If you ever meet a cat that is extra fluffy and is closer in size to a small-breed dog, this is most likely your first encounter with a Norwegian forest cat. Also called skogkatt (forest cat) in Norwegian, these long-haired beauties have quite a history. Some historians believe that they were brought to Norway by traveling merchants, while others say it was the Vikings themselves who carried them home from their journeys. But whatever their origin story might be, Norwegian forest cats perfectly adapted to their new environment and thrived for centuries.
Interestingly, this breed was not created artificially through human manipulation. After their ancestors were first introduced to the pretty harsh climate of Norway, forest cats started evolving to become the absolute gorgeous animals we know them to be. Today, skogkatts are adept climbers and even like fishing in ponds or other bodies of water, unlike most cat breeds who hate getting wet.
Norse mythology has numerous mentions of fairy cats – giant felines who could climb mountains and pulled the chariot of goddess Freya. It is also very likely that the ancestors of forest cats served as ship cats, taking care of vermin infestations. One could say that life at sea made them real Viking cats.
A modern Norwegian cat mostly prefers to stay at home and nap on a thick carpet or a sofa, though you can see that unmistakable adventurous spirit in their eyes. And although Norwegian forest cat size may suggest otherwise, they are, in fact, very friendly and affectionate animals that get on well both with family members and other pets.
In this article, we have collected Norwegian forest cat pictures so that you can admire their unmatched beauty.
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Dylan, 11 Month/Old Norwegian Forest Cat. Our Vet Tech Carried Him Around The Office To See The Rest Of The Staff For Pets And Pictures. He Was Feeling Proud
must... not... upvote... every... dang... post..... ah screw it, take my upvotes kitties!!!! <3
Norwegian Forest Cats
When We Rescued Him From The Humane Society. Little Did We Know That Bagheera Was Actually A Majestic Norwegian Forest Cat
I upvote as I’ve rescued a black Norwegian too. He looked identical to yours. He died in my arms after 16 years. He too was majestic so I kind of feel bad that I named him Fatty McFat
Fast And Furrious
A Handful Of Norwegian Forest Kittens
Fluff Master Supreme
My Norwegian Forest Cat Nugget
Meet Astrid, My New 9-Week-Old Norwegian Forest Cat. She's Enjoying The Train Home From K.C. To Chicago
Freya The Cheeky Norwegian Forest Cat
Meet Odin, A Norwegian Forest Cat!
My Cat, Fearlessly Scouting The Woods
Mille, The Norwegian Forest Cat
I'm A Norwegian Forest Cat. How Do You Do?
Pepper, The Norwegian Forest Cat Just Loves Snow
Sorry Pepper, I thought you had teeth on your tongue. Don't worry, I won't mention the boobcicles
Our Nearly 17 Year Old Norwegian Forest Cat, We Love Him Dearly
In His Element
My Friend's Norwegian Forest Cat Knows She’s Beautiful
Norwegian Forest Prettiness
be still my heart that is one gorgeous kitty! the coat, the eyes... 10/10, would snuggle! and then 10/10 would need a lint roller :)
Loki And Freya Love To Cuddle With Each Other
Dylan, 2 Year Old Norwegian Forest Cat
Meet Freyja My Norwegian Forest Cat
My Name Is Zelda And I'm Pretty
Our Little Norwegian Forest Cat
My Norwegian Forest Cat That Has A Genetic Mutation That Caused Dwarfism. The Most Affectionate, Loving Cat I Have Ever Known
The Eyes On This Norwegian Fluff Ball
Enzo - The Norwegian Forest Cat
Hi, My Name Is Blitz And I’m A Norwegian Forest Cat
Dylan, 2 Year Old Norwegian Forest Cat. King Of The Play Room, Killer Of Cloth Mice
This Is A Norwegian Forest Cat. They Often Get Confused For Being Fat Or Overfeed. But They Are Actually Just Extremely Fluffy Due To The Cold Climate They Come From
Our Weegies, Svenson And Bjornson
Torbjørn - 12 Weeks
What Are You Looking At??
