Norwegian Forest cats are the national cats of Norway, and they’re one of the softest, most sought-after breeds out there. With flowy, fluffy fur and an attitude that attests to the fact that these curious creatures roamed the forests of Norway for thousands of years, blue Norwegian Forest cats take the cake.
Norwegian Forest cats can sport every color of the rainbow, from white, black, blue, red, cream, silver, and golden to solid, shaded, tortoiseshell, calico, and tabby. Blue Wegies are one of the most popular, prominent color combinations, but they’re pretty freakin’ rare, too.
Blue Norwegian Forest cats can appear blue when they’re running around the apartment, napping on the sunny side of the floor, or grooming themselves, but they’re far from the Smurfs. In reality, they aren’t actually blue, they’re gray. Because of the bluish-gray, silver, or slate coats, they’re deemed blue.
Combined with a myriad of color combinations and patterns, there’s no question that Norwegian Forests are everyone’s cup of tea. Whether you’re on the hunt for a black and white Dapper Dan or a signature gray, shaggy tabby roaming the rooms of your apartment, you can’t go wrong with a Wegie.
Blue, gray, silver, or slate, there’s no denying that these salt-and-pepper-haired deserve everyone’s time of the day. What’s a blue Norwegian Forest cat? What’s there to know about blue Norwegian Forests before getting one? What are the strangest facts about blue Wegies? All that and more below!
What’s a blue Norwegian Forest cat?
We’re pretty sure everyone knows what Norwegian Forest cats look like. With a strong, sturdy construction and a double coat to keep the cat warm during the harsh Scandinavian winters, Wegies look like they’re still in the Norwegian forests.
With an affectionate, addicting purrsonality, Wegies are the purrfect pets. What are blue Norwegian Forest cats? We know that Norwegian Forest cats can be every color of the rainbow, from white, black, blue, red, cream, silver, and golden to solid, shaded, tortoiseshell, calico, and tabby.
Blue Norwegian Forests are mysterious meowers that appear blue but are actually black – blue is the diluted version of black in the pet world. Blue Wegies can appear gray, silver, and slate, too, depending on the gene that’s responsible for the color of the cat’s coat.
We do need to mention that blue Norwegian Forests are oftentimes solid-colored, although they’re known to be shaded, smoke, chinchilla, and even tabby-patterned. Solid-colored cats are entirely solid which means there are no other tones, markings, or patches of color on their bodies.
With that out of the way, though, you might be wondering what to keep an eye on before getting a blue Norwegian cat. Whether you’re making arrangements with reputable breeders or hoping to adopt a Norwegian Forest kitten for a fraction of the price, there are a few things to keep an eye on.
What to keep an eye on before getting a blue Norwegian Forest cat
Physical traits of the blue Wegie
Blue Norwegian Forest cats are no different from white or black Wegies – you can’t go wrong with whatever color combination or pattern you’ve got your heart set on. Norwegian Forest cats are big, beautiful animals with plenty of fluff and a heart of gold. Where do we even start?
Norwegian Forests are often compared to Maine Coon cats because they’re super similar, whether we’re referring to their physical traits or their personality traits. Wegies are equipped with a durable, coarse coat that consists of two layers – a short, dense undercoat and a long, luscious outer coat.
When you take a closer peep at a Norwegian Forest cat, you’re going to notice fluffier fur bits consisting of a ruff at the chest, a collar at the neck, britches on the rear legs, a bushy tail, and heavy tufting between the toes. Wegies are equipped with heavily furred, round ears and almond-shaped eyes, too.
Personality traits of the blue Wegie
Wegies’ physical features are the first thing that comes to mind when talking about blue Norwegian Forest cats, but these curious creatures aren’t all looks. For example, Persian cats are known as affectionate and appreciative, and they’re guaranteed to make your life a lot better because they’re loyal, lovable, and completely chill.
