Norwegian Forest Cat vs British Shorthair - Breed Comparison

Norwegian Forest Cat vs British Shorthair - Breed ComparisonBritish Shorthair is originated from United Kingdom but Norwegian Forest Cat is originated from Norway. Both British Shorthair and Norwegian Forest Cat are of same weight. British Shorthair may live 4 years more than Norwegian Forest Cat. Both British Shorthair and Norwegian Forest Cat has same litter size. British Shorthair requires Low Maintenance. But Norwegian Forest Cat requires Moderate Maintenance

Basic Information

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United Kingdom
Norway
Weight Male:
5 - 9 kg
11 - 20 pounds
3 - 9 kg
6 - 20 pounds
Weight Female:
5 - 9 kg
11 - 20 pounds
3 - 9 kg
6 - 20 pounds
Life Span:
14 - 20 Years
14 - 16 Years
Litter Size:
2 - 6
2 - 6
Other Names:
The British
Wegie, Gentle Giant
Colors Available:
bi-color tortoiseshell or patterned, Solid color
Many colors and patterns
Coat:
Short to medium length - dense
Thick and long haired
Shedding:
Moderate
Moderate
Temperament:
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Curious, Docile, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Quiet, Responsive, Social, Sweet, Territorial
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Curious, Docile, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Quiet, Responsive, Social, Territorial
Grooming:
Low Maintenance
Moderate Maintenance
Trainability:
Easy
Easy
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
Yes

History

british shorthairA cat breeder, Harrison Wier took a street cat of Britain and with an intensive breeding program, transformed it to the British Shorthair.

The British loved this beautiful pedigree cat. During the Second World War, the British Shorthair all but disappeared but re-emerged as a popular cat that is today accepted in cat registries around the world.

norwegian forest catThe 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.

Description

british shorthair kitten - descriptionThe British Shorthair is a medium to large-sized cat and he can be anything from 5 to 9kg. He has a short to medium-length dense coat that can either be a solid color, bi-color tortoiseshell or patterned.

The coat becomes thicker and longer in the winter. This is a robust, strong cat, being heavily muscled with heavy bones. The cat also has a broad chest with thick, strong legs. The ears are fairly small and the round eyes give him a totally amicable expression on his face.

Temperament:

The British Shorthair is an amicable cat and makes a superb companion as it's an easy-going cat that adores his human family, being loyal towards them.

The British Shorthair is an active cat and it is able to get by on his own for a few hours without human company. If you do work particularly long hours and you go out a lot, it will be kind to perhaps get another cat for him as a friend.

He is quiet and undemanding and because he is big and heavy he doesn’t like being carried around.

norwegian forest cat kitten - descriptionThis 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.

Characteristics

british shorthair cat - characteristicsThe British Shorthair is such a companionable cat, being intelligent and affectionate, even though he isn’t a lapcat as such.

That doesn’t mean he doesn’t love being around his human companions. He does and is loyal to them.

They’re laid back cats and are capable of getting on well with children in the home as well as with other pets. He just loves lazing around in the sun and can spend a few hours on his own without feeling anxious or lonely.

These cats are really great companions and they make themselves at home in different lifestyles, whether you live in the countryside or in town and whether you are single, a couple or a family with children and other pets.

Easy to care for, the British Shorthair cat is guaranteed to make you an excellent companion.

norwegian forest cat cat - characteristicsRemember 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.

Health Problems

british shorthair kittens - health problemsThese beautiful cats are a robust, healthy type of cat breed and if you care well for him, you aren’t going to be taking him along to the vet too often. He can also live to be up to 20 years of age.

This cat has been bred with Persians in the past, so this should alert you to some of the diseases that this particular cat breed is susceptible to. It makes the cat a little bit vulnerable to polycystic kidney, an inherited condition in cats that causes cysts to form in the kidneys. They are small at first but they can grow bigger and actually result in kidney failure.

norwegian forest cat kittens - health problemsThe 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.

Caring The Pet

british shorthair cats - caringThe British Shorthair is a fairly large, robust cat but that certainly doesn’t mean he must be fat. Being overweight can bring about a range of health issues and you want to follow an appropriate diet for him ad see that he gets enough exercise.

When it comes to feeding your British Shorthair, always look out for the very best, most nutritious food there is as he is a big cat.

You want to ensure your pet gets enough protein as cats are carnivores - they’re meat eaters and they require chicken, beef and fish. You can give your cat some cooked egg as they are an excellent source of protein.