Thor's Mane Is Really Filling In
Now That's A Big One
My Handsome Norwegian Forest Cat Louie
My Cats Winter Coat Norwegian Forest Cat
Norwegian Forest Cat From Chicago
Liam Lillegrå Catches Leaves And Not Mouses
These Little Monsters Figured Out How To Open The Closet To Get Their Toys On The Top Shelf. Here They Are Acting Innocent When Caught
With those doors, all they’d have to do is lean into them to get them open.
My Norwegian 3 Years Ago And Now
They Saw A Spider In The Bath!
And when the spider saw them, it made a lightning quick getaway. Or was eaten.
Mexican Forrest Cat?
Breeder Said The First Letter Of His Name Had To Be C. Meet Catto!
Me Being The Male Equivalent Of A Crazy Cat Lady I Had To Post My Firstborn Here; Melissa, A 2year, 13lb Norwegian Forest Cat
Norway Forest Cat In Her Natural Environment
This Is My Cat, Hercules. A Norwegian Forest Cat. Just Look At Him Sleep
My Norwegian Forest Cat Climbing Trees
"They Will Never Get Along!" They Said About My Female Pit Bull And Forest Cat
Say Hello To Simba, My Norway Forest Cat
Dreaming About Food For Sure
My Norwegian Forest Cat, So Much Floof!
Norwegian Forest Cats
Aslan - Just A Fluffy Boy Living His Best Life
My Norwegian Forest Cat Isn't Fat, He's Floofy
My Norwegian Forest Cat Is Almost As Wide As He Is Long
This Gentleman Was A Stray Kitten That Showed Up At My House 3 Years Ago, Mr. Sly Is His Name
Snow Days
Yawning To Get Your Attention
Angel And Azrael
My Thicc Girl
Just Discovered That Norwegian Forest Cats Are A Thing And Then It Became Very Clear I’ve Had One For 11 Years. This Is Misha
Best Cat Bed
I Think Loki, Our Norwegian Forest Cat Would Fit In Well Here?
First Pic Of My Norwegian Forest Crazy-Cat And Nearly Two Years Later
This Is Higgins, One Of My Norwegian Forest Cats. Love His Posture In The Picture
This Is Thor. He Is My Precious Norwegian Forest Cat. We Love Him So Much And I Thought You Could All Benefit From His Cuteness Today!
Bellamy Blake. My Floofy Baby Boy. He's A Norwegian Forest Cat
My Absolute Unit Of A Norwegian Forest Cat
We Got Him From The RSPCA (Animal Shelter In Australia) We Always Wondered Why He Would Never Meow - But Made A Small Chirping Noise
I’m Tellin Ya, The Bird I Caught Was This Big!
Just A Ball Of Floof With A Tail
When You're Massive
Oh Ya Know, Just Chillin’!
Norwegian Fern Cat
New Kitten Fernando 13 Weeks Old. He Is Very Naughty And Mischievous
My Darling Älva. She's A Norwegian Forest Cat And The Light Of My Life
My Norwegian Forest Cats Olli (1,5 Y/O M) And Blitz (0,5 Y/O M) Both The Same Parents But Just Different Nest
My One Year Old Girl, Freyja. She's Leash Trained And We Go On Walks Together, If You Want I'll Post More Pictures Of Our Walks!
Meet Jay... The Norwegian Forest Cat
Attended A Cat Show This Weekend This Was One Of Our Competitors That Later Became Best In Show. A Beautiful Norwegian Forest Cat Named Cornelis
My 16 Year Old Norwegian Forest Cat Nikolai
Whoa. Nikolai looks like he could handle ANY situation. Someone bothering you? Call Nikolai, he’ll get rid of them.
She's Relaxing In Her Favourite Spot
A cat that big can declare any spot as their favorite. Who’s going to argue with them?
My New Norwegian Forest Kitten
A Norwegian Forest Cat I Met During My Travels!
My Furball Of A Norwegian Forest Cat
This Is Casper, My Norwegian Forest Cat!
He Brings Me His Bottle Daily For Me To “Keep”
Sundays Are For Nap Naps
And I bet the humans never get to move a muscle while the cat’s napping on them, either.
This Is Pusi! Norwegian Girl 6 Years Of Age. Got That Thick Winter Coat Now
A Very Chill, Very Floofy Norwegian Forest Cat
This Is Sawyer The Norwegian Forest Cat, And Today He Turned 11
This Floof Is Leo. A Norwegian Forest Cat Who Loves Chilling On Our Bed With Curledfeetsies
Meet Aslan, He’s Only 7 Weeks Old Right Now But I Just Got Off The Phone With The Breeder Who Said We Could Buy Him! So Excited!
