Norwegian Forest Cat vs Nebelung - Breed Comparison

The 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.

The Nebelung is a new breed of cat originating in the USA. It is a close relative of the short-haired Russian Blue.

The name Nebelung means 'creature of the mist' in German. This is because of the cat’s beautiful silver-blue coat.

It was in the mid-1980s that Cora Cobb had a domestic shorthair cat mated with a Russian Blue, with one kitten from the litter having long, blue hair. She started a breeding program and in 1987 the Nebelung was given status as an entirely new breed by The International Cat Association as well as the American Cat Fanciers Association.

This 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.

The beautiful Nebelung is a rare domestic medium-sized cat with a long muscled body and long legs. They weigh between 3 and 6kg. The oval-shaped eyes are green or a yellow-green color and the eyes are large and pointed. The coat of the cat is long and thick with an undercoat and grey in color with the males and some females having a ruff round the neck.

Temperament:

The Nebelung is a lively, playful cat that is good-natured and loves to be around his human family. People who have owned them say they behave a lot like dogs. It means you can have him trained to walk on a leash.

He is somewhat aloof with strangers. He is a gentle cat and very intelligent, forming tight bonds with some special members of his human family. They love to be petted and stroked by this favorite human being.

The cat also communicates well. They like their litter box kept nice and clean and they can be quite finicky when it comes to their food.

Because of their playfulness, make sure you have lots of puzzle toys for him. They’re cats that like things to remain the same – no sudden changes for them as they become stressful. Because of their quiet natures, they don’t relish the idea of wild, undisciplined children and would prefer to live in a home with a few adults,

Remember 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.

The Nebelung is a gentle, quiet cat that simply wants to live in harmony with the human family he loves.

He prefers a quiet, consistent kind of lifestyle. He is active, social, and fun around them but is reserved with strangers.

He is a loyal and loving cat and can become dejected if he doesn’t receive the same amount of love and attention that he craves and which he is so willing to give.

The 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.

These beautiful cats don’t have many health issues. They are generally healthy cats.

Don’t allow your cat to become overweight as this can bring on a host of health conditions. There was a time when cats didn’t get much older than 10 years of age, but with advancements in good nutrition and good veterinary care, a cat can reach 15 to 20 years of age.

Certainly, as your beloved pet starts to move into his senior years, he will face aging problems. Aging cats are susceptible to faltering vision, arthritis, hearing loss, thyroid problems gum and teeth disease, diabetes, incontinence, and even dementia.

Remember to continue feeding your senior cat the best quality cat food there is.

The 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.

Diet:

This cat, as a carnivore, should be fed a high- quality cat food that is high in protein. The poorer quality foods won’t have the right mix of vitamins and minerals – so important for your pet.

These inferior foods often lack the right nutrients and can make your cat sick. Make sure you give your cat a top protein diet with ingredients that must have taurine, an important amino acid.

The Nebelung has a long, double coat and even though the cat isn’t a heavy shedder, it will require a brush every week to prevent the coat from becoming tangled.

Make sure you have everything you need for welcoming a cat into your home. He will need food and water bowls, warm, soft bed, litter box, climbing tree, scratching post, collar, grooming accessories, and a cat-carrying box for when he needs to go to the vet.

Ensure you take your pet to the vet as soon as he shows signs of illness. There are some terrible cat illnesses and they can cause a lot of discomfort and pain for your furry friend.