The Norwegian Forest Cat
The Norwegian Forest Cat, known in his country as Norsk Skogkatt is an ancient breed. His origins are deeply inside Scandinavian myths and legends: goddess Freya, the god of fertility in the old Scandinavian religion, was mentioned to drive a gold chariot dragged by two big gray cats. Also Thor, god of thunder, in a feat with his brother Loki, was put through a force prove by lift the paw of a big cat. Legends talk also about Vikings, who used to carry cats on their ships to protect against mice.
The first race club, Norsk Skogkattring, was born in Norwegian in 1975, even if the Norwegian Forest cat breeding program started in the thirties of the twentieth century, to preserve the breed against extinction and select the best subjects for reproduction. The work was stopped by the Second World War but restarted with lot of energy in the mid-century, until FIFé recognized the first Norwegia
n Forest Cat, Pan’s Truls (in pictures) on which, in 1977, was defined the breed standard. In Norway this event was remembered with a special stamp.
Norwegian Forest Cat today
Besides the big body and the wild-look, the Norwegian Forest Cat is a sweet and familiar cat: is a life-companion cuddly and tender that will follow his/her human friends all around the house with the unmistakable “meow”, showing his tenderness in lot of occasion.
Loves the comfort of the domestic life, even if the environment where he lives must be equipped with games “to his measurement” to allow him to give vent to his big energy. He is a gamer at every age, loves to run over little balls and fabric mice and a strong scratching post will be his favourite place for scratching.
Extremely adaptable, lives both in flat and in house with garden, assuming that the safety (above all of terraces and balconies) is ensured.
It’s enough to brush him once a week to take care of the coat, particulary during winter and moult period because, due to his undcoat, it does not tend to knot. Avoid repeated washes, because they could damage the undercoat.
The Norwegian Forest cat does not have particolar health or diet problem: the best food is high quality food, dry and wet, taking care about milk and rice, because is some case they can cause diarrhea.
WCF Standard
Body: Medium to large sized cat, long strong body with solid bone structure; long and sturdy legs, hind legs longer than front legs; broad round paws with heavy tufting between toes; very long and bushy tail, at least as long as the body.
Head: in the shape of an equilateral triangle; long, straight profile; strong chin.
Ears: very large, wide at the base and set high on the head, the line of the head should follow the outer lower edge of the ear straight down along the cheek. With lynx-like tufts and long hair out of the ears.
Eyes: Large, open, slightly oval; eye colour to be uniform and harmonizing with the coat colour.
Coat: Semi-long; the woolly undercoat is covered by long, glossy, firm and water-repellent guard hair. The overcoat covers the back, flanks and the upper side of the tail completely. The underside of body and back side of hind legs have only undercoat. A long ruff, a triangular shaped beard hanging down the cheeks and breeches on the hind legs make the picture complete.
Colour Varieties: Chocolate and cinnamon and the according diluted colours (lilac and fawn) are not accepted in any pattern combinations (bi-colour, tri-colour, tabby). Also, the c s -factor is not accepted. Any other colour is accepted. Any amount of white is allowed.
Faults: cat too small or of a thin body structure; round or square head, profile with a stop; small ears, too low on the head or too close to each other; short legs, thin; short tail; dry coat, knotty, or too silky
WCF Scale of points
Type: 25 points
Head: 20 points
Eyes: 5 points
Ears: 10 points
Tail: 10 points
Colour and pattern: 5 points
Coat texture: 20 points
Condition: 5 points
