Somali vs Norwegian Forest Cat - Breed Comparison

Somali vs Norwegian Forest Cat - Breed ComparisonNorwegian Forest Cat is originated from Norway but Somali is originated from United States. Both Norwegian Forest Cat and Somali are having almost same weight. Both Norwegian Forest Cat and Somali has almost same life span. Both Norwegian Forest Cat and Somali has same litter size. Both Norwegian Forest Cat and Somali requires Moderate Maintenance.

Basic Information

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Norway
United States
Weight Male:
3 - 9 kg
6 - 20 pounds
3 - 6 kg
6 - 14 pounds
Weight Female:
3 - 9 kg
6 - 20 pounds
3 - 6 kg
6 - 14 pounds
Life Span:
14 - 16 Years
10 - 15 Years
Litter Size:
2 - 6
2 - 6
Other Names:
Wegie, Gentle Giant
None
Colors Available:
Many colors and patterns
Coat of many colors - mostly brownish color with black ticking.
Coat:
Thick and long haired
Medoum length, soft and silky
Shedding:
Moderate
Moderate
Temperament:
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Curious, Docile, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Quiet, Responsive, Social, Territorial
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Curious, Docile, Energetic, Friendly, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Quiet, Responsive, Social, Territorial
Grooming:
Moderate Maintenance
Moderate Maintenance
Trainability:
Easy
Easy
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
Yes

History

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.

somaliThe Somali is a medium- to longhaired Abyssinian. It was in Britain that the original introduction of the longhaired gene took place.

The first Somali cats came about in 1940 and it was British breeder Janet Robertson who exported some of her Abyssinian kittens to New Zealand, Australia and North America, Australia. Most of the kittens had long hair and breeders started showing an interest.

An American Abyssinian breeder Evelyn Mague decided to call her cats Somalis and the breed was recognized internationally by 1991.

Description

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.

somali kitten - descriptionThe beautiful Somali is a medium-sized cat which means he weighs in the region of 3 to 6kg. He is muscular and lean with the ears being set wide apart.

The ears are also tufted. The eyes of the Somali are almond-shaped and are usually a brown shade or green in color. The legs are long and the paws are also somewhat tufted. The tail is well plumed.

The Somali's coat is lovely and soft, while being thick and lustrous. The adult cats have a ruff. The Somali's coat comes in a range of colors but the most regular color is a beautiful brownish color with black ticking.

Temperament:

The Somali is an intelligent cat that relies heavily on its human owners for company as well as love and care.

They’re fun-loving cats that get on well with children in the home and from other pets. They are active cats and will need exercise. They should have some high perches and cat trees available so they can jump and climb.

Characteristics

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.

somali cat - characteristicsThe Somali is such a loving and affectionate cat, just loving to spend time with her human family.

Thanks to the cat’s good looks and lovely personality, this low-maintenance cat is a firm favourite when looking for a splendid pet and companion.

Health Problems

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.

somali kittens - health problemsAlthough the Somali cat breed is healthy, as with many other cat breeds, there are a few hereditary diseases found in the Abyssinian that may be linked to this breed too. Look out for eye problems with the cat as well as anaemia.

Progressive retinal atrophy

Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) is a degenerative disorder of the retina. This eye disease can either be inherited or acquired.

When a cat gets sick there are some antibiotics that have been associated with progressive retinal atrophy in cats. Cats can also develop vision loss if their diet is deficient.

You have to be very aware of your cat’s diet and ensure that he is getting all the right ingredients, one of which is amino acid taurine. If you can see that your cat is battling to see, you should get him immediately to the vet.even though there is no treatment for PRA. . The vet will explain to you how to make life more comfortable for your pet.

Anemia

Anemia isn’t a specific disease with your cat but rather the result of some other disease or condition. The most common sign that your cat has anemia is that you won’t find that normal pink color of the gums. Your cat will be listless and there may also be signs of blood loss such as blood in the feces or urine. Your vet will do several tests to diagnose the anemia.

Caring The Pet

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.

somali cats - caringCats can sometimes be finicky eaters and even the most delectable morsels might be ignored.

Every cat is unique but every cat is a carnivore – a meat eater – and requires a host of nutrients in their food to be healthy. Commercial cat foods aren’t all one and the same. You get different food for kittens, different foods for young adults, for pregnant cats, for energetic cats, and so on.

There is cat food for every season of a cat’s life. Other important considerations are feeding the right quantity of food to your cat.

Brush your Somali cat each week to keep the coat soft and silky.

Provide your cat with a litter box and empty out the feces every day.

Provide your cat with bowls, bed, scratching post, climbing tree, and toys.

Have your cat spayed or neutered to prevent kittens.

Comparison with other breeds

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