Norwegian Forest Cat

2023 Author: Molly Page | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-08-25 12:41

The Norwegian forest cat is a breed of long-haired cats native to Northern Europe. It is one of the oldest cat breeds., formed on the basis of local mongrel cats. For a long time in Sweden and Norway there were country cats that hunt in the forests and were left to their own devices. Norwegian cats are distinguished by their strong constitution and large size. But, despite this, they have a gentle character and good manners. Norwegian forest cats are sociable, quick-witted and very agile. The ideal home for these cats will be a house with a backyard, where they can freely climb trees. Cases of aggression among representatives of the breed are extremely rare. Throughout their adult life, Norwegian Forest cats remain highly active and playful.

Weight: females - 4-6 kg, males - 5-9.5 kg.

Height: 40-45 cm.

Length: 100 to 130 cm (from tip of nose to tail).

The cost (price) of a kitten: pet class is usually in the range 10,000-20,000 rubles, kittens breed-class cost from 35,000 to 60,000 rubles, at the exhibition of cats (show class) price ranges from 60,000 to 90,000 (or more) rubles. In the US, the price for medium sized Norwegian Forest Cat kittens ranges from $ 500 to $ 900, for show kittens the price starts at $ 1500.

Life expectancy: up to 15-17 years.

Country of origin: Norway.

Breed diseases:hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, polycystic kidney disease, type IV glycogenosis, hip dysplasia, retinal dysplasia, pyruvate kinase deficiency.

The breed is recognized by felinological associations: CFA, FIFe, TICA, ACF, ACFA / CAA, CCA-AFC, LOOF, WCF.

Buying a Norwegian Forest Cat kitten Norwegian

Forest Cat: Feeding

Nicknames for the Norwegian

Forest Cat Norwegian Forest Cat: Care for Hair, Ears, Teeth, Eyes and Claws

Keeping a Norwegian Forest Cat

Character and Temperament of a Norwegian Forest Cat

Health of a Norwegian Forest Cat

Breed Standards Norwegian Forest Cat by version FIFe, WCF, CFA

History of the breed

The Norwegian Forest Cat is one of the oldest cat breeds. For a long time in Sweden and Norway there were country cats, hunting in the forests, on their own. Most likely, these cats (long-haired and short-haired) were brought to Scandinavia on the Viking ships that plowed the seas of Europe and Asia Minor from the 9th to the 12th century. Norman pirates were afraid of the plague (it was spread by rats), so they took cats on ships from the shores of the Black Sea. Planted on arrival in Scandinavia, these cats gradually adapted to the Norwegian climate: their fur became thicker, and an undercoat appeared. According to another version, in the 16th century, Angora cats were brought from Byzantium to Norway by Scandinavian warriors, which became the progenitors of the breed.

For centuries, Norwegian forest cats lived in forests and legends, occasionally visiting their bipedal neighbors, until in the 19th century, Norwegian farmers began to tame them. The colors of cats varied depending on the landscape within which they lived. So, in the forests of the eastern and central parts of Scandinavia, tiger and marble cats prevailed. Black, gray, and two-colored ran along the rocky coasts, and red and tortoiseshells were found mainly in the south of the peninsula (Starostina, 1995).

There is a legend that the Scandinavian goddess of beauty and fertility Freya traveled in a chariot of six giant cats. Another myth tells that the mocking god Loki - in a dispute with his father Thor - "who is stronger" - turned into a cat, so heavy that Thor, despite all his might, could not raise him. The third myth tells of a fabulous cat capable of climbing and descending steep cliffs.

Targeted breeding of the Norwegian Forest Cat began in the 1930s when a breeding program was established. The first club was organized in 1938. And in the same year, a cat of this breed was presented for the first time at an exhibition held in Oslo. For the first time, the cat that participated in the exhibition was evaluated by an expert from Denmark - Knud Hansen, who named him the National Cat of Norway. But World War II, which began soon after, prevented the breed from spreading and the breed was temporarily forgotten.

Only in 1963, the Norwegian National Pedigree Cat Association (NRR) was formed, which began to deal with this breed, and the program for the conservation of the national breed was resumed only in 1972. Breeding work was carried out only with the best representatives of the breed, which were found in the country. The most important requirement for the breed being recreated was the quality of the fur: it should be silky, shiny and waterproof. Norway's King Olav V (1957-1991) named the Norwegian Forest Cat the country's national cat.

