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23.08.2022

Ragdoll Norwegian Forest cat mix—a big and fluffy feline delight

Similar yet so different—Ragdolls and Norwegian Forests are bigger than regular cats with gorgeous fur and fantastic personalities, but there is no way to ever confuse the two. Despite or thanks to the differences, their hybrid usually turns out spectacular.

Untamed explains all about Ragdoll Norwegian Forest cat mix, from their appearance, personality, and care requirements to various practical tips to help you provide the best home for your furry companion.

Norwegian Forest cat Ragdoll mix—what to expect from this combo

It appears that the only features Wegies and Ragdolls have in common are their long coats and size. To properly gauge what a cross of the two would be like, you should understand the qualities of each breed individually, focusing on their:

  1. Physical appearance
  2. Temperament
  3. Intelligence
  4. Activity levels
  5. Health
  6. Lifespan
  7. Care

Wegie Ragdoll cross physical traits 

Similar yet completely different—Ragdolls and Norwegian Forests make cute kittens. 

Source: chasingtailsnz

When mixing two different breeds, you can't predict with absolute accuracy what the kittens will look like, but you can get some ideas based on the characteristics of each breed.

The table below presents the main physical features of Norwegian Forests and Ragdolls:

Feature

Norwegian Forest cat characteristics

Ragdoll cat characteristics

Coat

  • Semi-long, dense fur
  • Double coat with a warm undercoat and a water-resistant upper layer
  • A thick layer of fur around their neck and face, resembling a mane
  • Semi-long fur
  • Fluffy, soft, and silky coat
  • No undercoat

Colours

Various colours and patterns, including:

  • White
  • Black 
  • Grey-blue
  • Red
  • Cream
  • Silver

Various colours and patterns, including:

  • Chocolate
  • Seal
  • Blue
  • Lilac
  • Red
  • Cream

Shedding 

  • Moderate to high, especially during the moulting season

Eyes

  • Green
  • Gold
  • Copper
  • Blue (only in white cats)
  • Bright blue
  • Dark blue

Head

  • Triangular
  • Strong chin
  • Straight nose
  • Flat forehead
  • Wedge-shaped
  • Flat skull and pronounced, chubby cheeks
  • Rounded muzzle

Weight

  • Males: 4.5–9 kg
  • Females: 3.6–8 kg
  • Males: 5.5–9 kg
  • Females: 3.5–6.8 kg

Height

23–30.5 cm

23–28 cm

Length

30.5–45.5 cm

43–56 cm

Built

  • Big and strong
  • Sturdy and muscular
  • Longer hind legs
  • Long, sturdy body
  • Heavy bones
  • Muscular
  • Proportionately built
  • Broad chest
  • Large, round, and tufted paws

A Wegie Ragdoll mix should be big and strong with long fur and nothing short of adorable.

Norwegian Forest-Ragdoll hybrid temperament

It doesn’t matter whose personality a Ragdoll Norwegian Forest cat mix inherits. Both breeds are loyal and loving.

Source: thabisfotowelt

Norwegian Forests and Ragdolls are friendly and gentle. They get on well with kids and other pets. Both breeds also like meeting new people and spending time around family members. This is where all similarities end.

Ragdolls love being doted on and relish the attention from their parents. They can even seem clingy and dependent. If you don't give them enough attention or fail to keep them cognitively stimulated, they can become destructive.

Norwegian Forests are not that demanding. They are affectionate and loyal companions and like the attention but prefer playtime to cuddles. Wegies are also more independent. If you can't play with them, they will not hold a grudge but find something to have fun with. Unlike Ragdolls, these kitties do fine on their own, as long as you give them toys.

A Norwegian Forest Ragdoll mix will be loyal and loving, steal all the attention, and develop a great relationship with all family members and visitors. It's tricky to predict how needy they will be. All kitties are unique, so every cat parent is in for some surprises.

Ragdoll Norwegian Forest mix intelligence

Wegies and Ragdolls are highly intelligent, so expect nothing less from their combo. These kitties should be easy to train and teach fun tricks and commands.

Because they are so clever, these kitties enjoy interacting with their parents and thrive when living in a stimulating environment. Besides spending about half an hour twice a day training and playing with your Wegie Ragdoll mix, you should also ensure they are adequately stimulated when you are not around. Here is how to do that:

  • Get a cat tree
  • Install perches, so your feline friend can climb and jump
  • Provide interactive toys and balls they can chase 
  • Prepare food puzzles

Norwegian Forest Ragdoll mix activity levels

A Wegie Ragdoll mix is usually energetic and playful.

Source: David Yu

Norwegian Forests are an active breed. They mature slowly and stay kittenlike until they are about five years old, so they remain energetic and playful for a long time. These felines need exercise and can benefit from going outside (under supervision, naturally).

Ragdolls are lazier. They like a sedentary lifestyle and, unlike Wegies, enjoy being held. This doesn't mean you should let them sleep and lie around all day. They need physical activity to be healthy and fit.

The Norwegian Forest Ragdoll mix should be energetic and playful, but they are unlikely to be hyperactive.

Norwegian Forest cat and Ragdoll health concerns

Norwegian Forests and Ragdolls are typically healthy, but they are prone to a few health problems, as presented in the table below:

Ragdolls

Norwegian Forests

  • Obesity
  • Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
  • Kidney disease
  • Urinary tract blockage
  • Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
  • Hip dysplasia
  • Glycogen storage disease IV

Purebred felines tend to be sensitive and suffer from hereditary diseases more often. Mixed breeds are typically sturdier and more resilient. As a Norwegian Forest Ragdoll mix comes from two healthy breeds and has the advantage of a larger gene pool, there shouldn’t be many vet visits.

