Norwegian Forest Cat vs Ojos Azules - Breed Comparison

This is a fairly new cat breed that was discovered in New Mexico and its a rare cat. It was in 1984 that the cat was identified.

There was a feral colony of cats and one particular, a tortoise-shell female was selected to be mated with male cats of no particular description. Her kittens were born with deep-blue eyes, showing that the gene was dominant.

The unusual cat breed was named Ojos Azules which means ‘Blue Eyes’ in Spanish.

The Ojos Azules comes with both short and long hair. The cat was accepted for registration by TICA in 1991.

Only cats with the recognizable deep blue eye gene have been called Ojos Azules.

There was a time when it was discovered that cranial defects could be linked to the gene, and while breeding was temporarily suspended, it is back on track.

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 beautiful Ojos Azules is a medium-sized cat and weighs in at between 3 and 5kg.

The cat’s most amazing round blue eyes are one of its most extraordinary features.

The gene in this cat isn’t linked to any particular fur color or pattern, so that means some of these cats will have a black coat but still have the blue eyes. The coat of the cat comes in many colors and is short and silky. Sometimes you’ll find some white markings on the paws and tail.

Temperament:

Not much is known of this cat breed because it is such a rare cat. Very few have owned this cat, but it seems as if, according to the people who have owned them, they are loving, friendly cats.

The small number that have been owned as domestic pets are said to have had balanced, loving temperaments, with the ability to show affection for their human owners.

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 Ojos Azules cat, apart from its amazing eyes, is a regular cat that requires the same devotion from his human family that other cats enjoy.

Because this cat is so rare it is unlikely that you have one, but whatever furry feline friend you have, treat it with love and attention. The worst thing humans can do is to buy a pet, become bored with it, and then discard it.

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.

There don’t seem to be too many breed-specific health conditions associated with the Ojos Azules.

Having your cat spayed or neutered is beneficial to the cat long-term. Not only that, but it prevents unwanted pregnancies. Thousands of unwanted cats land up in animal shelters or are euthanized every year.

When you bring a new Ojos Azules kitten into the home, you will need to ensure the kitten is vaccinated, but also ensure he is tested for- and free of parasites.

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.

There are no particular requirements when caring for the Ojos Azules. Like other cat breeds, this cat also needs to be loved and well looked after.

Contrary to what many people think, a cat isn’t a non-maintenance creature that can look after itself. There are many cat breeds that crave the companionship of their human owners and they need to be looked after carefully.

Ensure the best quality cat foods there are. There are many commercial cat foods and you want the high-quality ones with meat listed as the top ingredient.

A cat is a carnivore and meat is imperative for your cat to be healthy. If you feed your cat one of the commercially manufactured cat foods there are, you’ll find the food comes as dry, semi-moist, and canned.

The food you choose will come down to you and your cat’s preferences. If in any kind of doubt, speak to your local vet for recommendations. Remember, that an old cat, a pregnant cat or an ill cat will require a certain type of food.

You’ll need to coax your cat to use a litter box. The litter box should be in a quiet place where he can do his business in peace. Make sure you have the tools to scoop out your cat’s feces every single day. Cats like a clean litter box.

Provide the cat with a scratching post. If you have a cat as a pet, you must know it will scratch. You can’t change your cat’s behavior but you can do something about it to deter your cat scratching your furniture. You can buy him a scratching post so that he can scratch the way all cats do.

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.