Siamese/Tabby vs Norwegian Forest Cat - 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.

Lynx point Siamese cats are believed to also be known as Tabby point Siamese in the UK. Breeding of these cats began in about the 1940s and the first kitten born was crossed with a purebred Seal Point cat. That was the start of the seal tabby point Siamese cat.

After the first kitten was born, many people were intrigued with it and it got plenty of attention, and breeders knew that to please cat lovers everywhere they would have to start producing these wonderful tabby Siamese points.

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 Tabby pointed Siamese cat is medium-sized and can weigh between 3 and 5kg. He has some stripes, mostly around the legs, and the tail is also striped. These cats are available in many different colors – blue, lilac, apricot, seal, and chocolate. The ears are triangular-shaped and there is an ‘M’ shaped mark on the forehead of the cat. All these markings make the cat most distinctive.

Temperament:

The Siamese and Siamese Tabby cats share many similarities in character. They are social cats, loving the interaction with their human families. They’re loyal, intelligent cats and they love to play.

They can live to be about 15 to 20 years of age and throughout this time they will provide you with love, companionship, entertainment, and joy.

In fact, they thrive so much on your company, that they can easily become lonely and run-down when left alone for too long.

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.

These cats are people-loving cats – they just crave the companionship of their human family although they’re not particularly fond of strangers.

They make wonderful pets as they actually want to be involved in everything that theur human owners are busy with. They truly are companionable.

They’re intelligent and playful and he will even love to go on a walk with you but then it is best to have him on a leash. Bring one of these awesome cats into your home and you’re guaranteed to have a friend for life.

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.

When you look at your cat, you want to see that his eyes are bright and clear, his fur is shiny, he is of a good weight and that he is energetic and content. Not looking like this could indicate health problems for your feline friend. He will need to get to the vet for his vaccines and the vet will check him over to so as to make sure he is in tip-top health.

Make sure to check him over for parasites and these can cause diarrhea as can other issues such as bacteria, viruses, and the wrong food.

Frequent vomiting is also not normal as well as straining to urinate. These are all instances when you want to get your pet to the vet as soon as possible.

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.

Before you commit to bringing a Siamese/Tabby into your home you must have everything ready for him.

He will need food and water bowls, commercial cat food, grooming brush, a soft warm bed, collar and tag, litter box, a carrying container to get him to the vet safely, climbing tree, and scratching post.

The fine, silky coat doesn’t shed much and can easily be maintained with a weekly brush.

You will need to trim your cat’s paws. Trimming the claws can be difficult with a squirming cat and you can easily hurt him because of that. Rather get him to the vet who will do it for you.

Make sure to feed your Siamese/Tabby the very best cat food there is as poor quality food can contribute to poor health.

A cat is a carnivore and you therefore have to ensure that his food is made up essentially of meat. The commercial cat foods of today are formulated as dry, semi-moist, and canned and they offer a wonderfully convenient way for you to feed your cat. When you choose the best ones, they are palatable and digestible for your cat.

You just have to remember that your cat’s nutritional requirements change with his different stages of life. A kitten can’t possibly eat the same food as an adult cat. The nutritional claim on the cat food label will be a guide for you as to what your cat should be eating. Always ensure a constant supply of fresh, cool water.