It’s easy to wonder just how agile the gigantic, well-muscled Norwegian Forest Cat can possibly be. After all, we think of giants as being slow, bumbling creatures that can barely even run, let alone jump.
But the Norwegian Forest Cat is an incredibly adept and powerful jumper, just one capability among many of their athletic abilities.
How High Can Norwegian Forest Cats Jump?
How Norwegian Forest Cats Can Jump So High
As one of the biggest domestic cat breeds in the world, it can seem puzzling how they are able to launch their hefty bodies so high up in the air. But beneath all that hair is a powerful, well-muscled body capable of projecting the Norwegian Forest Cat up to great heights. In fact, a lot of their weight comes from that muscle, which serves them well in their jumping pursuits.
Norwegian Forest Cat Size
Norwegian Forest Cats grow up to an average of 8 to 20 lbs in weight, with males tending towards the upper end of that scale and the females coming in a bit smaller. They also tend to not have very long limbs, but instead are more on the stocky side. This doesn’t seem to affect their jumping ability, though, as their strong hind legs can send them to the furthest reaches of the cat tree.
Norwegian Forest Cats Jumping Downward
Not only are Norwegian Forest Cats masters at the high jump, but they also have a high amount of control at jumping down from high places. Jumping down from a tree or surface that’s 7 or 8 feet tall poses no problem for them as they’re legs act like springs to lessen the impact of their fall.
Why Norwegian Forest Cats Are Excellent Jumpers
Another explanation might be that Norwegian Forest Cats that could jump high up into trees had an advantage in escaping predators in the forests of Scandinavia where they’re originally from.
How to Keep a Norwegian Forest Cat From Jumping Where They’re Not Supposed To
Norwegian Forest Cats will jump wherever they can get to as they’re naturally playful, active and curious cats. Chances are there are a few places in your home you’d prefer to not have your Norwegian Forest Cat jump to, and there are a few tricks you can employ to keep her from doing so.
Keep Food Off Counters
Norwegian Forest Cats love a tasty treat, whether you want them to have it or not! Keeping cheese, butter and crumbs off the counter will help remove that place from their mind as a great place to land.
Give An Alternative
Norwegian Forest Cats will always try to jump somewhere, so you might as well give them a place where they’re allowed to jump. Providing a cat tree or dedicating certain shelves to your Norwegian Forest Cat will make them less interested in places they’re not supposed to go. You can also keep things interesting by rearranging their tree, toys and boxes every so often.
Use Double Sided Tape
You can really discourage your Norwegian Forest Cat from jumping to certain places by placing double-sided tape on surfaces they’re not supposed to go. Cats really don’t like the feeling of tape on their paws, and tape is fairly easy to remove from surfaces later.
