Norwegian Forest Cat Health Issues

Over the years the Norwegian Forest cat has found a way into many owner's hearts and homes which is hardly surprising because these attractive, large felines boast very kind natures and they just adore being around people. In Norway, these lovely cats are called "skogkatt" which is Norwegian for "forest cat". The name stuck and the breed became known as the Norwegian Forest Cat in other countries of the world.


However, because of the long name this has been shortened to Wegie which is less of a mouthful. To look at, the Wegie does resemble a Maine Coon Cat and all too often the two breeds are mistaken for one another. In fact, they may share a similar ancestry, but today the two cats are very much breeds in their own right with the Wegie boasting some quite unique traits and characteristics. Sadly, like so many other pedigree cats, they suffer from a few health issues, some of which are hereditary whereas others are acquired which are worth making a note of.


When well cared for and fed a well-balanced diet to suit their ages, the Wegie boasts a long life span which can be anything up to 16+ years, but they are predisposed to certain health issues which are as follows:


Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy


This is a type of heart disease that some people think the Norwegian Forest Cat could inherit from their parents although this fact is yet to be established. However, it is known to be a hereditary disorder that's all too often seen in Maine Coon Cats.


Glycogen Storage Disease IV


Fortunately, this is a pretty rare disorder that impacts the way a cat metabolises glucose in their bodies. The condition is hereditary and while most kittens born with the disease are stillborn, some survive for a few hours before succumbing to the condition. However, there are reports of kittens surviving longer even when they have inherited the disease and they only start to show any symptoms when they are around 5 months old. The sad news is that once the symptoms m