Norwegian Forest Cat vs Birman - Breed Comparison

Norwegian Forest Cat vs Birman - Breed ComparisonBirman is originated from France but Norwegian Forest Cat is originated from Norway. Both Birman and Norwegian Forest Cat are having almost same weight. Both Birman and Norwegian Forest Cat has almost same life span. Both Birman and Norwegian Forest Cat has same litter size. Both Birman and Norwegian Forest Cat requires Moderate Maintenance.

Basic Information

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France
Norway
Weight Male:
3 - 6 kg
6 - 14 pounds
3 - 9 kg
6 - 20 pounds
Weight Female:
3 - 6 kg
6 - 14 pounds
3 - 9 kg
6 - 20 pounds
Life Span:
10 - 15 Years
14 - 16 Years
Litter Size:
2 - 6
2 - 6
Other Names:
The Sacred Cat of Burma
Wegie, Gentle Giant
Colors Available:
White, cream, chocolate
Many colors and patterns
Coat:
Medium-long, silky and shiny
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:
Moderate Maintenance
Moderate Maintenance
Trainability:
Easy
Easy
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
Yes

History

birmanThere isn’t clarity as to this exquisite cat’s origins. Many people believe they originated as the companions of temple priests in northern Burma.

The cats somehow found their way to France, and it is believed that they have been in France since the 1920s.

The cats nearly disappeared during World War II, but luckily the remaining Birmans that survived were crossed with Siamese and Persians to strengthen the breed. In the early 1950s, pure Birnam litters were produced. It was in about 1959 that Birmans were brought to the United States.

The cats were also recognized in Britain in 1965 and in 1966 by the CFA. The first Birman cats were seal point but later other colors were brought in such as red, chocolate, and tabby.

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

birman kitten - descriptionThese are medium-sized cats which can become fairly large. They can weigh up to 4, 5 or 6kg. They are fairly heavily boned with a broad face and ears that are widely spaced.

The round eyes are deep blue. The cat’s fur is medium-long and should be silky to the touch with no undercoat. Ther cat is a moderate shedder.

The base color is whitish to cream, but the kittens are always born white. Coat color, whether red, cream, or chocolate is always pointed and the cat always has the white paws.

Temperament:

The Birman isn’t as outgoing as some of the other cat breeds and its a quiet, docile intelligent cat that attaches itself to one particular family member. They can actually become jealous of their human companion and demand their attention.

These friendly cats are wonderful choices for families with children and dogs. They are calm and affectionate, and softly spoken, quietly letting you know when it’s dinner time and enjoying just being around his human family.

He is able to get along well with kids and other pets in the home. He can become quite playful too and because he is so intelligent, you can buy him some toys that require him to think.

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

birman cat - characteristicsThe Birman cat has to be one of the most beautiful cats there are, but the cat isn’t only a beautiful cat, it has wonderful characteristics as well.

It is a loving, affectionate cat with his human family, loving to spend time around them. Playful and healthy, when you bring this most wonderful cat into your home, it will be as though an angel has come to stay.

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

birman kittens - health problemsWith good health your Birman can reach up to 13 years of age. With the Birman, the most serious illness is feline hypertrophic cardiomyopathy which also happens to be the most common heart disease in cats.

It’s a progressive disease and can result in heart failure. The cats are also at risk of developing feline infectious peritonitis.

Also, because this is a larger cat and a stocky kind of breed, it can easily put on weight and then become overweight. Strict attention will need to be given to diet as well as daily exercise.

Also, look out for Corneal dermoid - skin and hair on the surface of the cornea in one eye or in both. Luckily this is an eye problem that can be surgically corrected.

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

General:

birman cats - caringThe Birman has a silky coat that sheds moderately so you want to give him a gentle brush once or twice a week to keep the coat of his soft and silky.

The Birman has a full topcoat, with no undercoat which means that you won’t have the coat matting or tangling.

He’ll need his nails trimmed and his teeth checked regularly. Your vet or professional groomers can do this for you and clean his teeth and check that there are no bad teeth making your pet sick.

Diet:

The Birman cat has access to some great commercial cat food as there are some seriously good quality ones.

Many cat lovers choose cat foods that are AAFCO (Association of American Feed Control Officials) approved. It at least provides minimum standards for pet foods.

For your Birman you want to avoid artificial flavors and preservatives. Choose quality foods high in meat protein. As a carnivore, a cat has a huge need for meat protein. Get to know your pet food labels and choose foods with added taurine and vitamin A.

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. Birman vs Abyssinian - Breed Comparison
  2. Birman vs Aegean - Breed Comparison
  3. Birman vs African Serval - Breed Comparison
  4. Birman vs Chausie - Breed Comparison
  5. Birman vs American Bobtail - Breed Comparison
  6. Birman vs American Curl - Breed Comparison
  7. Birman vs American Keuda - Breed Comparison
  8. Birman vs American Longhair - Breed Comparison
  9. Birman vs American Polydactyl - Breed Comparison
  10. Birman vs American Shorthair - Breed Comparison
  11. Birman vs American Wirehair - Breed Comparison
  12. Birman vs Applehead Siamese - Breed Comparison
  13. Birman vs Ashera - Breed Comparison
  14. Birman vs Asian - Breed Comparison
  15. Birman vs Asian Semi-Longhair - Breed Comparison
  16. Birman vs Australian Mist - Breed Comparison
  17. Birman vs Balinese - Breed Comparison
  18. Birman vs Bengal - Breed Comparison
  19. Birman vs Bicolor - Breed Comparison
  20. Blue Russian vs Birman - Breed Comparison
  21. Bombay vs Birman - Breed Comparison
  22. Brazilian Shorthair vs Birman - Breed Comparison
  23. Bristol vs Birman - Breed Comparison
  24. British Longhair vs Birman - Breed Comparison
  25. British Shorthair vs Birman - 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