Norwegian Forest Cat vs Domestic Longhaired Cat - Breed Comparison

The Domestic Longhaired cat came about because of various attempts by breeders to bring in certain Persian cat varieties in the American Shorthairs.

The cat comes from champion bloodlines but one of the most remarkable traits of the Domestic Longhair cat is that they are just typical cats with long hair. In other words, Domestic Longhairs are a product of various cat breedings and it is thought they arrived in the USA with the early settlers.

They shouldn’t be confused with the purebred American Longhair cat. The ancestry of the Domestic Longhair cat is unknown but for people who own them, they are a longhaired cat that becomes special to their owners. The cat isn’t recognized by the larger cat organizations.

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.

These Domestic long-haired cats are hugely popular in the United States. They can be of any color and the coat can have different patterns too, including bi-color, tortoiseshell and tabby.

With his muscled, athletic body he can weigh between 3 and 6kg. He can have a variety of eye colors, ear sizes, and shapes Essentially, their size and shape is influenced by the breed that dominates.

Temperament:

These are just your regular, balanced cats and they make splendid pets for first-time cat owners, single pet owners, those with kids in the home and seniors. You can’t really tell how their personality will be and some will be more quiet than others and some more loving than others too. A lot depends on how you raise- and socialize your cat.

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.

Domestic Longhairs are such wonderful cats and slot into a host of different lifestyles.

They are generally content cats with the different lifestyles they find themselves in. Some are smart, some playful, some quiet and some naughty, some are very vocal and some are content to be lap cats.

They're all different but they all have needs and concerns – to be part of a loving human family and to be treated with love, care and respect for the companionship they offer.

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.

It is their mixed breeding that ensures that the Domestic Longhaired cat doesn’t have any health issues. Like any cat, things such as arthritis, cancer, diabetes and kidney disease can plague your cat.

A good diet, exercise, lots of love and care can all help to ensure your kitty kat doesn’t succumb to anything that your vet can’t handle.

As soon as your cat shows any sign of illness, get him to the vet. If you look after your cat well, he can avoid a lot of vet visits and can reach 15 to 20 years of age.

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.

The hair of the Domestic Longhair will need to be tackled and you will need a firm brush to gently brush your cat once a week. This ensures the hair remains silky and tangle-free.

Remember, there are always professional cat groomers who specialize in grooming cats and ensuring their teeth, inside of ears, their nails and their fur is in tip-top condition.

Keeping your cat healthy is always going to require a trip to the vet. Your Domestic Longhair is going to require certain vaccines and deworming to ensure he remains free of deadly cat diseases. Also, if your cat is acting in a lethargic, ‘sick’ way, it could well be a sign that he is ill and a trip to the vet will be imperative as the condition could become worse.

To ensure your cat has the best chance at health, make sure you feed him well. Gut health is absolutely imperative and feeding your cat too many carbs will give him plenty of digestive problems.

A cat is a carnivore – a meat eater – and therefore his food needs to be meat. A kitten will require 4 small meals a day and an adult cat – over the age of 1 year – will require 2 meals a day. Any questions you have about feeding your cat can be answered by your local veterinarian.

Speak to your vet about spaying or neutering your Domestic Longhaired Cat as this will prevent unwanted kittens, particularly if your cat is allowed outdoors and wanders off.

Also, neutering and spaying have a host of health benefits for your cat and it also improves their personality.

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.