Care and grooming for a Norwegian Forest Cat: coat, litter and prevention
Norwegian Forest Cat : Its double coat needs brushing once or twice a week most of the year, but almost daily during the heavy spring moult. A wide-toothed comb and a slicker brush handle the woolly undercoat.
An accessory from our shop for this use: Litter scoop with stand and bag roll in the handle (€20.90) · the whole shop
Our products don’t ship to you yet, but the PDF practical guide is instant: The Healthy Cat Handbook: Prevention Made Simple (€15)
🩺 This health information is general in nature and does not replace a consultation: at the slightest doubt about your animal’s condition, talk to your vet.
In short: Large cat (4 to 8 kg) with a waterproof semi-long double coat and moderate to high energy. A sturdy, patient forest cat, sociable without being clingy. Its powerful claws and climbing instinct demand a very stable, thick-trunked cat tree, which it climbs down head first.
Coat care
The Norwegian Forest Cat needs two or three sessions a week with a metal comb then a slicker, focusing on the britches and armpits. It moults heavily: in spring and autumn, double the frequency and consider malt paste against hairballs.
Litter: the most sensitive product in the house
The tray spec for a Norwegian Forest Cat: at least 60 cm long, fine unscented substrate, and a quiet corner away from the bowls. Golden rule: one tray per cat plus one, scooped daily — most toileting accidents start there.
Health watch-points for the Norwegian Forest Cat
The breed is monitored for: glycogen storage disease type IV and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). Check claws every three to four weeks, inspect teeth and ears while grooming, and keep parasite treatment year-round even indoors. Life expectancy: 12 to 16 years — and for anything unusual, the vet comes before the forums.
Frequently asked questions
How often should a Norwegian Forest Cat be brushed?
Plan on two or three sessions a week with a metal comb then a slicker, focusing on the britches and armpits.
What litter tray size for a Norwegian Forest Cat?
At least 60 cm long: the cat must turn around without touching the sides. Preferably uncovered, with fine unscented litter.
The guides that apply to you
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- Grooming a Birman cat: keeping a semi-long coat mat-free
The Birman has a silky semi-long coat, easier to maintain than a Persian but still needing a regular routine. Brushing, sensitive spots and hairball prevention.
- Cat drinking a lot: when excessive thirst should worry you
A cat that suddenly drinks far more than before may be signalling diabetes, kidney disease or a thyroid problem. How to measure water intake and when to see the vet.
- What puts a cat off the litter box: not the smell, what is in the way
A study compared real waste, its odour alone and odourless fake deposits in litter boxes. Only the visible deposits changed which box the cats chose.