat vs African Serval - Breed Comparison
  4. Norwegian Forest Cat vs Chausie - Breed Comparison
  5. Norwegian Forest Cat vs American Bobtail - Breed Comparison
  6. Norwegian Forest Cat vs American Curl - Breed Comparison
  7. Norwegian Forest Cat vs American Keuda - Breed Comparison
  8. Norwegian Forest Cat vs American Longhair - Breed Comparison
  9. Norwegian Forest Cat vs American Polydactyl - Breed Comparison
  10. Norwegian Forest Cat vs American Shorthair - Breed Comparison
  11. Norwegian Forest Cat vs American Wirehair - Breed Comparison
  12. Norwegian Forest Cat vs Applehead Siamese - Breed Comparison
  13. Norwegian Forest Cat vs Ashera - Breed Comparison
  14. Norwegian Forest Cat vs Asian - Breed Comparison
  15. Norwegian Forest Cat vs Asian Semi-Longhair - Breed Comparison
  16. Norwegian Forest Cat vs Australian Mist - Breed Comparison
  17. Norwegian Forest Cat vs Balinese - Breed Comparison
  18. Norwegian Forest Cat vs Bengal - Breed Comparison
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  20. Norwegian Forest Cat vs Birman - Breed Comparison
  21. Norwegian Forest Cat vs Blue Russian - Breed Comparison
  22. Norwegian Forest Cat vs Bombay - Breed Comparison
  23. Norwegian Forest Cat vs Brazilian Shorthair - Breed Comparison
  24. Norwegian Forest Cat vs Bristol - Breed Comparison
  25. Norwegian Forest Cat vs British Longhair - Breed Comparison
  26. European Shorthair vs Abyssinian - Breed Comparison
  27. European Shorthair vs Aegean - Breed Comparison
  28. European Shorthair vs African Serval - Breed Comparison
  29. European Shorthair vs Chausie - Breed Comparison
  30. European Shorthair vs American Bobtail - Breed Comparison
  31. European Shorthair vs American Curl - Breed Comparison
  32. European Shorthair vs American Keuda - Breed Comparison
  33. European Shorthair vs American Longhair - Breed Comparison
  34. European Shorthair vs American Polydactyl - Breed Comparison
  35. European Shorthair vs American Shorthair - Breed Comparison
  36. European Shorthair vs American Wirehair - Breed Comparison
  37. European Shorthair vs Applehead Siamese - Breed Comparison
  38. European Shorthair vs Ashera - Breed Comparison
  39. European Shorthair vs Asian - Breed Comparison
  40. European Shorthair vs Asian Semi-Longhair - Breed Comparison
  41. European Shorthair vs Australian Mist - Breed Comparison
  42. European Shorthair vs Balinese - Breed Comparison
  43. European Shorthair vs Bengal - Breed Comparison
  44. European Shorthair vs Bicolor - Breed Comparison
  45. European Shorthair vs Birman - Breed Comparison
  46. European Shorthair vs Blue Russian - Breed Comparison
  47. European Shorthair vs Bombay - Breed Comparison
  48. European Shorthair vs Brazilian Shorthair - Breed Comparison
  49. European Shorthair vs Bristol - Breed Comparison
  50. European Shorthair vs British Longhair - Breed Comparison