My Norwegian Forest Cat Orion Out In The Sun!
Our Gorgeous Norwegian Forest Cat Freya
Not a lot of room left to work on your desk when this fellow is your coworker.
I Have Been Cornered By An Angry Looking Norvegian Forest Cat. What To Do?
Bumped Into This Little Guy On The Street Earlier. His Name Was Baikal, And He Is A Norwegian Forest Cat. He Was Off To The Vet So He Was A Bit Under The Weather
My Baby Survived Being Blocked Two Times! Finally Fully Back To Normal
What is being blocked for a cat? I don’t quite understand.
Aske Craving Pats In A Cold Winter Morning
Penny Showing Off Her Floofy Tail
Tango
My Winter Neck Gaiter Is Getting Thick
My Self-Taught Therapy Cat, Hamish
My Norwegian Forest Cat, Chester!
Upside Down Norwegian Forest Cat Blep
Norwegian Forest Cat Wearing The Norwegian Colors
Our Siberian Husky And Norwegian Forest Cat Pretending To Buttface Each Other
My Norwegian Forest Cat Says Hello... With Her Hind Leg
My Large Norwegian Forest Cat, Kirby
Eddy Came Into My Life When He Was About 1 Year Old, So I Never Got To See Him As A Kitten, But I Bet Any Money He Was A Cute
Norwegian Forest Blep
Blep and stretch. Blep and stretch. Workout over. I’m exhausted. Time to sleep.
This Is Our Cutie. He Is A Norwegian Forest Cat, And He Is The Most Relaxed And Adaptable Cat We Have Ever Had
My Long Long Girl 9 Months Old Norwegian Forest Cat
Our Norwegian Forest Cat Mid Flight
Juno The Norwegian Forest Cat Likes The Piano
Darling Is Expecting Her First Little Kittens Very Soon And She Is Already Very Excited
Soooo Fluffy
A Good Stretch Followed By A Grunt
Her Favorite Spot Over The Winter Months
Maggie Relaxing Outside
Norwegian Forest Cats Like To Snuggle
My Mum Finally Got The Cat Of Her Dreams - A Norwegian Forest Cat! Meet Bambi!
This Is Noodle, He Is A Norwegian Forest Cat And Is Naturally Massive, He Weighs 22lbs
This Is Fatty, He's An 11 Year Old Norwegian Forest Cat Who Loves Cuddling!
I’ve Mentioned My Giant Norwegian Forest Floof Several Times So Here’s The Past Due Cat Tax. Yes, That’s A Large Human Sized Deck Chair. And Yes, He’s As Huggable As He Looks
He's So Special - Norwegian Forest Cat
He may be special but there’s no way he’d fit on the short yellow bus.
It’s My Babies First Birthday Today!
He’s Looking For His Midnight Snack
Ragnar, My Playful, Adventurous, Fearless And Loving
You mean Ragnar, the Playful, the Adventurous, the Fearless, the Loving. King of the Household, Ruler of Humans.
Big Feline Feelings
The Floofer Monster Is Sleepy
My Norwegian Cat Somehow Isn’t Dying In The Florida Heat
My Grandma's Cat 'Mokolosh', He Is A Norwegian Forest Cat
This Is Frøya. My Norwegian Forest Cat
Norwegian Forest Cat Thinks He's A Snail
Our Norwegian Forest Cat Always Gets Involved On Game Night
A Very Big, Very Fluffy Norwegian Boy Is 12 This Year
My Norwegian Forest Cat, Loki And His Mighty Paws
Big Fluff Ball
But Meet Phillie The Norwegian Forest Cat
I Think We Adopted Two Wegies?
So many majestic floofs. I love how many of them are named after the gods and goddesses from Nordic mythology (we have Odin, Thor, Freyja, and Loki) and then there's simply the magnificent "Noodle" and "Fatty."
So many majestic floofs. I love how many of them are named after the gods and goddesses from Nordic mythology (we have Odin, Thor, Freyja, and Loki) and then there's simply the magnificent "Noodle" and "Fatty."
