Norwegian Forest Cat Prices in 2024: Purchase Cost, Vet Bills, & Other Costs

The Norwegian Forest Cat, or a Wegie, is a friendly cat that produces high-pitched chirping noises. While the breed isn’t rare in the United States, they are still not common to find. So, if you’re interested in a Wegie, you may want to know about Norwegian Forest Cat prices.

Owning a Norwegian Forest Cat requires more than just the upfront cost for the breed. Most pets require additional one-time costs for essentials, health checkups, and vaccinations. As a new potential owner, having a budget to properly care for your cat is important.

Don’t worry if you’re a first-time pet owner or don’t know what a Wegie would need. Below, we’ve created a guide to help you set up a budget to fit your cat’s needs. 

How Much Does a Norwegian Forest Kitten Cost?

When buying a Wegie kitten, several factors impact the price. Those factors include the parent cat’s lineage and pedigree. On the other hand, the kitten’s age and location may also play into the total cost of the pet. Generally, you can expect a Wegie kitten to cost anywhere from $100 to $1,500, depending on the breeder.

Adopted Norwegian Forest Cat Price

Pet adoption is the most affordable option for adopting a Wegie. Checking your local rescue or the Norwegian Forest Cat Rescue for them. Most of the time, the available Wegie is no longer a kitten. If you’re looking for a kitten, you will have better luck going through a breeder.

Depending on the shelter, adoption prices can range from $50 to $300. Sometimes you can find a cat for free, especially if it’s elderly. However, adoptions mostly require a rehoming fee.

Norwegian Forest Cat Breeder Prices

Finding a Wegie breeder inside the United States isn’t hard. The Norwegian Forest Cat is not a rare breed; most kittens go for anywhere between $400 and $1,500. However, if you’re getting a kitten from a champion or imported parent cat, you can expect to pay a premium price. High-pedigree Norwegian Forest Cats cost up to $2,000.

Other Factors That Influence the Purchase Price of a Norwegian Forest Cat

Unlike other cat breeds, a Norwegian Forest cat has a few factors that can drastically impact the price. The first is if it comes from a champion bloodline, while the second is the coat color. Other factors include age and registration, which we will explain down below.

Champion Bloodline & Lineage

Norwegian Forest cats can be used for show, so you may find breeders asking for a higher price. This is common, as show cats are often priced much higher than a standard kitten. A champion bloodline will often range anywhere from $2,000 to $4,000. 

Coat Color

The color of the kitten’s coat will also impact the price of the cat. Norwegian Forest cats come in various colors: white, black, ginger, blue, red, cream, silver, and gold. The rarest coat colors are ginger, white, and black. You can expect to pay an average of $1,500.

Registration

Breeders who register their cats may ask for a higher price due to the proof that they have purebred cats. The organizations responsible for providing registries include the American Cat Association (ACA) and the Cat Fanciers’ Association (CFA). The price may also increase when a kitten’s parent or grandparent cats can be traced a few ancestors back.

Age

Kittens that are younger than 16 weeks will be the most expensive. After 16 weeks, they tend to go down in price. The average you can find is around $800 or less. If they are elderly, there will likely be a rehoming or adoption fee under $500.

Cost of Vaccination and Other Medical Expenses for a Norwegian Forest Cat

Out of all expenses, medical will be the biggest, followed by items necessary around the home. For medical, you must factor in the costs of vaccines and initial vet visits. There are three mandatory vaccines for cats:

• Feline Panleukopenia virus (FVR/FHV-1) 
• Feli8ne Herpesvirus-1 (FCV) 
• Feline Calicivirus Vaccines (FPV) 

Depending on the veterinarian’s office, each shot will cost between $30 to $80. If your cat also needs booster shots, you can expect to add another $35 to $50. The visit to the veterinarian’s office will also cost $50 to $250.

Add medication for skin conditions, neutering and spaying, and a microchip. You’re looking at spending around $350 to $500. 

For the Norwegian Forest cat, you should also expect to set aside money for hereditary health issues. The breed is prone to hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, hip dysplasia, and glycogen storage disease. 

Cost of Food and Supplies for Norwegian Forest Cats

New Wegie owners will need to purchase a handful of items needed to raise the kitten. Some of these are one-time payments, while others are recurring payments that are monthly or annually. Below, we’ll provide a quick rundown of everything you need.

One-Time Purchases

One-time purchases include water and food bowls, a cat bed, nail clippers, a brush, a carrier, and more. You may want to upgrade or replace these items as your kitten ages. Still, generally, they last a decent time before they need replacing. Optional one-time purchases include scratching posts, perches, and gates.

Recurring Purchases

On the other hand, you will also need to budget for monthly or yearly purchases. Some of these include cat food, litter, treats, and toys. Other monthly payments may include toys, monthly subscription boxes, and catnip.

How Much Does It Cost to Insure a Norwegian Forest Cat

Norwegian Forest Cat insurance will vary depending on the cat’s age, location, and preexisting health conditions. For example, you can expect a Norwegian Forest Cat located in California to cost anywhere between $23 to $43. If the cat is older or has preexisting health conditions, you can expect to add another $10 to $20 monthly.

Is Health Insurance Necessary For Norwegian Forest Cats?

You will want to get health insurance for a Norwegian Forest Cat because they have hereditary health issues. Even if you get your kitten young and have a record of the parent’s health conditions, it’s still possible for your cat to develop a health condition.

Common hereditary conditions include hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and hip dysplasia. Treatments for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and initial screening can cost $1,000 to $1,500 with additional costs. Hip dysplasia can cost $3,500 to $7,000 per hip. As you can see, these costs can add up if you pay out-of-pocket.

Where Do You Get Pet Insurance?

Aside from asking your local vet about what plans they accept, you can also look online. Sites such as Geigo and Progressive give cat insurance estimates. These quotes aren’t the final price, as they will be determined by the cat’s breed, age, and preexisting medical conditions.

Total Norwegian Forest Cat Prices

The first major cost of getting a Norwegian Forest kitten is the purchase price, which ranges from $400 to $2,000. After that, you have to account for medical expenses and treatments, which can cost an average of $430 but can go up to almost $9,000 with extra hereditary medical treatment. 

One-time purchases should be $120 on the low end and $500 on the high end. For recurring monthly costs, you can expect an average of $110 for food, litter, and a few treats. In total, the Norwegian Forest Cat prices will total around $1,060 to $3,040.

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