Norwegian Forest Cat

Norwegian Forest Cats are one of the better choices for a family with children. Expect a big cat that is moderately active, sheds heavily and needs regular brushing. It is independent — affectionate on its own terms rather than yours.

How long is that, really? Cats live longer than most people expect — about 11.7 years on average across every breed, and a well-looked-after Norwegian Forest Cat can reach 20 years. A kitten you bring home this year will still be curled up somewhere warm long after you have finished school.

Sources: VCA Animal Hospitals · PDSA breed guide · Teng et al., Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery (2024).

Day to day. Moderately active — a couple of proper play sessions a day and somewhere to climb keeps this one content. It is worth being fussy about which toys you buy: most cats ignore a whole basket and chase exactly one thing.

The coat, honestly. This breed sheds heavily and needs regular brushing. Brush a few times a week and you will catch a lot of the hair before it reaches the sofa. Not all of it.

Company and noise. This one is independent and quiet. It will choose when to be sociable, which suits some families perfectly and disappoints others. Nobody should buy this one hoping to change it. What it wants instead is territory: height, a hiding place, a tray somewhere private — the setup guide covers where each goes.

• You want a cat that will put up with being picked up by a child
• You like the idea of a genuinely large cat and have the floor space for it
• You would rather share a house with something independent than be followed around
• You want a quiet home

• You cannot live with hair on the sofa, the car and your clothes
• You are picturing an animal that curls up on you every evening
• A surprise vet bill would be a real problem this year
• A shelter cat would do everything this one does for a fraction of the price
• You are short on floor space — a big cat needs a big litter tray and a sturdy cat tree

Rough running cost: $$$ (one of the pricier cats on our list) — because it is a big cat, so food, medicines and anaesthetics all cost more.

Those are relative bands, not live prices. For real numbers across every pet we cover, see the pet cost study and the cost calculator.

Picked for this breed’s coat, size, energy and known health issues, not a generic list.

Rescues do have Norwegian Forest Cats and Norwegian Forest Cat crosses, usually adults whose size, coat and temperament you can see rather than guess at.

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