Norwegian Forest cat

Black, blue / grey-slate, ginger, cream, white, amber. The amber coat colour is unique to this breed and has only appeared recently. It comes in orange, honey and caramel. This colour takes several years to stabilize.

All are possible with the exception of color point.

Long.

All are accepted as long as they match the cat’s coat.

Longer and taller than the average domestic cat, the Skogkatt is robust, with a well-developed muscle and bone structure. Imposing, they are nonetheless elegant. Their long tail forms a well supplied plume. Their heads form an equilateral triangle with an almost straight profile. Their large oblique almond eyes and heart-shaped collar contribute to their soft demeanour. Moreover, the fur of this breed is, without question, its main characteristic. Double, it consists of a woolly and dense undercoat and a smooth, shiny and waterproof coat. Shorter on the shoulders, it goes down and along the flanks. The collar consists of longer fur. A pretty undercoat and hair in the ears and under the legs provide extra protection against the cold. In summer, the fur will adapt to milder temperatures by becoming shorter, even at the collar, and much less dense.

The Norwegian Forest Cat is fond of cuddling, mainly with family. As long as they can have time to themselves.

Very playful, they will chase imaginary prey and ambush their toys. But, what they love most is climbing, everywhere and all the time! It is recommended to install cat trees in the house, and possibly rethink putting any trinkets on shelves ...!

Between moments of madness with toys, this majestic cat is generally very calm.

Very intelligent, the Norwegian Forest Cat watches and learns with ease. This particularly useful characteristic for surviving in nature has clearly stayed with them.

As the Norwegian Forest Cat is very independent, it may seem wary of strangers. Time and patience are the key to winning the heart of this gentle giant.

Autonomous as a hunter and adapted to harshness of the Norwegian environment, they prefer making their own decisions. This is the very description of the perfect cat.

There are as many vocal Norwegians as there are silent ones.

Even if they are placid in nature, these cats will still have intense periods of play with a real need to climb. The presence of cat trees in the house or the ability to go outside will be particularly appreciated.

Norwegian Forest Cats are attracted to large open spaces, they could be drawn by the outdoors.

Generally, Norwegian Forest Cats are able to regulate themselves in their consumption of food. But there are always exceptions, especially if the cat does not have enough distraction and enrichment in its environment.

Norwegian Forest Cats are a generally social breed, but introductions should be made when your cat is as young as possible. Socialising your kitten will also help. 

A respectful first meeting will help. Given their ability to climb, these cats like to be able to escape to a high point and introduce themselves when ready.

Once again, these can be great cats for children. But they must be taught to respect this big cat and give it space from time to time.

These cats can suit elderly people but it is worth remembering that they are heavier than average and cat trees or high places are essential for their happiness.

Whilst the Norwegian Forest cat transitions between winter and summer coats, they shed a lot of hair.

The Norwegian Forest Cat lives for 15 years on average.

Very robust, the cold does not scare this cat. And as temperatures warm up in the spring, they adapt the thickness of their coats.

These cats don’t put on weight too easily as long as they have enough opportunities to climb and move.

• Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy increases the volume of the left ventricle walls of the heart, possibly causing heart failure.
• Dysplasia of the hip is a hereditary defect of the hip joint that can sometimes cause extreme pain, which can be both short or long term.
• Glycogenosis type IV is a genetic disorder specific to Norwegian cat. The disease is fatal at an early age and is incurable. There is a screening test. The only way to stop the disease is to control the breeding stock and reproduce only the healthy carriers.

Norwegian Forest cats can only be bred with cats of their own breed.

The first domestic cats from Scandinavia may have arrived with the Vikings, returning from their travels in the Middle East. The early Crusades also reportedly introduced long-haired cats from Europe, Turkey and Russia. Among these felines, those that were best adapted to the harsh and cold conditions of life were able to reproduce. This isolation led to a level of inbreeding. As a result, distinctive characteristics emerged and became the norm. The appearance of the Skogkatt thus remained very stable for several centuries, without mankind having anything to do with it.

It was not until the beginning of the 20th century that breeders decided to control and especially to protect the breed. Indeed, the growing presence of short-haired cats in Norway threatens, at this time, the traditional semi-wild long-haired cat that populates the country. After World War II, the most beautiful examples were gathered, sometimes even taken directly from the forests by these breeders who maintained the Norwegian Forest Cat and even granted it a pedigree. Today, Norway considers the Skogkatt as the country's official cat breed.