A Norwegian friend once joked that Americans are a bit like puppies, so friendly, enthusiastic and eager to please (plus perhaps a few less flattering qualities, but whatever), which made me realize that if I’m a puppy, Norwegians are totally cats!
Admittedly I don’t know so much about cats, but the more I learn about them the more similarities I find they share with Norwegians. I mean, I’m not saying that cats definitely have figured out how to take human form, but if they have they are living in the mountains of Norway.
They’re apprehensive when you first meet them
I always used to think cats were so unfriendly, until someone explained that I can’t just run up to a cat and smother her in kisses and cuddles like a would a dog. This is a lesson I also learned when figuring out how to make friends with Norwegians.
You have to let them get used to you for a while before thrusting friendship on them, but if you give them enough time eventually they’ll be at your house everyday and you’ll have a hard time getting rid of them.
They’ll be really friendly, but then they’ll ignore you
There are a few cats that often walk through my yard, but most of them run away when I try to approach them. But a few weeks ago I was sitting on my porch and one of them joined me, even climbing into my lap for a while. I was so pleased about it and couldn’t wait to tell everyone that I had finally made friends with a cat!
But then a few days later I saw him outside again and he totally ignored me. It was like the day on the porch never happened!
I would have been sad and confused, but in truth it wasn’t anything I hadn’t experienced before.
I can’t tell you how many times I’ll make friends with someone at a party here, where we’ll tell each other how much we love each other and are going to be friends forever, only to see them the next day at the supermarket and it’ll be like the conversation never happened.
They like to forage
Cat owners have told me that their cats often like to go out and kill things and then bring them home as a gift.
I’ve never had a cat, but I do have Norwegian friends who like to bring me random berries or mushrooms they’ve picked, bits of tree bark to make tea with, fish they’ve caught, or even some cuts of meat from a deer they hunted.
They’ll disappear into the wilderness for several days
My friends have a really sweet cat who loves to curl up in my lap. But sometimes when I visit she isn’t there, and my friends tell me that she’s probably gone off into the mountains but should return in a few days.
You’ve probably heard the same thing if you’ve ever tried to do business with Norwegians. Oh, they’re out of reach at the moment as they’ve gone off to a cabin in the mountains without running water or electricity, but they’ll be back in a few days.
They have really good balance
Have you ever watched a cat balance on the back of a chair? Have you ever seen a Norwegian on skis?
Exactly.
They can jump from great heights and not die
I mean, what other explanation can you give for ski jumping? They must be cats.
They like, really love fish
You’ve probably already heard about how Norwegians buy fish oil by the jugful – they seem to think fish oil can cure just about any ailment – but aside from the health benefits Norwegians seem to just really love fish.
Last weekend a few Norwegians slept over at my house after a party, and in the middle of the night when I got up to use the bathroom I found one of them sitting on the kitchen counter eating a tin of mackerel.
Who does that?
Cats. Cats do that.
They’re clever and sneaky
People say that about cats, right?
During World War II the Germans planned to use heavy water produced at a Norwegian fertilizer plant to make an atomic bomb. The Americans wanted to bomb the plant (and all of the town of Rjukan in the process), but the Norwegians instead sent a few Norwegian soldiers on skis to sneak into the plant and blow up the basement, which they successfully did without the loss of any human life.
I feel like that’s how cats would operate during a war as well.
All they really want is to be cosy
Cats are always crawling into warm spaces or curling up somewhere in the hopes of getting cosy, right?
And I’m pretty sure if cats could talk, they would spend most of their time talking about the best ways to get cosy, evaluating how cosy they currently are, or talking about how they plan to get cosy.
And sure enough, that’s pretty much all Norwegians ever talk about.
What do you think?
Nynke says
This is both so funny and so true! LOL 🙂
Kiara Gallop says
Haha! 😂 I have been known to eat tuna straight out of a tin late at night. I must be a cat 😉
Sylvie says
This is hilarious!
OT, but do you think you’d ever publish another income report? The last one you posted was from well over a year ago, and I guess I’m just curious to see how a year’s worth of experience and growth affects one’s earning.
Silvia says
Sorry, just saw this! I have to admit I feel less comfortable sharing an income report now that my blog is my sole income, but I think I’m making around four times as much as I was when I published my last income report, if that helps!