The Ragdoll set of genes can make your kitty susceptible to weight gain due to their sedentary lifestyle. Encourage them to be active, feed them a suitable diet, and be careful about the portions. If you let your kitty become obese, it can contribute to heart disease, which both breeds are susceptible to, and cause many other lifestyle-related health niggles, including:

Wegie Ragdoll mix lifespan

Ragdolls typically live from 12 to 15 years, while Norwegian Forests have an average life expectancy of 14 to 16 years. A mix of the two usually lives longer than their parent cat breeds.

A Wegie Ragdoll mix can live from 14 to 18 years, but if well looked after, these kitties can surpass this age.

Caring for a Ragdoll Norwegian Forest cat mix

Ragdolls and Norwegian Forests are relatively easy to take care of, so a mix of the two is pretty low-maintenance as well.

Source: maeninblaeck

All felines need proper care to be healthy and happy. To keep your Norwegian Forest Ragdoll mix in top shape, focus on their:

  1. Health
  2. Grooming 
  3. Diet

Monitoring your kitty's health

Although your Norwegian Forest Ragdoll mix will probably be healthy and resilient, regular vet visits are mandatory. Thanks to their genetic makeup, they could be prone to severe health conditions that can be fatal if not diagnosed early.

Many hereditary conditions, such as polycystic kidney disease and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, can be successfully managed with proper medication and diet if caught before the symptoms appear.

Two checkups a year are advised to monitor your kitty's health. If you notice anything unusual in their appearance or behaviour, take your furry friend to the vet immediately.

Grooming your Ragdoll Norwegian Forest cat

I’m a bit behind my grooming schedule.

Source: 5267040

Grooming is an integral part of sharing life with a furry companion. Setting a regular routine for your Ragdoll Norwegian Forest mix will:

  • Keep your kitty's fur as pretty as ever
  • Allow you to spot skin problems, lumps, and parasites before they become a significant issue
  • Reduce shedding and hairball frequency (particularly important for long-haired breeds, as hairballs can get stuck and create intestinal obstruction)

The grooming sessions should consist of:

  1. Brushing—Once or twice a week is usually enough to remove loose fur. Ragdolls and Norwegian Forests have relatively low-maintenance coats as they don't mat or tangle much
  2. Teeth cleaning—Gum and teeth problems are common in felines, but regular teeth cleaning can help prevent them. It would be best to do it every day or as frequently as your kitty allows it
  3. Bathing—Unless your kitty gets dirty, there is no need to bathe them more often than every two months
  4. Claw trimming—Cut the tip of your kitty's claws using special cat clippers every two to three weeks

Your feline's diet

The vital part of caring for your feline companion is their diet. Appropriate nutrition will help keep your Wegie Ragdoll mix fit and prevent various health problems, including:

What's the best diet for your Norwegian Forest Ragdoll mix

A high-protein diet is the best option for all felines.

Image (c) Untamed

Your kitty needs a high-protein diet consisting of lean meat and fish and a dash of animal fat. Cat food containing at least 50% of animal protein delivers all the essential amino acids, vitamins, and minerals felines need to be healthy.

The product you pick should also contain up to 20% of animal fat because it will provide your kitty with healthy fatty acids and make the food delicious.

The table below presents the ingredients that should dominate your feline's diet delivering all the necessary micro and macronutrients and food items you can serve in tiny quantities:

The most important ingredient

Treats or taste enhancers

Treats with high fat content:

Carbs that can provide more fibre if necessary:

It would be best to avoid:

  • Dairy—Many felines are allergic to milk (even lactose-free) and dairy products like cheese, yoghurt, or ice cream
  • Eggs—Although not a common allergen, some kitties can have difficulty digesting eggs 
  • Raw meat—Bacterial contamination is too great of a risk when serving raw meat
  • CarbsGrains, vegetables, fruit, and sugar have no place in the feline diet. If you feed them to your kitty, it can lead to obesity and digestive issues because felines lack the enzymes required to digest these ingredients and absorb the necessary nutrients properly
  • Dry food—Cat parents often choose kibble because it's more convenient and affordable than wet food. Unfortunately, it is also heavily processed, contains a lot of carbs and unhealthy additives, and is not hydrating enough. Felines fed predominantly dry food often suffer from weight issues, develop FLUTDs, and have kidney problems

How to keep your Norwegian Forest Ragdoll cat mix healthy with Untamed

Enough with the photoshoot already!

Image (c) Untamed

Untamed is the best choice you can make for your Wegie Ragdoll.

Our dishes are:

  • High in exclusively animal protein, with more than 60% of whole meat and fish and no animal derivatives or other iffy ingredients
  • Vet-designed to have a perfect protein-to-fat ratio, delivering all the essential vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and amino acids (such as taurine and arginine)
  • Suitable for felines of all ages (kittens, adults, and seniors)
  • Allergen-free and suitable for kitties with stomach sensitivities
  • Super tasty, so even fussy felines who have refused wet food before can't resist them

Give Untamed a try and see your Ragdoll Norwegian Forest cat mix thrive!

How to order

Order the healthiest meals for your feline companion online in three simple steps:

  1. Take our Try Now quiz
  2. Choose the products
  3. Place the order

The trial pack will arrive at your doorstep in a day. Your Ragdoll Norwegian Forest cat mix can sample the delicacies, and once they pick their favourites and signal they want to become our regular, we can start sending your monthly supplies of Untamed jellies and gravies.

You will notice fantastic improvements as soon as your kitty switches to the Untamed diet. Here's what our long-term clients report:

  1. Week 1—No mess in the litter tray, easy digestion
  2. Month 2—Nice coat, less shedding, fewer hairballs
  3. Month 4—No mood swings, better muscle tone, healthy eating habits
  4. Long-term—Responsive immune system, natural weight control, better overall health