Breed: Norwegian Forest Cat

Sue Martin 2004

Norwegian Forest Cat Breeders

Body type: Substantial

History:

WNCA National Standards (2004)

The breed originated as a natural outdoor working cat in Norwegian farms. The appearance of this cat should reflect his natural heritage.

 

The Norwegian Forest Cat or the Norsk Skogkatt (cat of the forest) is a cat that has evolved in the harsh winters of Norway.

It is thought that the ancestors of the Norwegian Forest Cats might have been Turkish longhairs, they came with soldiers who were guards to the Byzantine Emperors and this was about 1000AD.

Their history is intertwined with myths and legends of Norway and even travelled the old world with the Vikings.

Breed characteristics and personality traits:

WNCA National Standards (2004)

Large but elegant semi-longhaired cat with an alert expression. The most important feature being type and coat quality. Maturing slowly, full development of the cat can take up to four years and kittens can take up to six months to develop guard hairs.

Characteristics

·        Semi-longhaired cat with a coat that is “weatherproof” that is a woolly undercoat to keep warm with and covered by long guard hairs to repel the rain and snow.

 

·        Medium to large in size and is a well-proportioned cat that is firm and muscular.

 

·        It is a slow maturing breed, attaining full growth at approximately five years of age.

 

Traits:

An intelligent, independent cat that is alert to its surroundings.

 

 

Body Features

Head

WNCA National Standards (2004)

Head, neck and nose: 20 points

Head: Triangular, where all sides are of equal length. A long, straight profile without a break in line and a strong chin.

 

Faults: Round or square head. Pinched whisker break.

 

Neck: Short and heavily muscled.

 

Nose: Straight from the brow ridge to the tip of the nose without a break in the line.

Faults: Severe break in nose.

 

Ears: 10 points

High and open, with good width at the base; the width between the ears being less than the width of one ear, high set so that the lines of the ears follow the line of the head down to the chin. With Lynx-like tufts and long hair out of the ears.

Faults: Small ears.

 

The head of the NFC is described as triangular and with all sides equally long. The triangle is measured from the outer base of the ears to the chin and between the outer base of the ears the outer base of the ears.  

                              

When looking at the profile it starts a bit behind the ears and stops at the chin, it should be a straight profile without a break and a strong chin (not undershot or shallow).

 

Head and forehead are sloped back, a centre flat spot over the brow creates a change in plane but still keeping the straight line

  

Proportion is important. Heads should not be too small for the body or too short in overall dimensions. The height of the head is also important there should be good height not giving the appearance of a squat head.

 

The most important feature of the ears is: in proportion to the head. If the ears do not have good width at the base, it will alter the shape of the head causing a narrow head and the triangular shape will be compromised.

  • The ears follow the line of the head down to the chin.

  • Lynx-like tufts and long hair out of the ears

  • Broad at base  

  • Open not cupped

  • No pinched muzzle                                                                 

 

Adapted from Norwegian Forest Cat Fanciers’ Association

http://www.forestcats.net/galley.html

Eye shape and colour

                                                                               

WNCA National Standards (2004)

Eye shape and colour: 5 points

 

Shape: Large, well opened, slightly oblique and expressive.

 

Colour: All colours allowed, slightly oblique and expressive.

   

  • Almond shape, slanted towards the outer ear

  • Alert/expressive look

Body

 

WNCA National Standards (2004)

Body, legs, and paws: 25 points

 

Body: Big and strongly built, long and muscular with solid bone structure.

Faults: too small or finely built cats.

 

 

Legs: Long legs. Hind legs longer than front legs.

Faults: short legs.

 

Paws: Round feet with tufts between toes.

 

                                                  

The boning of the NFC, male and female is substantial not fine, heavy boned and muscular.

The above could take up to five years, as the NFC is a slow maturing breed.

 

 

 

  • Body length is defined as a medium to long rectangular body and this can be only be determined by leg length. To get a well-balanced look both features must be in proportion.
  • Legs should be in proportion to body length, neither too lanky nor squat with hind legs higher than fore legs.

  • Note: coat length could mask the leg length

  • Paws, large round and well tufted.

 

WNCA National Standards (2004)

Tail: 10 points

 

Long and bushy, broader at the base, desirable length is equal to the body, guard hairs desirable.

Faults: Short tail.

 

  • The tail is bushy and long regardless of the season.

  • To determine length, gently hold it to the side of the cat to see if it reaches to the shoulder. 

Coat: texture and length, colour and pattern

WNCA National Standards (2004)

Coat, colour and pattern: 25 points

 

Coat: Semi-long distinctive coat and a smooth, water repellent overcoat that covers the woolly undercoat. This glossy hair covers the back and sides. A fully coated cat has a shirtfront, a full ruff and knickerbockers. During summer months the coat is considerably shorter.

 

Colour: Every colour and pattern is allowable with exception of those showing hybridization in the colours (chocolate, lavender/lilac), Himalayan pattern or those combinations with white.

 

Pattern: Varieties are divided into Agouti, Agouti and white, Non-agouti and white. 

 

The NFC has a coat that is neither short nor long, it is a semi-longhaired coat – uneven: shorter on the shoulders and progressively longer over the length of the body. A ruff: short at the back of the neck, sides longer and a full frontal bib.

The texture: a dense, woolly undercoat that is smooth and water repellent; upper coat that is long, coarse and glossy covering the back and sides.

As the NFC is based on a natural cat all colours and patterns are allowed except the ones indicated in the breed standard.

Breed weaknesses (physical and genetic):

A few NFC in North America carry a recessive gene for the disease Glycogen Storage disease IV-GSDIV; with good breeding practices and screening (blood test) can detect the presence of this disease.

Retinal dysplasia (eye defect) also has been reported.

Breed Profile information obtained from the following sources:

Article:

R. Finn, L. Krall, P. Andrews, L. Clair and L. Stebner. TICA NF Breed Committee for Judges and Breeders. March 20002 – Revision 3.0

 

Books:

 Stephens, Gloria (2000). The Legacy of the Cat (2nd edition). San Francisco: Chronicle Books.

Web Sites:

Norwegian forest Cat – the skogkatt

http://home.powertech.no/skogkatt/NFOfaq.html

CFA Breed Standard: Norwegian forest Cat.

http://www.cfainc.org/breeds/standards/norwegian.html

Norwegian Forest Cat Breeders