Anyone got a norwegian forest cat?

[stirling]

If so could you please tell me a bit about them. A friend thinks they're hypoallergenic but I'm not sure... Thank you

I don't have one, but I'm in a Norwegian Forest Cat group on facebook, because I own a Maine Coon and I really love the forest cat breeds. I'd love an NFC one day. I know the question has been asked on the group before and I'm afraid the answer given was no, they're not hypoallergenic. The cat breed that I've heard of as being hypoallergenic is the Siberian (also a long haired forest cat type). I've seen it mentioned as fact several times online, but I've no idea whether it actually is true or not.

I'm allergic to most cats (itching/streaming eyes etc within minutes of stroking them) but only very mildly allergic to our moggy, who has long fur similar to a forest cat. I might pop an antihistamine pill once a month or so but otherwise her fur doesn't bother me.

It's Siberians that are hypoallergenic, not Norwegians. My friend has an Norwegian and did a lot of research into them before they bought theirs.

I have no idea but am here for the photographs. 🐈

I have a Siberian forest cat, also a hypoallergenic breed. Bloody tons of fur though, factor in a groomer (£50 twice a year)

They're the most characterful cat I've ever owned. Very vocal and sociable, basically our shadow but refuses to be a lap cat. Loves routine and company, gets very stressed being left alone for long periods of time.

With Siberians it's apparently because they produce less of the Fel D 1 protein, which is what most people are allergic to. It's Fel D 1 that triggers allergies in 75 - 80% of the people who are allergic to cats, so you'd have a good chance of not reacting to a Siberian - but then again you could be in the 20-25% of people who are triggered by something other than Fel D 1 in which case presumably you'd react just the same. www.thepetsandlove.com/are-siberian-cats-hypoallergenic/

I want a Siberian now too.
@floofycroissant, any chance of a photo?!?
@stirling, I've heard of breeders of less allergenic dogs (e.g. poodles) being willing to let people visit and interact with their animals to see whether they have a reaction before committing to buying a puppy. I wonder if a friendly Siberian breeder would let you do the same?

Ah thank you everyone. Yes I'd been looking into a siberian for ages but my friend has the most gorgeous Norwegian and I became curious.
Siberians are so expensive and I can never seem to find one on the shelter adoption sites. Think they're snapped up in seconds.

@stirling while NFC's aren't known for being less allergenic, it doesn't necessarily mean you will react badly to them, seeing as everyone's allergy triggers are so personal. Can you try and spend time with your friend (post lockdown), hang out with the cats as much as possible and see if you react? If you don't react to them, then a getting a kitten from the same breeder (same bloodline) might be an option...??

Op. Try breed rescues. St Francis Persian rescue often has other breeds.

Our Sib is a rescue, so officially not a Sib, but it's very obvious. We adopted when around aged three, and there are behavioural quirks from being mistreated, - bit bitier and more stubborn than your normal character traits for the breed, but still very lovable.

Siberian's are rare in rescue, I have one that was brought into the practice as a stray microchipped, but owners moved without changing details. I 'fostered' her and then she was a failed foster.
We confirmed she was pedigree Siberian by locating her breeder and confirming that she was chipped before she left the breeder.
She is lovely, but dim.

I can confirm that Siberians are hypoallergenic. My DH and I are both allergic to cats, I'm severely allergic, and we are both fine with our four Siberians. Most breeders will let you do an allergy sitting with their adult cats to see whether you react. I had a slight reaction to my first one initially but rapidly built up a tolerance. Now I can literally rub my face in their fur without reaction. One of mine is a drooler which in other cats gives me hives, but not with Siberians.

They're utterly gorgeous cats as well. One of mine gets tats and needs regular grooming but the other three only get tats behind the ears and in their "armpits" which are easy enough to keep on top of. They moult twice a year so you don't get year-round hair to deal with even though they have such long coats. As a breed they seem atypically friendly and sociable, and they're known to be very talkative. They're sometimes described as doglike because they're so affectionate and they can be trained to fetch a ball.

Sometimes you do get used to your cat. Dh was allergic to ours but only if he fused him then rubbed his eyes.

I used to tell him just be glad the cats not allergic to you.

@BaronessBomburst

I have no idea but am here for the photographs. 🐈

Same here!

My NDNs have a Norwegian. He's gorgeous and friendly to humans but very territorial and a real hunter. Think Scarface Claw... He's always fighting other cats and killing wildlife. One of them had to have its tail amputated after a run-in. He's brought down a magpie by jumping off the fence onto it right in front of DH and the kids. He's also chief suspect for killing DD's hamster (our fault - she escaped and was found dead the next day by NDN). DD loves him anyway and is always first in line to feed him when the NDNs are on holiday, give him a stroke etc.

Sometimes you do get used to your cat. Dh was allergic to ours but only if he fused him then rubbed his eyes.
Fluffy it's common to build up a tolerance to allergens when continuously exposed. I have lived with other cat breeds in the past and never built up a complete tolerance to them as I have with my Siberians, I would still have needed antihistamines, inhalers, to keep the cat out of the bedroom, and to avoid stroking the cat then touching my face or eyes.

Siberians like to thrash their toys if which there can never be enough!

Our at-least-half-Norwegian (rescue) makes me sneeze. Still love him though.

Very talkative. Tells me all about it each time he’s been outside and won’t stop until I engage and talk back Likes company but not laps. Was an amazing acrobat when younger - would do double back flips when jumping after a feather on a string.

Ah, these stories are adorable and the pics. SeasonallySnowyPeasant I did laugh at your post
good idea to try breeder rescue. Thanks again all.

@SeasonallySnowyPeasant

My NDNs have a Norwegian. He's gorgeous and friendly to humans but very territorial and a real hunter. Think Scarface Claw... He's always fighting other cats and killing wildlife. One of them had to have its tail amputated after a run-in. He's brought down a magpie by jumping off the fence onto it right in front of DH and the kids. He's also chief suspect for killing DD's hamster (our fault - she escaped and was found dead the next day by NDN). DD loves him anyway and is always first in line to feed him when the NDNs are on holiday, give him a stroke etc.

My friend’s Norwegian managed to kill a bird when sitting on a balcony - we still have no idea how. They seem to be fearsome hunters.

I have a NFC. She is the best cat ever to exist on the face of the planet She is very needy vocal, very nervous and, I hate to admit it but it's true, not the sharpest knife in the drawer Maybe if she had grown up in Norway she would be a brave, intelligent hunter

She likes to lie around in bizarre poses and show her tummy off (you can see why) and her ears are very tufty and her eyes are very beautiful - you can see a little bit on this photo how they tilt upwards.

She is very high maintenance, not just her fur (which is amazing as it doesn't get "wet" even in heavy rain but can get tangled underneath) but also her need for attention.

I highly recommend if you have lots of time to devote to them (we didn't even know she was a NFC when we got her, in fact I had never heard of them!) Some fucker just abandoned her to die as a kitten so that may be why she is the way she is though. I love her so much.

She weighs a ton as well, which isn't good for my back as I constantly have to rescue her from places she can't work out how to get down from eg the top of a shoebox, the windowsill she sits on every day, the inch high router box...

Her little chin spot! @NorskSkogkatt

I know! It's like a teeny goatee I always post these pics, this is when she was younger and less fluffy, but starting off as she meant to go in in the intelligence stakes... (she can still stare at that fence for hours)