Kelsey says
That was hilarious! Brilliant idea for a post, I’m cracking up right now haha
June says
Hahaha, love this post!
Tosh Bene says
LMAO So much YES to this. I am literally giggling at my desk!! “It’s like the day on the porch never happened!” hahahaha I’m still laughing. I’m also a dog person, so I can totally relate, that and I’m like deadly allergic to cats! LOL :’)
Stacy says
I find this interesting and funny at the same time! Lol I’m hoping to get to Norway in the next couple years, as I’ve read many articles of how it’s hard to make friends with Norwegians. I found some relatives living there and my excitement seems to be that as of puppy, there’s more like a cat.- Ha!
Silvia says
haha your comment made me laugh out loud! typical Norwegians, we typical puppies
Lena Kosmo says
We are also flexible as hell. For real. I discussed that with some friends; who can do a split? We all could. We are in our 30’s. Trye asking norvegians if they can bend in some odd way and make an article about that 😉
Silvia says
Hahaha you’re completely right – my Norwegian friends are always sitting in the strangest positions and bending in weird ways.
Frédéric Paulussen says
It bothers me how accurate this is!
Kendra Leigh says
This is a great post! Make me want to live in Norway, honestly. I’m a dog person too, but I love fireplaces, skiing, tons of blankets and pillows on the sofa (even in a Florida summer!), and rustic cabins. AND I even like tinned fish. So, yeah.
Victoria @TheBritishBerliner says
‘Lovely!
So funny, and yet so true!
I can’t tell you much about Norwegians, but we have two adorable cats. One is a human baby in cat form taking up the complete house with all her “stuff”, and the other is a total diva, doing exactly whatever she wants, when she wants.
Apparently, they allow us to look after them which I think we do quite well!
Qvist says
You don’t know just how right you are with these words! 🤣😅😱😻 And that’s coming from a real cat(person)! 🐾
Turid/ Qvist
Sissel says
This really made me purr… 🐈 ☺️
Silvia says
haha 🙂
Arlene Nybakken Chase says
Ah, so enjoyed this! My cousins in Elverum, Norway say I’m more Norwegian then they are! I live in Arizona , born in Chicago. My mama was born to Swedish immigrants and papa was born in Norway. I am more like a puppy than a cat although I love them both. I’m always ready to give hugs and squeezes, I love lutefisk, snow, Norwegian sweaters, trolls, and make krumkaka! Eighty years old and still kickin’ a child at ❤️!
Bjarne J S says
That’s good to hear, (although us younger generations of Norwegians are not so much into kickin’ a child these days).
Silvia says
Aww you sound just like me!
Leland says
Here’s a suggestion: keep your cat indoors. Domesticated and feral cats needlessly kill millions of birds and other small animals each year. They kill not because they are hungry, but so they can bring you a “gift”. Please, keep your cat indoors. Would you let your dog just roam where they please? I didn’t think so.
Martine says
Haha. Thats So funny! Im a norwegian and a catperson (i have 4) but i also have 2 dogs. Exept for the eating fish and meat part, i see myself as a cat. I hate loud noises, i don’t like people i don’t know. and if you’re an ass. I will bite you :p haha. I dont ski much but i love snow. And walking in the dark and in the mountains. I also need to have it very varm and cozy at home :p so yeah. Im a cat 😀
Silvia says
Haha I knew it!
Arthur Osmund Anderson says
I’m an American but all four of my grandparents came from Norway.
I’ve gotten older (72) and without trying I find myself being more “Norwegian” (as you describe it) than American in my behavior. I even enjoy the company of cats and respect their independence.
Thanks for sharing.
Silvia says
Haha I definitely feel myself becoming more Norwegian with age as well.
Meredith says
Ive said the same thing since shortly after moving here! I’ll add that they both love to bask in a sun patch. But now, so do I.
Silvia says
Haha true!
ClicketySnap says
Oh man, I can see myself going into fits of puppy social anxiety if I do get to visit Norway 😛 This was an excellent read and so funny!
Matthew FitzGibbon says
Hello,
Cozy would not be the the term a Norwegian would use. This would be Koz or Kozelig. Americans use emotional descriptors to explain how they feel. Kozelig is more of a state of mind and preparedness to achieve an inner peace and a comfort.
Silvia says
Unfortunately this article is written in English and “kozelig” is not an English word so…