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Health |
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 Care and Training
The semilong fur sometimes needs brushing and even combing, but mostly the cat can handle its fur on its own. It may need help in getting twigs and other debris out, though. The common wire brushes should be used when the cat is shedding, to help prevent hairballs. Otherwise, brush once or twice a week with a bristle brush. The fur _can_ get knotty and tangled, and you may have to use blunt scissors to get the nastiest knots out, but unlike some longhair breeds you don't need to brush & comb twice a day to avoid knots.
Training ? Well, a breeder I know says she trains her cats to heel and takes them for walks -- mine have so far trained _me_ :-) except that they've learned very quickly to stay off tables and use only the approved scratching post. Other breeders also report that they train easily. Early literature claims that they are very intelligent cats. ( One of my favourite kitten pictures shows a 3-weeks old kitten with the caption: Norwegian Forest Cat - long-legged, agile, intelligent and brave - but not quite yet.) ( Also, we have to admit that the Siamese _are_ smarter - and also more mischievous... )
Special Medical Concerns
A very few NFOs in North America carry a recessive gene for a disease known as Glycogen Storage Disease IV - GSD IV. Fortunately, a blood test can reveal the presence of this gene, and thanks to the efforts of the breeders in US and Canada this could be bred out altogether.
Some cases of an eye defect, RD - retinal dysplasia, have also been reported. This shows up as spots on the retina, but is not progressive. That is, the cat's vision does not get worse with time, as with PRA.
Finally, breeders are starting to have their cats scanned for PKD - Polycystic Kidney Disease. I have as yet no information about whether it occurs in NFO at all
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