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History

This breed wasn’t considered a true breed until 1930, then the selection program started in the '70’s.

The origins of the Norwegian Forest Cat, started up in Norway, in a country made of forests, huge lakes, impetuous streams and icy rivers with mountain tops full of snow.

A country, rich of legends, where imagination and dreams are embraced with reality, and it is here, in Norway, that the Norwegian Forest Cat was born, the breed is among one of the most ancient.

The history of the Norwegian Forest Cat is richly tied up in the legends of the Vikings. The Vikings narrate, that they used to keep these forest cats indoors that lived in the woods nearby and which they used to take them on their ships, during their various journeys, using them as mice hunters.

Some Norwegian legends narrate that Freya, the goddess of love and of fertility, wandered in the world, searching for her consort Odur on a wagon which was hauled by two big cats with long hair, and also that Thor, the god of thunder, was submitted to a test of strength that consisted of lifting a big cat. The first historical quotations, start in 1559 when a priest, naturalist, Danish Peter Clausson Friis, resident in Norway, divided the Norwegian lynxes in three classes: the lynx-wolf, the lynx-fox and the lynx-cat. This last category, and its morphological characteristics described dimensions, legs, collar and ears, are what more near to what today is known, as the Norwegian Forest Cats.

The Norwegian Forest Cat has developed in the feline world, unique characteristics. With time, the selective breeding has exalted only the natural morphological characteristics of this cat that has given back to the breed, its original identity. The selection, the long body, the tail and its head, have well differentiated it from other breeds such as the Maine Coon and Angora, in which often confusion has been made.

In the 30’s, due to the urbanization of its environment, this breed risked extinction, fortunately, in December 1975, a group of passionate breeders got together and founded the Norsk Skogkattring (The Norwegian Forest Cat Club), working for the recovery for the breed, and in 1976 was officially recognized by the FIFe and subsequently also by other international associations. In Norway, this breed is now today recognized as a national breed and has the name of “Norsk Skaukatt”.

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“how can you not be spellbound by the Norwegian Forest Cat, by its beauty, proud and at the same time it’s irresistibility with it’s sweet and wild look”

Morphology & Cares

The Norwegian Forest Cat, different from other cats, has a magnificent and unique expression of strength and calm.

LOOK’S

The Norwegian Forest Cat belongs to the semi long haired Scandinavian breed.  

Due to natural selection of the centuries, the breed has a given us a strong cat. His morphology is a result of the environment in which he has lived and developed - the rigorous climate of Norway.

First it’s fur; A wooly undercoat base…Sweater-wise... and then a waterproof, oily topcoat that incredibly will dry when wet in less than 15 minutes.

To defend it from the cold, it has fur locks on the ears, a thick fur collar that winds all around his neck and shoulders and the fluffy culottes of fur on its legs.

The male has a beautiful rich fur collar of great dimensions like a lions main, the female has a less dense fur collar.

Their body structure, allowed them to survive the great cold.

Thus, the Norwegian tolerates low temperatures and can live outside all year round without any risk. On the contrary, the heat from the radiators does not help the development of thick fur. The breed needs at least 3 years to develop completely and has a Life length for up to 16 years.

The general aspect is as follows :

ASPECT :	Ransom, great – long body and strongly built
HEAD	Triangular, (from the beginning of the external side of the ears to the point of the chin form a triangle) and a dead straight profile without a break (stop), in other words a flat forehead and a strong chin. The chin should be strong and not receding.
EARS	The ears accentuate are triangular shape by prolonging on both sides of the face, which should be straight and not pinched. They should be tall, broad at the base, quite open and are covered with plenty of fur inside and especially on the tips, where lynx tufts are very much appreciated.
EYES	The form must be great and oval, well open, slightly slanting, with a careful and vigilant, alert expression. All colours are admitted, any colour the mantle is.
BODY	Strong, but not fat. Long, and of a solid muscular and dense construction.
LEGS	It’s stands high with a substantial bone structure, the hind legs being slightly higher than the front ones.
PAWS	Great and round in proportion to the legs
TAIL	Long and thick, refolded it should reach the shoulder blades, but better if it reaches the neck. The tail, thick at the base, and is very bushy
MANTEL	Semi long, the woolly under fur is covered by a smooth and water-repellent fur. It has a double layer: the undercoat is very thick and woolly; the overcoat is smooth and waterproof. Water has difficulty penetrating inside its fur, which becomes an ideal insulator. This shiny fur covers the back and the sides. A cat in its full form has a great thick collar and abundant “culottes” shorts. All the colours are admitted, inclusive those with white.

 

CARE: The fur of the Norwegian is indeed exceptional : it must be brushed and combed with care especially during the molt period in order to avoid that the mantle felt mats itself and that the cat, during its cleaning phases, does not swallow fur. During the rest of the year, the particular weaving of the hair, makes everything easier.

The Norwegian Forest Cat, is a cat that has a slow development which is completed approximately when it’s 3 years old, naturally if it doesn't have any particular health problems.

FEEDING: Being a good hunter and a good fisher, it is able to provide itself with food. Its preferred foods are meat and fish, but also dry food is necessary to integrate his diet. As it is a viral cat and practically always on the move, it needs a various and well balanced diet. Always leave fresh water to drink.

REPRODUCTION:  The female completes its sexual development around about 10 months of age The male can reproduce form the age of 10-12 months.
Pregnancy and littering lasts approx. 60/65 days.
Litters are generally composed by 4-5 kittens. Pregnancy and littering, as per all animals that have not suffered from strong selective pressures from man, are completed without any problems.
The females are very loving mothers and are very skilled in educating the kittens to cleaning and hunting.
The weaning, even though it being a delicate moment of the life of the kittens, it done during the first 30-35 days, this usually happens without any problems, due to their nature.

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Character

The Norwegian Forest Cat is not like any other feline race. Despite it’s wild cat appearance, they are " Kind hearted " big lovely cats.
Norwegian Forest Cats are very companionable, intelligent, sweet natured, sociable and affectionate. This is why they are nick named "dog-cat".

As we all know a wild cat has to be brave, intelligent, sly and very quick if he wants to survive in the forest .The Norwegian Forest Cat is in this manner. The females are excellent hunters and you can easily notice this when they are kept indoors, their favorite preys are flies, mosquito’s and similar insects, all of this provides them with strength and determination when necessary.
They do not become nervous and accept any change with amazing serenity and can adapt very easily to new situations. They are vivacious, vigilant and very strong cats.

The Norwegian Forest Cat loves to live in wide open air and feel free, but can also quickly adapt itself to live in a family, just as long as you leave it with a few games to play and this will make it happy. If you have a garden, you will realize, that it loves to climb up onto the tallest tree of the garden and run down it, head first.

It learns by playing and unbelievably also learns very quickly to walk with a leash. This cat loves to get onto the highest furniture one can have at home, in order to observe what happens below, so that it can be able to dominate it’s scenery.

In spite of being reserve, they are always ready for a cuddle, to sleep with you, to chatter (it adores expressing itself), and to follow you about, being present in daily family life.

The Norwegian Forest Cat is very tolerant with other family pets and also with children, as long as they are treated with respect and not taken for toys. As you know like all animals, its character is formed by the way it is raised: a kitten which is use to children’s company and that of other pets will surely make it more sociable than a cat grown with limited human contact or other pets.

 

The Norwegian Forest Cat is a wonderful feline, that fills your heart and gives a lot in return.