Both these breeds are fluffy, long-haired, big cats, and interestingly, there are 8 similarities between the Norwegian Forest cat vs Maine Coon.
Whether you just want to expand your knowledge, or perhaps you’re looking to buy one of these two breeds, I hope that this article provides you with all the information you need about the Norwegian Forest cat vs Maine Coon cat breeds.
The Norwegian Forest Cat is similar to the Maine Coon in color, but they tend to have more possible varieties. These two breeds are both beautiful long-haired cats, now let’s see what other similarities they share.
1. Both Traveled With Vikings
There are different stories that claim to be the origin of the Maine Coon cat breed. One of them states that Maine Coons arrived to America with Vikings because they were tremendous mousers (which is true).
There is also a story that Marie Antoinette sent her cats to the state of Maine in America, and among them were Persian cats, Turkish Angoras, and Siberian cats. It is thought that these cats mated and produced semi-long-haired cats which were later called Maine Coons, because of the state’s name.
However, the origin tale I like the most is the one about Captain Coon. People used to believe that Captain Coon stopped in Maine, and that the cats from his ship mated with other cats. As his name was Coon and the state’s name was Maine, the new breed became known as the Maine Coon cats.
The Norwegian Forest cat breed, also referred to as Skogkatt or Wedgie, was almost extinct in the early 1900s, but it was preserved by a breeding program in the 1930s.
This cat breed is mentioned in Norse mythology as the cats who chased mice on Vikings’ ships (which is also said of Maine Coons) and it is said that they came from Scandinavia on these Viking ships.
One of the theories is that Norwegian Forest Cats descended from Turkish Angoras and Siberian cats. In modern times, this cat breed has been the official cat of Norway for more than 50 years, since king Olaf proclaimed it.
2. Maine Coons Behave Similar To Norwegian Forest Cats
Personality is where these two breeds differ. Maine Coons are more playful and outgoing than Norwegian Forest cats. They love to play and they enjoy receiving attention from their humans, whereas Norwegian Forest cats are less sociable, more laid back, and not so outgoing.
They tend to quickly lose interest in playtime and are often seen as lazy cats because of it. This only comes to the fore when compared to Maine Coons; generally speaking, Norwegian Forest cats are also exceptionally social and affectionate.
3. Both Are Smart And Easily Trained
Both of these breeds are intelligent, and they can be trained. They can even be walked on a leash as they are both known for their dog-like behavior. They love the outdoors, and you may see them climbing trees to look down on the world from their high perch..
Norwegian Forest Cats are not demanding or noisy; they usually only meow when they need something. If you were to leave a Norwegian Forest cat on its own, it would definitely meow to get your attention. Maine Coons, on the other hand, are much more talkative and are known for their chirps and meows.
Norwegian Forest cats are more independent, whereas Maine Coons want all the attention they can get from their humans. Norwegian Forest cats are more active and energetic, so they need to be entertained more than Maine Coons.
4. Their Fur, Coat Patterns And Colors Are Similar
Both cat breeds have beautiful fur and thick hair. Maine Coon cats have a silky coat that feels soft and smooth, and Norwegian Forest cats have a water-repellent coat which is also long and thick, but it resembles a mane around their necks.
Norwegian Forest cats have a double coat and an undercoat, and Maine Coons are long-haired with a short hair or medium-length undercoat and also a ruff, but it is considerably smaller than the one Norwegian Forest cats have. Both of these breeds can come in a variety of colors; they can be black, white, cream, blue, etc., but Norwegian Forest cats can have red markings as well. The CFA (Cat Fanciers Association) recognizes 60 Norwegian Forest cat colors, and 80 colors in Maine Coon cats, however, Norwegian Forest cats have more pattern varieties.
Both Maine Coons and Norwegian Forest cats require regular combing, brushing and grooming. You must do this to prevent matting, and to remove any dead skin cells, or dead hairs.
The more hair you brush out, the less your cat will shed around the house. This will also prevent your cat from having furball issues.
You also need to brush, clean, and cut their paw fur, since this is the fur that mostly ends up as a furball stuck in your cat’s digestive system.
These cat breeds love grooming sessions, which is good for their health and their looks. It is best if you begin grooming and bathing your cat at a young age, so it gets used to it. Many veterinarians recommend that you brush or comb your cat twice a week, but I would suggest that you double this during your cat’s shedding season.
5. Even Their Health Issues Are Similar
Both of these breeds are typically healthy, but all larger breeds are prone to some diseases and health issues, usually genetic. Both Maine Coons and Norwegian Forest cats are predisposed to hip dysplasia, but this can be monitored and prevented if you screen and test your cat regularly.
These two breeds are also predisposed to a disease called PKD i.e. polycystic kidney disease. This is usually hereditary and it can be treated.
The two breeds are also prone to a condition which is usually associated with the Maine Coon cat breed: HCM (hypertrophic cardiomyopathy), which is also hereditary.
Maine Coons are also predisposed to SMA (spinal muscular atrophy). Their leg muscles weaken as they age, and this results in bent posture or having issues when walking.
Norwegian Forest cats are prone to glycogen storage, i.e. they don’t have enough enzymes that are needed to metabolize glycogen. Norwegian Forest male cats are, according to different studies, more prone to diabetes than other cats.
6. They Like The Same Food
Usually, both of these breeds will tolerate any cat food, especially while they’re young. Dry food tends to be a lot cheaper than wet food, but cat breeds that are prone to kidney issues like these ones might need some cat food for kidney function included in their diet.
Both these cat breeds are large, so it is normal that they will eat more than other domestic cat breeds. It is also logical that the Maine Coon cat will eat a bit more than the Norwegian Forest Cat.
It is always good to mix dry food and wet food so your cat has a mixed diet plan. I do this for my cats as well, since wet food delivers more protein than dry food, and I always look for meat-based cat foods.
You also need to pay attention to your cat’s water intake, Maine Coons and Norwegian Forest cats are large and can get dehydrated faster than other cats. Beware of your water bowl choice, so they can’t knock them over and spill their water.
7. They Even Share Living Habits
Both of these cat breeds are territorial, but a Maine Coon also enjoys the company of another cat, while the Norwegian Forest cat cherishes its privacy. They are also not that tolerant when being picked up.
They like to choose their company, and also cuddle buddies, by themselves. Maine Coons are more tolerant, and they love being picked up and held.
Both these breeds are active and playful, and they both require entertainment. However, Maine Coons can get anxious and depressed when left alone for longer periods of time, while Norwegian Forest cats will appreciate some alone time.
Both of these breeds love entertainment, and cat trees and other toys are not only welcome, but required. It is also a good idea to get scratching posts (always look for ones with sisal rope), to prevent them from scratching around the house.
You do need to consider that these large cat breeds require large cat trees since they need to be able to climb, sit, or nap in them without knocking them over. There are many options to choose from, and you can easily find a cat tree that is designed for larger cats and that has scratching posts included.
Have in mind that Maine Coons usually require more playtime than Norwegian Forest Cats.
8. Both Can Easily Adapt To Climate Changes
At a first glance, you know that both of these breeds prefer cold climates since both of them have long coats.
However, Maine Coons are much better at adapting to warmer climates than Norwegian Forest cats. In general, neither of them will be too happy when warm and humid weather comes and they will have more trouble adapting to warm weather than other domestic cat breeds.
If you live in a warm climate and you have one of these cat breeds as a pet, it is a good idea to install air conditioning, if possible.
When it comes time for outdoor activities, choose the time and the place carefully, i.e. choose a time of day when it’s not too hot to let your cat out, and always check if there are enough spots in the shade for your furry friend.