Best Food for Norwegian Forest Cat (2026 Guide)

A breed-specific food guide for Norwegian Forest Cat owners — what to look for, what to avoid, and our top picks based on this breed's size, energy and known health profile.

Photo: Aleksandr Nadyojin / Pexels

The Norwegian Forest Cat is sturdy scandinavian longhair. mythological "skogkatt" of norse legend. Their nutritional needs reflect their 4–9 kg body weight, 14–16 years lifespan, and the breed-specific health considerations covered below.

Why feeding a Norwegian Forest Cat is different

The Norwegian Forest Cat is genetically vulnerable to hip + elbow issues. Your single biggest dietary lever to protect those joints is keeping them lean — every extra kilo of body weight increases joint load by 3–4× during walking. Diet matters here far more than supplements.

Cardiac issues are common — discuss taurine + L-carnitine supplementation with your vet, and be cautious about grain-free + legume-heavy diets (the FDA has linked them to dilated cardiomyopathy in some lines).

The Norwegian Forest Cat's coat needs omega-3 + omega-6 in roughly a 5:1 ratio for skin + coat condition. Fish-oil supplementation or a salmon-first food are the cheapest ways to get this right.

Below: a specific list of what to look for, what to avoid, plus our daily-calorie estimate for an average Norwegian Forest Cat.

What to look for in food for a Norwegian Forest Cat

A complete-and-balanced food labelled for cats that meets FEDIAF or AAFCO nutritional standards.
Named animal protein as the first ingredient (e.g. "chicken", "salmon"), not "meat derivatives" or "animal by-product".
Added glucosamine and chondroitin for joint support — especially important from puppyhood.
Foods with adequate taurine. Be cautious with grain-free diets — the FDA has investigated a possible link with DCM.

What to avoid

Untested boutique grain-free brands without taurine in the analysis.
Anything containing onion, garlic, raisins, xylitol or chocolate flavouring (common kitchen toxins for pets).

To keep your cat at a healthy weight, check their shape with our body condition score tool, then follow the feeding guide on your chosen food and adjust the portion for your cat's age and activity level.

Feeding a Norwegian Forest Cat: common questions

How much should I feed a Norwegian Forest Cat?

A Norwegian Forest Cat typically weighs 4–9 kg, but the right daily amount depends on age, exact weight and activity — not the breed average. Start from the feeding guide on your chosen food, weigh the portion rather than eyeballing it, and adjust to keep your cat lean enough that you can easily feel the ribs.

How many meals a day should a Norwegian Forest Cat have?

Two meals a day suits an adult Norwegian Forest Cat; puppies need three to four smaller meals until around six months, then settle to two.

Do Norwegian Forest Cats need a special diet for their joints?

The biggest dietary lever for a joint-prone breed like the Norwegian Forest Cat is keeping them lean — every extra kilo multiplies the load on the hips and elbows. A complete food with added omega-3s (or a fish-oil top-up) supports the joints; ask your vet about glucosamine.