Compare
Nebelung vs Norwegian Forest Cat
A medium, silky, blue semi-longhair that bonds closely and wants calm, against a large, shaggy, self-possessed Norwegian climber.
Verdict
Both are long-coated, quiet cats, but they differ in size, colour and temperament. The Nebelung is medium and solid blue, soft-voiced and devoted, and it prefers a calm routine. The Norwegian Forest Cat is large, comes in nearly every colour, copes with time alone better and needs tall climbing, so it suits a roomier home. Choose the Nebelung for a gentle, reserved cat in a quiet apartment. Choose the Norwegian Forest Cat for a big, steady cat with space to climb.
Choose the Nebelung if
- You want a solid blue coat with a silver sheen and a medium frame of 8-14 lb.
- You live in a smaller home; it scores 4 for apartments against 2.
- You want a very soft voice, scoring 1 for vocal.
- You can give it a quiet household, since it is reserved with strangers and noise.
Choose the Norwegian Forest Cat if
- You want a larger cat of 9-16 lb in any colour or pattern.
- You are out for a workday; it scores 4 for independence against 3.
- You have children and other pets; it scores 4 for both against 3.
- You have tall climbing space and will comb through a heavy spring moult.
Where they are alike
Both are intelligent, scoring 4, and both stay quiet. Each has a long coat that sheds, so both need regular combing.
Side by side
| Nebelung | Norwegian Forest Cat | |
|---|---|---|
| Group | Longhair and semi-longhair | Longhair and semi-longhair |
| Origin | United States | Norway |
| Size | Medium | Large |
| Typical weight | 8-14 lb (3.6-6.4 kg); males are larger | 9-16 lb (4-7.3 kg); males are larger |
| Lifespan | Often reported as 12-16 years; few studies | Commonly reported as 15 years or more |
| Coat length | Long | Long |
| Coat | Soft, silky semi-long coat with a fine undercoat and longer guard hairs, with a plume tail | Long, glossy, water-repellent topcoat over a dense woolly undercoat, with a full ruff and bushy tail |
| Cat Fanciers' Association | — | Championship breed since 1993 |
| How common | Rare | Uncommon |
| Affection | 4 | 3 |
| Energy | 3 | 3 |
| Playfulness | 3 | 3 |
| Talkativeness | 1 | 2 |
| Grooming needed | 3 | 3 |
| Shedding | 3 | 4 |
| Good with children | 3 | 4 |
| Good with other pets | 3 | 4 |
| Happy alone | 3 | 4 |
| Trainability | 4 | 4 |
| Suits a small home | 4 | 2 |
| Allergies | No breed is hypoallergenic. The Nebelung's silky coat sheds moderately, and cat allergen is present in skin and saliva whatever the coat. | No breed is hypoallergenic. The Norwegian Forest Cat sheds heavily each spring, and people who react to cats usually react to it too. |
| Suits | A quiet home that wants a devoted, soft-voiced cat with a striking silver-blue coat and will give it a calm, steady routine. | A home with space and tall climbing that wants a friendly, steady, self-possessed cat and will comb it through the spring moult. |
| Less suited to | A busy house with constant visitors or noise, or anyone who wants a boisterous, outgoing cat. | A small flat with little height to climb, or anyone who wants a clinging lap cat. |
| Registries that recognise it |
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| Health conditions to watch | — |
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Facts come from each breed's profile. Scores run from 1 (low) to 5 (high) and describe a breed in general. Every cat is an individual, so meet the cat before you decide.
Last reviewed November 7, 2026