Norwegian Forest Cat
Photo from Norskwood Norwegian Forest Cats
Norwegian Forest Cat History
Norwegian Forest Cats (Skogkatt in Norway) are well known for their bright emerald green eyes, long fluffy coats and adoring nature but where did the cats originate from and how did they develop their long wild coats? The answer is... nobody knows for sure but there are many myths and folk tales that explore the journey of this unique cat breed. The most likely story is that the Forest Cats descended from domestic cats and arrived in Norway from Europe with the Romans, it is also thought they travelled with the Vikings to help the rodent problem on board the ships. Their long coats developed over the centuries to withstand the cold nights and harsh weather conditions in Norway where they evolved into cats with fantastic survival instincts with water-resistant fur.
Despite the feral appearance of Norwegian Forest Cats, they did not descend directly from any wild ancestors, they are descendants of the domestic cat and are one of the most people-oriented cat breeds around. The first attempts to get the breed recognised began in the early 1930's but it wasn't until 1938 that the first Norwegian Forest Cat attended a show in Oslo. The Norwegian Forest Cat Club (NFCC) was founded in the United Kingdom in 1987 and the breed is recognised by the GCCF (The Governing Council of the Cat Fancy) - the largest cat registration body in the UK. The first US registry to award the Forest Cat with championship status was TICA in 1984, followed by CFA in 1993 then ACA in 1995.
Norwegian Forest Cat Appearance
The most noticeable aspect of the Norwegian Forest Cats double coat is its change in length from warmer to colder months. During the spring the cats shed their winter coats as the warmth is not needed. They then shed their summer coat in autumn. During these shedding stages the cats will require more grooming, otherwise the coat will end up all over your sofa and beds – not a great look! The coat itself consists of a warm under-layer covered in a long, soft coat. Forest Cats can be found in all sorts of colours and markings from pure white to tabby brown to jet black.
Forest Cats have strong muscular bodies, large rounded tipped ears and appear powerful yet elegant. They have large almond shaped eyes in a shade of emerald green or gold, it is common for white Forest Cats to have blue or odd colour eyes. Their tails are long and bushy and wider at the base.
Norwegian Forest Cat Character and Temperament
Norwegian forest cats love to explore, if you have any bookcases or shelves they will be up on top of them seeing if anything is going on that they should know about! They also love to play not just as kittens but as adults as well, they will look to their human companions for games and love it when you chase them around the garden or up the stairs. Their firm muscular bodies often make them appear strong and independent but they are also sweet affectionate cats that love humans and interacting with them. Most Norwegian Forest Cats will happily sit on your lap and cuddle you until you move, they are very family orientated and great with children and other domestic animals.
Forest Cats do not require as much grooming as other long haired breeds and they tend to be happy and healthy most of the time. Affectionate, intelligent and playful are the best words to describe Norwegian Forest Cats – a joy to be around.
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Norwegian Forest Cat Lifespan
9 - 15 years
Average Litter Size
4 kittens
Common Ailments
Norwegian Forest Cats have no particular health deficiencies and often live to a good age. However like all cat breeds, they should be taken to the vet to have their teeth checked and have yearly liver and kidney checks from about 8 years on.
Norwegian Forest Cat Recognition
User Comments
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these are kinda cute and kinda U.G.L.Y.! No offence
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I am looking to re-home/adopt a Norwegian Forest or Siberian cat. Age does not matter and I am also happy to pay a small fee for an unwanted cat. Would anyone be able to point me in to the right direction or have contacts I could look in to? Any help would be greatly appreciated. Please email me on wiffster@sky.com. Thank you.
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I have just found out that mine are NFCs as well! The vet has said that they are at least half that breed. They are mad about climbing trees! Now i know why! They are brothers i got from a rehoming centre, one is alot more 'obvious' than the other. They are only a year and a bit old and i hear that they don't stop growing till they are four years old?! Oh my god, they will be massive!
