Norwegian Forest Cat vs British Semi-Longhair - Breed Comparison

The British semi-Longhair cat is exactly like the British Shorthair except when it comes to the coat length - the hair is longer.

During the 20th century, a short-haired version of the modern Persian was developed and it was then proposed that a long-haired cat of the British type make it into the cat fancy.

The British Shorthair cat was bred with different Persian cat breeds which then resulted in a cat that looked like the British Shorthair cat, just with longer hair. It is recognized separately in the United States of America but considered one and the same as the short hair in the United Kingdom.

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 British Semi-longhair can become quite a large cat really and is described as a medium to large cat. In fact, a full-grown British Semi-Longhair can grow to be about 7.5kg in weight.

They’re compact and robust with short, strong legs. The longish coat can be in all colors and patterns and he sheds moderately. Color can be white, cream, chocolate, blue and colors can be solid, ticked or bi-colored.

The ears are wide-spaced and medium-sized and they eyes are almond-shaped and match the color of its coat.

Temperament:

The British Semi-Longhair cat is such an easy-going pussycat while being reserved, independent and undemanding. He will get on with children and other pets in the home. Perhaps he suits someone who loves the idea of having a gorgeous pet around, but who is working and doesn’t have that amount of time to devote to a cat.

The British semi-longhair is one of those cats that doesn’t mind too much if you disappear to work each day. He can amuse himself without you during that time, as long as he has some nice toys and a nice environment to chill.

It’s not the kind of cat to follow you around, making it perfect for anyone who doesn’t have the time to give the cat too much attention. It’s simply not a lap-cat.

The cat isn’t very active at all and is more than happy to sit in his favorite spot in the sun and to watch activities from there. This is a quiet, content cat, not wanting to meow unnecessarily and his round face shows off a happy disposition.

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.

This moderately shedding cat is such a balanced cat – it is good with everyone, is quiet and unassuming. It just quietly gets on with life, being content and satisfied with its lot.

If you’re looking for a more ‘involved’, vocal, active cat, the British semi-longhair isn’t for you. If you however, want a quiet, steady presence in your home, this lovely cat is for you.

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.

Your British semi-longhair is quite healthy, but it does come with a few issues, and this is suffering with renal and kidney diseases – more so than with other cat breeds.

It can also battle with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, a type of heart disease often found in cats.

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.

Grooming:

Because of the semi-longhair, the British Semi-Longhair will require more effort than short hair cats with keeping the coat free of tangling. It’s a good idea to get this cat used to a brush-session to free the coat of dust and loose hairs at least once or twice a week.

Other basic grooming requirements for your kitty kat would be to keep the claws short, to check inside the mouth for dental problems, to check inside the ears for dirt and redness and to check the eyes to make sure they’re bright and clear. If there is a discharge, wipe the eyes gently with warm water and some apple cider vinegar. Be very gentle with all your grooming processes for your cat.

Diet:

The British semi-Longhair enjoys his food and if you don’t feed him in a responsible manner he can become obese. He is such a beautiful cat this that you want to ensure he gets the best premium quality food there is – food that is high in proteins.

It’s not worth feeding your beautiful semi-longhair on inferior foods as this can impair his health.

Cats are carnivores – related to lions – they’re meat-eaters. As far as their diet is concerned, they need fats and proteins and not carbs.

When you’re choosing food for your British semi-Longhair, check out the label to make sure you know precisely what your cat is taking in. When you are 100% sure that the food is the best it can be and your cat loves it, give it to him.

Don’t change foods haphazardly, as this cat likes a lifestyle devoid of sudden changes. If in any doubt, get advice from your vet on weight and calorie intake for your pet.

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.