HISTORY
The real ancestors of 'the viking cat' Norwegian Forest Cat are
unknown. It is thought that the vikings brought semilong
haired cats of Angora type to Norway from their trips to
Europe. And those cats mated with the local short haired
domestic cats. As times passed the long-hair-gene came more
and more common in the cat population because of the severe
and harsh Norwegian climate. The thick and wollen coat that
kept the cats dry and warm passed on to the next generations
and so was Norwegian Forest Cat born as we know it today.
Norwegian Forest cat was very common sight in the Norwegian
country side. It was a good mouser and was therefore
recieving lots of respect of the farmers. But it wasn't until the
1930's when some cat breeders in Norway found an interest in
the race. It had already started to disappear from the
landscape by crossing back with the European short hair cats.
For the first time Norwegian Forest Cat was shown in 1938 in a
cat show in Oslo. Many people got interested in the race then
but the Second World War broke out the same year putting
the resurrection and breeding of these cats aside for decades
to come. It wasn't until the late 1960's when the breeders
started to take a notice to this breed again.
In 1977 the Norwegian Forest Cat was recognised by FIFé and
the race got its standard. The cat the standard was written
after was Pans Truls.
The first Norwegian Forest Cat came to Finland in 1979 and
the first litter was born two years later in 1981.
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DESCRIPTION
Norwegian Forest Cat is a big and strong cat. It is high on legs
and has a long body. The hindlegs are higher. It has a long and
bushy tail that should reach at least to the shoulders but the
longer the better.
The head should form a triangle which sides are equally long.
The ears should be placed so that they follow the lines of the
triangle and are often tipped with lynx tuffs. The profile is
straight and long. There shouldn't be any stop on it. The eyes
are large and oval and are set lightly oblique. All colours of the
eyes are accepted.
The semilong coat consists of wollen under coat and long
water resistant upper coat. The cat has longer coat around its
neck and on the chest and also 'knickerbockers' at the back of
the hindlegs. Norwegian Forest Cat loses all its hair once a
year and only thing at the time separating it from the short
haired ones are the knickerbockers and the bushy tail. All the
colours of the furr are aloud except for pointed patterns and
chocolate and lilac.
The 'Weggie' reaches its full size around the age of 3-4 years.
A grown up male can weight around 5-8 kilos and a grown up
female 3-5 kilos. Kastrated cats can weight more.
Norwegian Forest Cat is very social and playful cat. It wants
to be where the action is and most likely at the centre of the
action. Whether it means playing under your morning
magazine, making bisquits or sleeping on all over your exam
books. It's very cleaver and knows how to get around with
people.
In a short period of time Weggie has turned into a citycat. It's
happy living inside when having things to play with and climb
on. It's also easy to teach Weggie to walk on a leach and
after learning it your cat loves to take you out for a walk. Also
a catrun outside or a netted balcony are safe ways to let your
cat to have a little fresh air.
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STANDARD
Adopted by FIFé GA 29/05/99, valid from 01/01/00
| General |
Size |
Large |
| Head |
Shape |
Triangular, where all sides are equally long; with good height when
seen in profile; forehead slightly rounded; long, straight profile without
break in line (stop).
|
| Chin |
Firm |
| Ears |
Shape |
Large, with good width at the base; pointed tips; with lynx-like tufts and long hair
out of the ears.
|
| Placement |
High and open, so that the outer lines of the ears follow the line of the head
down to the chin.
|
| Eyes |
Shape |
Large and oval, well opened, set slightly oblique.
|
| Expression |
Alert expression |
| Colour |
All colours permitted, regardless of coat colour.
|
| Body |
Structure |
Long, strongly built; solid bone structure.
|
| Legs |
Paws |
Strong, high on legs, hind legs higher than the front legs.
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Large, round, in proportion to the legs.
|
| Tail |
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Long and bushy, should reach at least to the shoulderblades, but preferably to the neck.
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| Coat |
Structure |
Semi long. The woolly undercoat is covered by a water repellant uppercoat which
consists of long, coarse and glossy hair covering the back and the sides. A fully
coated cat has a shirtfront, a full frill and knickerbockers.
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| Colour |
All colours are permitted, including all colours with white; except pointed
patterns and chocolate and lilac, cinnamon and fawn. Any amount of white is allowed,
i.e. a white blaze, white locket, white chest, white on the belly, white on
the paws, etc.
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| Faults |
General |
Too small and finely built cats.
|
| Head |
Round or square head; profile with a break (stop).
|
| Ears |
Small ears |
| Set too widely apart.
|
| Set too close together. |
| Legs |
Short legs. |
| Thin legs. |
| Tail |
Short tail. |
| Coat |
Dry coat; knotted with lumps.
|
| Too silky. |
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SCALE OF POINTS
| Total |
100 points |
| Head |
General shape, nose, profile, jaw and teeth, chin
|
20 |
| Ears |
Shape, size and placement.
|
10 |
| Eyes |
Shape, expression |
5 |
| Body |
Shape, size, bone sTRucture, legs, shape of paws.
|
25 |
| Tail |
Lenght and shape |
10 |
| Coat |
Quality and texture, length.
|
25 |
| Condition |
|
5 |
| Remarks |
Coat is evaluated only on texture and quality.
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Very slow maturing of this breed should be taken into account.
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Mature males may have brader heads than females.
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Length of coat and density of undecoat vary with the season.
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Kittens can take up to six months of age to develop guardhairs.
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