As with any new cat, a Norwegian Forest Cat will need a small safety area until he/she adjusts to his/her new home, food and water, a litter box, cat bed, and toys. In addition, Norwegian Forest Cats need groomed and most importantly, they need cat trees to climb. It can take a week or so for your Norwegian Forest Cat to adjust to the sights and smells in his/her new home. Please put your new cat in a small area that you can close off with a baby gate or in a playpen to help them feel safe, especially at night. Be patient: they will venture out and explore as they are ready.

Please feed your Norwegian Forest Cat healthy foods with labels that have the AAFCO nutrition label “complete and balanced nutrition.”  You can leave dry food out all day or feed them 1-2 times a day. Also, please use healthy treats, such as freeze-dried chicken treats made in the USA. I recommend stainless steel food bowls. If your cat grabs a big bite and drops it on the floor, it may be experiencing “whisker stress,” in which case you can use a shallow tray (may be on legs and slightly elevated). For water, I recommend water fountains, but a stainless steel water bowls works well, too.

Norwegian Forest Cats are relatively large cats, so I recommend large litter boxes. I have been using TidyCat Lightweight clumping litter.

Some Norwegian Forest Cats like donut-shaped cat beds and some like memory-foam mats or fleece blankets. Whatever the case, your new Norwegian Forest Cat will like something soft to sleep on.

Norwegian Forest Cat kittens love to play with balls, springs, feathers, wands, and toy mice. They will entertain themselves for hours while you are away or asleep.

Norwegian Forest Cats have double coats to keep them warm in Norwegian forests.  Their coats need combed out about once per week, especially in the Spring when they shed.  I recommend Chris Christensen Buttercomb #000.  I also recommend trimming nails about once per month.

Last but not least, Norwegian Forest Cats originated in Norwegian forests so they are much happier if they have a cat tree to climb.  I recommend the cat trees with 3-4 tiers and scratching posts. Norwegian Forest Cats love to stretch and scratch their claws on scratching posts.