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Our female NFC, Kitcha, adopted us in late 1994. She has been abandoned by a neighbour that moved away, and survived a winter on her own. She is extremely intelligent and communicative, and is even capable of rudimentary speach. She calls our son Adio, "ayo", and mama is "maw-maw". While watching pigeons accross the street one day she was making the strangest of sounds, - until I realized that she was perfectly mimicing the murmuring sound that pigeons make! She survived an attack by 2 coyotes a year ago. She is in perfect health and despite an age of at least 16 years she can still leap to the top of a 2 meter wooden fence. (In her youth she would jump a 2 meter gap from a tree through an open second floor window whenever we forgot to let her in. She needed no litter box, as she would ask to be let out whenever nature called. We bathed her on only 2 occasions in 14 years, as she grooms herself very well. She brings offerings of birds several times every summer. A unique idiosyncracy is the way she holds her tail straight up when walking about. This NFC has been the perfect pet.
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My lovely half breed NFC came into my life when my son who had taken her from an animal shelter moved house and was unable to keep her. I thought she was a domestic longhair until my vet said "You know she is at least half NF. Jet black and totally adorable, she is the best present my son ever gave me. She is now 11 years old and rules the house with a velvet paw. What a wonderful breed
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found my NFC at the animal shelter ! i had no idea what kind of cat he was , i bought him because i felt sorry for him ( ten yrs old , in a cage with kittens all around him) . I am in love he sleeps with me , cuddles on the sofa loves to play , loves to "hang out", he is very loud - really likes to tell me how much he misses me , or needs food or needs petting or .... whatever it is he tells you . he is an amazing cat and by the look of him VS the "show " cats i think he is pure bred.
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Our beautiful NFC turned up as a stray some years ago. Never had a cat before, but I have fallen completely in love with him. He is intelligent, the most affectionate thing, and loves to play and sit on us. We will always have a NFC in our lives from now on. He is 12 years and we hope he lives to at least 20years! What a wonderful breed.
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We have two half breed NWF cats - we got them as kittens from someone who wanted to give them away and thought they were just plain cross-bred moggies. Now I remember their mum was very fluffy, with an amazing tail and now I know that they are at least half NWF because their tails are massive, they have tufts between their toes, big pointy ears and in their first winter we thought they were getting obese, until the spring when it disappeared again ! They have both grown an amazing ruff in time for Christmas. They are so loyal, affectionate and playful they are like little dogs; they still play catch the mouse like kittens, even now they are 2 years old. The female is really talkative, and she just loves being around us, whereas the male likes to be out, but when he's in he just has to cuddle up or play catch the mouse. Basically, they are the best breed of cat by a mile - intelligent, pretty, affectionate and always young at heart. We're just so pleased our plain moggied turned out to be half NWF.
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My mum's moggy is very beautiful and his parents were 2 short haired run of the mill moggies. It is mad, He has the longest bushiest tail, tuffs of fur between his toes, the most amazing coat. We have looked at pictures of NFC and he looks and has all thier features. How can this happen. His mum and dad are house cats that have never been with anyone else. One of his grandparents were a show cat, but not sure what breed. Is it possible he could be a throw back to this cat. He has the same temprament as NFC too. He is always on a book shelf looking down at us. Playful affectionate, very intelligent and often bringing in insects etc to play with. I must post a picture when I get a mo.
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I'm afraid I don't have a NFC but my current cat is very nice. However when she dies I think I'll try a Norwegian forest cat.
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Never used to be a cat person but now I have my very own NFC, I'm hooked, they are absolutely the most loving creatures I've ever known.
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I have just found out that my cats are actually half norwegian forest and originally thought that they were just plain moggys but now I have seen the pictures i can tell they look alike minus the huge tails and bushiness! They are so affectionate and friendly and I feel so proud to own them both they are my little treasures.
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Norwegian Forest Cats are so amazing. They are beautiful, gentle, intelligent, silky soft, and very playful. They take about five years to fully mature into an adult. Their silky coats are softer than a bunny's fur. They are loving, loyal, and affectionate, and tend to bond to an owner and follow them about like a puppy. For a long hair breed, their coats are low maintenance and only need combing every week or two. In the winters their coat grows super dense and long, and will grow a longer mane of hair around their necks. These cats are so wonderful and beautiful, no home or heart is complete without one.
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Norwegians are without a doubt the best cats in the world
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I love the Norwegian Forest Cat, I used to have 3 of them and they were all so friendly and beautiful. Especially Lily, she was my favourite, she used to sit on my lap all night long. My brother was jealous cos she sat with me and not him!! they are such wonderful pets to have, if you get the chance to own one I would definitely recommend it :)
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