Norwegian Forest Cat

The Norwegian Forest cat is a very old natural breed, that has a long, bushy, nearly waterproof coat appropriate to the brisk climate of Norway. These cats may have served as mousers on the ships of Vikings and are present in the fables and folklore of Norway from as early as 1000 A.D. This cat is a very large and powerfully built animal, with notoriously strong paws and claws, making it one of the finest climbers in the cat kingdom. They are tough, somewhat wild-looking, outdoorsy types with excellent hunting skills and survival instincts but their exceedingly long history of domestication makes them people loving and sweet-natured pets. This breed is particularly fond of children and is rugged enough to deal with some potentially clumsy handling without getting hurt feelings.

Norwegian Forest Cat Breed Standards

Head Shape: The head is shaped like an equilateral triangle with all sides of equal length as measured from the outside of the base of the ear to the outside base of the other ear and following down the side of the head to the chin and back up to the ear. The neck is short and heavily muscled.  The nose is straight from the brow ridge to the tip without a break in the line. Ears are medium to large, rounded at the tip, broad at the base, set as much on the side of the head as on top of the head – alert, with the cup of the ears pointing a bit sideways. Ears are heavily tufted with lynx tips being very desirable. The eyes should be large, almond shaped, well-opened, expressive; set at a slight angle with the outer corner higher than the inner corner. Eyes are green, gold, or copper in color. White cats may be odd-eyed or blue eyed. 

Body and Tail: Body is large, medium to long with lots of bone, a broad, deep chest and flank and wide, powerful shoulders. Legs are medium in length with good bone. The hind legs are longer than the front. The paws are medium to large with a slight toe-out. There should be heavy tufting between the toes.  Five toes in front, four in back.  The tail is long and bushy, equal to the body in length.

Coat: Full double coat, thick and woolly under and long, flowing and full outer. A neck ruff, toe feathering, ear furnishings and ear tufts are all desirable.

Pattern: Tiger and tabby colors are most common but many colors are acceptable. Points, in particular, are not desirable.

Overall Appearance: This should be a massive, imposing, and muscular cat with a long, powerful torso, and good bone.  A gorgeous, wild looking cat with an athletic, powerful presence and a playful, dog-like personality.

Is A Norwegian Forest Cat Right For You?

The Norwegian Forest cat has been recognized by the Cat Fanciers Association (CFA), the world's largest cat organization, since 1993. It is a relatively uncommon pure-bred or "pedigreed" domestic cat breed. They come in any color or pattern and the beautiful coat is long and silky with a dense undercoat. This natural breed does not require as much grooming as some other long-haired breeds, but there is heavy shedding of the undercoat, usually in the spring, that regular brushing will help control. This is a very people-oriented cat, that is very interactive. Definitely not a couch-potato, they are playful and dog-like, and can be great cats for kids. These are long, large and powerful cats that have few breed-related health issues, other than a tendency to some kidney and heart disorders. Keep these issues in mind when interviewing breeders. Because it is active and can be demanding of human interaction the Norwegian Forest cat can be a fine family pet that does particularly well with considerate children, forms strong bonds, and likes to be included in everything.

Source: Cat Breeds Enxyclopedia