Have you ever come across the Norwegian forest cat and the Maine Coon cat? These breeds, both sizable, tend to cause confusion in distinguishing them. Many mistakenly perceive the Norwegian forest cat and Maine Coon cat as identical. If you seek clarification, this piece is tailored for you. It delves into a concise overview of the Maine Coon and Norwegian cat breeds, outlines the key distinctions between them, examines which is more favored as a pet, and more.
Contents
Physical Characteristics
Norwegian forest cats and Maine Coon cats can be similar for those people who do not have much knowledge about cats. Still, if you are a cat lover you might know different characteristics of different cats. The differences between the Norwegian cat and the Maine Coon cat help you to differentiate these two breeds easily.
1. Coat Color
You can get Norwegian forest cats in colors such as white, black, blue, red, cream, silver, and golden. While the Maine Coon has numerous coat colors like black / ebony, blue/grey, chocolate / brown/sable, cream/beige/tan, red / orange, white.
The Maine Coon has longer fur compared to the Norwegian forest cat. This cat has long coated hair on specific areas of its body like around the mane, stomach, and butt areas. On the flip side, the Norwegian forest has similar-sized fur on the whole body.
2. Size
If we talk about the size, both breeds are big but the Maine coon is bigger compared to the Norwegian forest cat. When it comes to the size of Maine Coons, males typically weigh around 7-12 kg (15-26 pounds), while females generally range from 5-8 kg (10-18 pounds). While the Norwegian male cats are around 6-9 kg (14-20 pounds) and females are 4-6 kg (9-13 pounds).
3. Overall Appearance
Both of these breeds look elegant and royal due to their large size and long fur. Still, Maine Coon has a boxy shape face, while the Norwegian is a little bit triangular in face shape. The Norwegian has quite long fur on its face compared to the Maine Coon cat.
4. Eye Color
The Norwegian Forest cats have almond-shaped sharp and stunning green, gold, and copper color eyes, This cat has extraordinary quality in targeting and long vision. Alternatively, Maine Coon cats are normally born with blue eyes but after aging they turn to gold/yellow or green.
5. Paw Size and Shape
The Maine Coon has medium-length legs and a round and large-sized paw. These furry paws help them to prey and work like snowshoes to sustain in harsh cold climates. The Norwegian forest cat has smaller paws compared to the Maine Coon breed.
6. Tail Size and Shape
The Norwegian Forest cats have long fluffy tails and due to their long coat, the tails look even larger. On the other hand, the Maine Coon’s bushy fluffy tails look like a raccoon and some Maine Coon has rings around its tail and often have the look of being in the wild.
If you’re keen to gain a more in-depth understanding, check out the video below.
Temperament Traits
Both of these cat breeds are way too large compared to other breeds. People often think these breeds are wild and aggressive, but the real view is both of these breeds are quite social and easy to keep as home cats.
1. Friendliness and Sociability
Both breeds are friendly and easy to pet but the Maine Coon is more social and friendly compared to the Norwegian forest breed. Maine Coon has a high level of energy and loves to play, but the Norwegian is a little bit lazy and less energetic.
2. Independence
If you are looking for a more independent, I will say keep a Norwegian forest cat. Norwegian forest cats are quite independent and less energetic and can stay alone if you stay away frequently. Alternatively, the Maine Coon loves to get your attention and can be a little bit dependent on you.
3. Adaptability
Both breeds are easily adaptable to humans and cats. But the Maine Coon has a good capability to mix up with any nature compared to the Norwegian forest cat. Due to its good sociable tendency, it has a greater quality to adapt to any situation.
4. Trainability
Maine Coon cats are easily trainable compared to the Norwegian forest cat. This breed is very friendly and sometimes compared to the dogs because of its loyalty. On the other side, the Norwegian forest cat is quite lazy and less energetic and slow.
5. Playfulness
The Maine Coon is highly energetic and fast, it loves your companion and loves to play. On the other side, the Norwegian forest cat is slower and it likes to rest longer compared to the Maine Coon.
Delve into the secrets of Maine Coon Personality and Temperament with our insightful article.
Grooming and Health
Like every cat these two big breeds need health care and grooming. But due to its large size, their grooming and health care need some specialties. In this segment, let’s see how you can groom and take care of your big cat’s health.
1. Coat Maintenance
These breeds have longer coats compared to the other breeds. So these breeds need extra care in grooming. You often need to trim your Maine Coon or Norwegian forest cat’s fur to keep your cat clean. It needs to be trimmed by a specialized groomer to keep its royal look.
2. Bathing and Cleaning
Maine Coon needs to be bathed more often compared to the Norwegian forest cat. You don’t need to give a bath to your Norwegian cat unless it gets dirty. You need a professional groomer to give your Norwegian forest cat bath because its coats are water-resistant, and getting them thoroughly soaked may be tough.
3. Diet
Both breeds can be fed with similar diets but the Maine Coon needs to be fed more protein and caloric food because of its larger size and playfulness. Make sure your cat food has enough nutrients and contains a good amount of vitamins and minerals.
4. Exercise and Mental Stimulation
Maine Coon is super active and playful, so make sure you give enough time to your cat for play and cuddle, while the Norwegian cats need to be cared for exercise because of their laziness.
Reproduction and Lifespan
Like any other animals, both of these breeds need your proper care for long life and good reproductivity. If you take good care of your Maine Coon or Norwegian forest cat, it will give you a better reproduction and longer lifespan.
1. Mating Behavior
Both of these breeds are quite intelligent and can breed automatically if there is a pair. Make sure you have a proper pair of males and females to do a successful breed. The cats will ask for more attention and might sound weird while they are in heat. But please be sure your cat is mature enough to breed.
2. Pregnancy Length
The average pregnancy length of a Norwegian forest cat is 64.7 days after mating. On the other hand, the Maine Coon cat requires 65-68 days to deliver after mating. You must take proper care during pregnancy and provide proper nutrition and medicines.
3. Average Lifespan
When it comes to lifespan of Maine Coons, this breed usually live around 12-13 years on average. But some owners of these big guys swear they’ve made it past 20. That’s pretty epic for a cat. On the other side, Norwegian Forest Cats tend to live a bit longer, between 14-16 years is common.
4. Factors Influencing Lifespan
Things that could potentially cut Maine Coon’s lifespan shorter include arthritis in those big bones, dental problems, kidney issues, and cancer like with any pet. Keeping them at a healthy weight and giving them lots of love helps prevent problems.
The Norwegian forest cats have a genetic predisposition to certain nasty stuff like heart and kidney disease. So that could potentially affect their health as they get older. There’s also a rare but serious condition called Glycogen storage disease type IV that’s more likely to affect Norwegian Forest Cats specifically. Overall though, with regular vet care and a happy home life, both breeds generally have pretty good life spans for large domestic cats. It just goes to show how hardy and resilient they can be.
Conclusion
Comparing the Norwegian Forest Cat and the Maine Coon Cat reveals distinctions in their physical characteristics, temperament traits, grooming needs, and reproductive factors. Understanding variations in coat colors, size, appearance, and other traits can guide potential owners in selecting the feline companion that aligns with their preferences. Whether you prefer the social and energetic nature of the Maine Coon or the more independent demeanor of the Norwegian Forest Cat, both breeds offer unique qualities that, with proper care, contribute to a fulfilling and lasting companionship.
Certainly! If you’re intrigued by other breeds that exhibit similarities to Maine Coon Cats, delve into our article on 7 Breeds Similar to Maine Coon Cats.