Be very careful not to be tempted to give your cat chocolates, grapes, nuts, onions or garlic as foods like this are toxic for your cat and can cause him pain and discomfort.

Remember to ensure that there is always a constant supply of fresh, cool water for your cat. If you’re wondering what to feed your cat or you have any other concerns, don’t hesitate to speak to your vet.

Brush your British Shorthair when he starts to shed his winter coat and trim the nails.

Do things for your cat that you would do for your own human child. This is your beloved fur-child and you want him to be happy and healthy.

Check inside his mouth to make sure there aren’t any loose or blackened teeth that could be causing him terrible pain. Also, check inside his ears for signs of redness.

Your British Shorthair is an elegant, clean type of cat so you want to keep his litterbox nice and clean for him.

norwegian forest cat cats - caringThe 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.

Comparison with other breeds

  1. Norwegian Forest Cat vs Abyssinian - Breed Comparison
  2. Norwegian Forest Cat vs Aegean - Breed Comparison
  3. Norwegian Forest Cat vs African Serval - Breed Comparison
  4. Norwegian Forest Cat vs Chausie - Breed Comparison
  5. Norwegian Forest Cat vs American Bobtail - Breed Comparison
  6. Norwegian Forest Cat vs American Curl - Breed Comparison
  7. Norwegian Forest Cat vs American Keuda - Breed Comparison
  8. Norwegian Forest Cat vs American Longhair - Breed Comparison
  9. Norwegian Forest Cat vs American Polydactyl - Breed Comparison
  10. Norwegian Forest Cat vs American Shorthair - Breed Comparison
  11. Norwegian Forest Cat vs American Wirehair - Breed Comparison
  12. Norwegian Forest Cat vs Applehead Siamese - Breed Comparison
  13. Norwegian Forest Cat vs Ashera - Breed Comparison
  14. Norwegian Forest Cat vs Asian - Breed Comparison
  15. Norwegian Forest Cat vs Asian Semi-Longhair - Breed Comparison
  16. Norwegian Forest Cat vs Australian Mist - Breed Comparison
  17. Norwegian Forest Cat vs Balinese - Breed Comparison
  18. Norwegian Forest Cat vs Bengal - Breed Comparison
  19. Norwegian Forest Cat vs Bicolor - Breed Comparison
  20. Norwegian Forest Cat vs Birman - Breed Comparison
  21. Norwegian Forest Cat vs Blue Russian - Breed Comparison
  22. Norwegian Forest Cat vs Bombay - Breed Comparison
  23. Norwegian Forest Cat vs Brazilian Shorthair - Breed Comparison
  24. Norwegian Forest Cat vs Bristol - Breed Comparison
  25. Norwegian Forest Cat vs British Longhair - Breed Comparison
  26. British Shorthair vs Abyssinian - Breed Comparison
  27. British Shorthair vs Aegean - Breed Comparison
  28. British Shorthair vs African Serval - Breed Comparison
  29. British Shorthair vs Chausie - Breed Comparison
  30. British Shorthair vs American Bobtail - Breed Comparison
  31. British Shorthair vs American Curl - Breed Comparison
  32. British Shorthair vs American Keuda - Breed Comparison
  33. British Shorthair vs American Longhair - Breed Comparison
  34. British Shorthair vs American Polydactyl - Breed Comparison
  35. British Shorthair vs American Shorthair - Breed Comparison
  36. British Shorthair vs American Wirehair - Breed Comparison
  37. British Shorthair vs Applehead Siamese - Breed Comparison
  38. British Shorthair vs Ashera - Breed Comparison
  39. British Shorthair vs Asian - Breed Comparison
  40. British Shorthair vs Asian Semi-Longhair - Breed Comparison
  41. British Shorthair vs Australian Mist - Breed Comparison
  42. British Shorthair vs Balinese - Breed Comparison
  43. British Shorthair vs Bengal - Breed Comparison
  44. British Shorthair vs Bicolor - Breed Comparison
  45. British Shorthair vs Birman - Breed Comparison
  46. British Shorthair vs Blue Russian - Breed Comparison
  47. British Shorthair vs Bombay - Breed Comparison
  48. British Shorthair vs Brazilian Shorthair - Breed Comparison
  49. British Shorthair vs Bristol - Breed Comparison
  50. British Shorthair vs British Longhair - Breed Comparison