Initially, cats were given the so-called primary pedigrees, according to which in 1976 in Norway there were about 100 registered animals of this breed. In the same year in Wesbaden (Germany) the annual meeting of the FIFe was held, where the Norwegian Forest Cat breed was recognized as experimental. In 1977, a regular meeting of FIFe took place in Paris, where Frederic Nordan and other Norwegian felinologists demonstrated to the audience a large number of photographic materials and pedigrees, indicating the presence of three generations of cats of this breed. This time the breed "Norwegian Forest Cat" was officially recognized as an independent breed. The Norwegian Forest Cat was introduced to the CFA for registration in 1987 and was awarded champion status in 1993.

The appearance of the Norwegian Forest Cat

The Norwegian Forest Cat is a large to medium sized cat, well built, with a long body and high limbs, strong and agile. Males are much larger than females. The body is elongated, rather massive, flexible. The rib cage (especially in cats) is wide. The deep groin line (between the belly and the thigh) gives the body, viewed from the side, considerable depth. The back and loin are wide and strong.

The head is beautiful triangular in shape, long. The width of the head as a whole is equal to its length. The forehead and nose are flat, the muzzle is well developed. The chin is massive, of medium width, the cheeks are full. The cheekbones are well developed. The mustache sticks out to the sides.

The neck is of medium length or short, with very strongly expressed muscles.

The ears are large, set high, set vertically, the tips of the ears are decorated with tassels (like a lynx), erect, widely spaced. The auricle is slightly turned outward. The outer line of the ear continues the line of the head from the chin.

The eyes are large, slightly almond-shaped, expressive, attentive; set slightly obliquely so that the outer corner of the eye is slightly higher than the inner one. A greenish-gold eye color is preferred, but all tones of gold and green are acceptable. White cats can have copper, blue, and colored eyes. The nose and paw pads are of a color that matches the color of the fur. Agouti cats have a rimmed nose.

The legs are long, powerful, the hind legs are higher than the front ones. The thighs are very muscular. Feet - strong, round with tufts of hair between the toes, armed with sharp long claws.

The tail is long, reaching 3/4 of the length of the body of the cat, light, covered with long hair that hangs down, covering the hind limbs. Males have a longer tail than females and tend to have better hairs.

The coat is long, very dense, smooth, shiny, close to the body. The guard coat is slightly oily, which makes it water-repellent. The undercoat is dense and very fluffy. Forms sideburns on the cheeks, on the back of the body and hind legs - "pants". The pants have no top coat and are covered with long guard hair of the tail. By winter, a “collar” grows around the shoulders and neck, which disappears in the summer. Monochromatic, tortoiseshell and bicolor cats have softer and smoother coats than tabbies.

The color is very diverse, with the exception of colors with point markings on the paws, tail, ears and muzzle, like Siamese and Thai cats or cats of acromelanic colors. Tabbies may have a whitish or white chin, chest and abdomen, and all colors may have small white markings, medallions or a patch on the belly. The tabby pattern should be clear and expressive, typical classic (marble), mackerel, spotted or ticking. Currently, the classification of Norwegian Forest cats includes nine groups. Wild, brindle or tabby colors are popular in Norway. With a change in climate, the color of the cat may change somewhat; with the changing seasons, the color tone varies slightly.

Norwegian Forest Cat Health

Norwegian forest cats are quite healthy. Most cats of this breed live up to 14-16 years old without problems.

There are practically no hereditary diseases in the breed, but nevertheless they occur in some animals: hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (a deadly disease); predisposition to polycystic kidney disease; type IV glycogenosis (a fatal disease that disrupts glucose metabolism); dysplasia of the hip joints; retinal dysplasia; deficiency of pyruvate kinase.

Norwegian Forest cats are prone to gingivitis and periodontitis, so regular brushing of teeth and examination of the gums is required throughout the pet's life. Recent studies have shown that cats of this breed have a higher risk of developing diabetes.

Since Norwegians love to eat, their weight needs to be controlled. Especially in animals over 6 years old.

Norwegian forest cat kittens, photo photography

Breeding Norwegian Forest Cats

This breed usually does not have problems in breeding. The birthing process is very easy, and cats are caring mothers and good educators. Kittens are born strong and healthy. There are usually 3-4 kittens in a litter. While teaching kittens, the cat talks to them. Listening to such conversations for two to three months during the day and half of the night, as well as waking up because a flock of Norwegian cats ran over you first in one direction, then in the other direction is not at all easy.

An adult coat first appears in kittens at the age of 3 to 5 months.

It should be remembered that the Norwegian Forest cat is a slow-growing cat, reaching its full physical development only by four to five years.