Maine Coons may be known as gentle giants of the feline world, but your favorite Wegies are also huge and affectionate. What’s else to know about the Norwegian Forest cat personality, though?
As you can probably tell, these felines are big. They have muscular bodies that usually weigh 12 to 15 pounds. They’re not your run-of-the-mill lap cats that’ll be comfortable cuddling with you.
When you take a look at them, you can already tell that their ancestors were wild cats that survived harsh winters in the Norwegian forests. That thick, luscious, double-coated fur was meant to keep them warm during those icy cold months.
This is also the main reason these cats are so soft. Touch their coat, and you won’t be able to resist cuddling them. They feel like marshmallow balls of fluff!
To the untrained eye, you’d easily mistake them for Maine Coons, since they look and behave similarly. But upon closer inspection, there are two distinct differences between the breeds. Wegies are a bit smaller than Coons, and they have almond-shaped eyes.
Now, let’s move on to why you’re here – to find out more about the personality of a Norwegian Forest cat. Will this breed work with your lifestyle? Is she a good choice for you and your family? Let’s find out right now!
Norwegian Forest cat: The personality of this fluffy feline
Whenever you’re looking to buy or adopt a cat, you want to make sure to pick a breed that’ll suit your lifestyle and daily routine.
If you don’t work from home, then you need a feline that won’t suffer from separation anxiety every time you walk out of the house. If you have children or love inviting people over, then you need a friendly breed that won’t mind meeting others or tolerating children’s cries and rough play.
There are so many things you have to take into consideration before you make a decision. At the end of the day, you don’t want to get a cat only to realize after a week that she’s not a good fit for your household.
So, what’s the personality of a Norwegian Forest cat? You already adore how she looks, and you could imagine herself cuddling her for hours. You even have an idea of where to place her bed and what name to give her.
But is her purrsonality going to be what you’re looking for? Is she going to appreciate all the love you plan on giving her?
1. Affectionate yet independent
This kitty is going to enjoy your love and care, and she’ll give you the same in return whenever she feels like it. But don’t expect her to lie in your lap all day long and cuddle with you for as long as you want.
Even though Wegies are an affectionate breed, they still have a fair level of independence. So, she would rather run around the house and explore her surroundings than laze around with you all day long.
If you’re looking for a breed that occasionally thanks you for everything you’re doing for her, then you can’t go wrong with Wegie. But if you want a cat who craves your attention all day long, then you’re meowing up the wrong cat tree.
If you’re into this well-balanced personality of being affectionate and staying independent, then don’t look elsewhere. This breed is your perfect choice.
2. A cat with kitten-like behavior
Norwegian Forest cats may be a big, chunky breed, but they’re known to take up to 5 years to mature. During that period, they are physically considered adult cats, but they still act like kittens.
So, even though they’re no longer little kitties, they enjoy playing with you and their favorite toys. They will love climbing different surfaces (or a cat tree if you choose to get one). At the same time, they won’t be as extremely active as real kittens.
A Wegie has to be one of the most unique cats you’ve ever stumbled upon, at least when it comes to her purrsonality.
3. Friendly yet not extremely needy
Wegies will want to befriend everyone they meet. So, they’re great pets if you always have people visiting. They also get along well with children, since they’re playful and gentle. They will easily adapt to any kind of surroundings as long as they’re taken care of.
Despite them being such a friendly breed, your Norwegian Forest cat won’t demand your constant attention. She’ll occasionally approach you for a few loving strokes, and that’s about it.
However, she may develop separation anxiety if left alone for long periods. But it doesn’t happen often since we’re talking about an independent breed.
Can you train a Norwegian Forest cat?
Norwegian Forest cats are smart and will easily learn new tricks. But you need to know that she’ll be willing to learn only when she feels like it.
To be honest, this is the case with most felines as they all want to be well-fed, rested, and calm before they engage in a training session. So, if you plan on teaching your Wegie some cool tricks, first make sure she’s in a good mood.
She’ll figure out quickly to approach you when you call her or to use her litter box when she needs to. You can also teach her to sit or take certain actions when being told.
Just arm yourself with patience and treats. These should be enough for your training sessions with a Norwegian Forest cat.
How to keep your Norwegian Forest cat entertained
This cat breed has wild ancestors who lived in the Norwegian forests. And even though they’re now domesticated and enjoy their lives indoors, your favorite Wegies still have that hunting gene in their DNA.
That’s why it’s important to provide your cat with mental and physical stimulation that’ll keep her in good shape. Especially because we’re talking about a huge breed that can get overweight if she eats too much and doesn’t exercise enough.
So, the best way to keep your Wegie entertained is to provide her with a variety of toys. They also enjoy climbing high places, so cat trees and cat shelves are always good choices, providing them with even more space to explore.
Then, don’t forget to play with your cat. Getting her all these toys is nice, but she’ll love that you spend some time with her and entertain her. At the same time, this will strengthen your bond and will show your cat that she can fully trust you.
If you have a backyard or a patio, it’s a good idea to cat-proof these spaces and allow your cat to spend some time outside. Remember, this breed used to live in the forest, so she’ll definitely appreciate being able to spend some time outside, running around the garden and looking for prey.
Is a Norwegian Forest cat perfect for your household?
You know everything about this breed’s personality, but you may still be worried if you should get a Wegie for yourself. While we can’t decide for you, we can make things a bit easier.
Since we’re talking about an easy-going and adaptable breed, know that this feline will be able to adjust to her surroundings easily. And you shouldn’t worry if you have kids, since this kitty will get along with them just fine.
When she gets tired of all the affection, she’ll probably crawl into her own space and relax. So, it’s best to spare her a corner in the room that’ll be just hers.
If your job requires you to leave the house every day, know that your Wegie should be fine alone. Separation anxiety is a thing with this breed, but it doesn’t occur as often as with some other breeds, such as Siamese.
However, if you’re worried that this may be an issue, then rather keep looking for another kitty. You don’t want to grow attached to her only to realize that she’s not happy in your household. This would only make both of you go through unnecessary stress.
Overall, a Wegie is sweet, gentle, and affectionate. The main concern could be her long coat and shedding habits. So, if you’re prone to allergies, maybe it’s best to skip this breed and look for another kitty. Not even constant vacuuming will be able to help you deal with all that fur that Norwegian Forest cats lose (especially as they transition from winter to summer coats).