With a Norwegian Forest cat, you don’t need to worry about wasting your time on a pet that doesn’t want to do anything (although that’s OK, too!) Needless to say, you can spend all your time with your little Wegie and she’s going to adore you even more because of that.
Wegies are intelligent and independent, but they’re attracted to humans. Whether they snuggle next to you when you’re watching Netflix or follow you around the apartment to ensure you aren’t going to work on a random Saturday morning, they want to know you’re there for them.
Norwegian Forest cats, regardless of the color, aren’t lap pets because they’re a little too big for that – but they’ll hop up for a brief cuddle now and then, anyway.
Care
We know you don’t want to hear that now that you’re planning on spending your monthly rent on a blue Norwegian Forest kitten, but Wegies are a little high-maintenance. Now, that’s not because you need to spend all your time with them or spend all your money on them.
Nope, it’s because they’re so fluffy you’re going to die.
We’ve mentioned beforehand that a Wegie’s coat consists of an undercoat and an overcoat, but we didn’t necessarily discuss what that means in terms of grooming. Norwegian Forest cats shed more than you might think and that’s why you need to be prepared to comb and brush them every day – or so.
Wegies require regular grooming. Although they’re able to groom themselves, you need to step up your game to ensure you’re protecting them from matting and tangling. Comb and brush them two to three times a week, bathe them two to three times a month, and clip their claws when necessary.
With that out of the way, don’t shy away from taking the curious creature to the groomer now and then to ensure you’re doing everything you can to keep her happy. With a healthy diet, regular exercise, and a stress-free lifestyle, there’s no reason why you wouldn’t be able to raise a happy and healthy Wegie.
4 fun facts about blue Norwegian Forest cats guaranteed to make you want one right away
1. Blue Norwegian Forests aren’t actually blue
We might as well address the elephant in the room and talk about the fact that blue Norwegian Forest cats aren’t actually blue.
We know that might be confusing to people who are trying to get to know blue Wegies better, but that’s the case with pets – they’re never gray or silver, they’re almost always referred to as blue.
Blue Norwegian Forests are gray, silver, or slate, depending on the gene responsible for the color of the coat. Blue cats are a dilute version of black cats – blue Wegies are blue because of the dilute gene which is responsible for the intensity of the coat color by affecting the amount of pigments in the hair shaft.
2. Norwegian Forest cats are waterproof
Norwegian Forest cats are beaming with surprises, right?
Wegies are already defined by the fact that they’re freakin’ fluffy, but you might want to know a thing or two about a Wegie’s coat before getting your hands on one. Many, many years ago, Norwegian Forest cats roamed the forests of Norway and faced cold Norwegian winters head-on.
Because of that, Wegies developed waterproof coats that prevented them from getting wet and freezing to death. A Wegie’s coat consists of a short, dense undercoat that acts as insulation and a long, luscious overcoat that protects it from outside influences. At the end of the day, that’s all that matters.
3. Norwegian Forest cats are related to Maine Coons
Norwegian Forest cats are oftentimes compared to Maine Coons because they’re super similar. When you throw a glance at them, you might think they’re siblings – and you might be right because they’re cousins.
With genetic testing, breeders were able to trace Maine Coon cats back to Wegies. What that means is that Maine Coon cats are descendants of both the Norwegian Forest cat and an unknown and extinct domestic breed.
4. Wegies, blue or otherwise, are prone to health problems
We all want our fluffy friends to be happy and healthy, and to have a lovely long life. With a Norwegian Forest cat, you might need to do more work to ensure they’re on the right track.
Whether you feed them a healthy diet, explore the great outdoors with them, or suffocate them with affection, there’s no telling whether they’re going to contract one of the conditions or diseases they’re genetically predisposed to.
We’re talking about hereditary heart problems, hip dysplasia, patella luxation, cardiomyopathy, eosinophilic granuloma complex, glycogen storage disease type IV, and a bunch of other conditions we can’t even pronounce.
Going through a reputable breeder and getting regular screenings from a good vet can decrease the chances of getting one of these conditions or diseases.