THE NORWEGIAN FOREST CAT - BREED HISTORY.

THE NORWEGIAN FOREST CAT

The majority of cat breeds have arisen as a result of cat breeder’s ideas of the “perfect” cat and breeders have for generations picked out suitable breeding cats to fulfil this objective. The Norwegian Forest Cat differs from most breeds on this crucial and very important point. The Forest Cat is not created as the ideal picture of the perfect cat. So the inevitable questions, which spring to mind, are: “Where does the Forest Cat come from?” “What does it look like?” and “What sort of cat is it?”

THE HISTORY OF THE NORWEGIAN FOREST CAT

In the mission to find the ancestry of the forest cat, one comes across many folklore stories, some more fantastic than others.

The oldest folk tales about Forest Cats claim that the household pet cats of the Norwegian Vikings were in fact Forest Cats. The Vikings took their cats with them on their sea journeys and maybe, this is the explanation for the large numbers of half-wild, semi-long haired cats, which were found in France, in particular Normandy.

In 1599, a Danish born priest living in Norway, called Peter Friis, documented the Norwegian Lynx into three classes, the wolf lynx, the fox lynx and the cat lynx. Some years later it became clear that all the Norwegian Lynx ere the same family and class. Peter Friis’ description of the “cat lynx” was, a large animal with high legs, big ruffs and manes, large ears with ear tufts, big bushy tails and a great liking for water with the ability to catch fish in the lakes and the streams, is it therefore, most likely that the “cat lynx” was in fact, a Norwegian Forest Cat.

In a Folk Tale book written by Asbjensen and Moe, the Forest Cat appears several times, being called “Huldrekat” which translated means “Fairy Cat”, later in the book the cats are described as wood or forest cats, cats with very long bushy tails.

The Norwegian Forest Cat is a breed that has evolved naturally, and the precise origins will never be known. The most likely biological reason for the occurrence of these unique cats seems to be, that their forebears were probably Southern European shorthaired cats, which spread to Norway, other Scandinavian Countries and parts of Europe in pre-historic times. Later the Crusaders brought longhaired cats back from the Middle East. These two types of cats then mated indiscriminately and through natural selection, only the individuals with thick fur and other adaptations were able to survive the different and difficult climatic conditions of the harsh Scandinavian environment.

The specific adaptations can best be described thus:
1. A waterproof top - coat, insulating against cold and wet.
2. Long legs to keep the tummy fur out of the rain and wet snow.
2. Robust, muscular and healthy with strong legs and claws to enable them to climb.
4. Intelligence, courage, awareness and agility to allow survival in the most hostile of climatic environments.
ESTABLISHMENT OF THE NORWEGIAN FOREST CAT AS A PEDIGREE BREED

Pedigree Cat breeders in Norway first started showing an interest in the semi-wild Norwegian Forest Cat as early as the 1930’s. However, mainly due to the 1939/45 War, it was not until the beginning of the 1970’s that a new start was made and this time things really did begin to happen in earnest. It had become apparent that if the breed was to be saved from extinction a controlled breeding program must commence. The environment had changed and this was to the detriment of the Forest Cat, agriculture and modern development were spreading into the Norwegian waste lands and consequently increased the survival rate of the short haired house cats — maybe it does not seem very probable that the short haired cat should be able to replace the semi-long haired cat, but it is a fact, that mating between shorthaired and long/semi-longhaired cats, lead to a short haired offspring — the result, if a planned breeding program had not taken place, would have been the end of the Norwegian Forest Cat.

The idea of gaining recognition for the Norwegian Forest Cat in Scandinavian Countries had been there for some time, but it was not until Carl Frederick Nordane (Freddy) took up the cause that serious attempts were made. Freddy and other members of the Breed Advisory Committee went to see two kittens of approximately six weeks of age, one red and the other brown tabby/white. These kittens were living with a family near Oslo, called Nyland, the Nylands, together with Freddy were to become the driving force behind the recognition of the Forest Cat. However, at this time it was the brown tabby/white kitten, which caught the interest of the visiting group — the kittens’ name was TRULS — he was destined to become the Forest Cat to set the standard for all Norwegian Forest Cats. The Breed Advisory Committee took Truls as the breed ideal and set up a standard of points — the very same standard that is used today.

In 1976 the Norwegian Forest Cat was granted Provisional recognition by Fife. This meant that now it had been recognised as a pedigree cat, it could be exhibited at shows, although not eligible for any titles, such as Champion etc. In 1977, Fife, the International Cat Organisation, at it’s General Assembly in Paris, recognised the breed as an International Pedigree Breed, thus meaning, that in Scandinavia and the whole of Europe, with the exception of the United Kingdom, the NFC could now be shown at International Shows and gain titles — Champion, International Champion, European Champion etc.

It was a wonderful occasion — Norway had it’s own National breed of cat, made all the more special because of the way recognition had been obtained. Norway’s quarantine regulations meant that no cat could re-enter Norway without spending four months in quarantine, thus making it impossible to take actual cats to Fife, so recognition had been granted on the basis of photographs and descriptions.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NORWEGIAN FOREST CAT
The theory that Norwegian Forest Cat evolved as a result of natural selection due to the difficult weather conditions is based upon the special features found in the NFC. Some of these features are common to other breeds, but no other breed has the unique make-up, which allows it to survive in the Norwegian wilderness. Perhaps the most remarkable of these features is the NFC’s dramatic change of coat. During the cool autumn days a thick woolen undercoat develops, the colder and longer the winter, the thicker the undercoat becomes at the same time, knickers, mane and ruff grow. Although the winter coat is heavy it does not require a great deal of grooming or attention, as it does not matt or felt. When spring arrives almost all the undercoat is lost within a few days, leaving the long guard hairs lying close to the body, at a distance it is only the long bushy tail that indicates that it is a semi-long hair cat. The guard hairs are long and glistening, mostly on the back, down the sides and on the top - side of the tail. These guard hairs act completely like a rain - coat, causing the rain and moisture to run off leaving the woolly undercoat dry. The Norwegian Forest Cat is large and strong, giving the overall impression of a muscular, elegant and alert animal, males and females should have a broad chest, extra large paws which when spread out, long toes with strongly hooked claws can be seen. The legs are strong and forceful, back legs being higher than the front ones, this explaining the combination of running, extremely long jumps and leaps that are so characteristic of the Norwegian Forest Cat. The body, especially that of the male is very powerful, with strong muscles particularly those in the thighs and the chest. A Norwegian Forest Cat is not fully grown nor developed until at least 3 years of age, when it should weigh, males, 14 — 17 lbs and females, 8 — 10 lbs. A properly proportioned Forest Cat’s head gives the impression of a wild, awake, aware cat.

THE NORWEGIAN FOREST CAT EXPRESSION - “THE LOOK”

Ever since the Norwegian Forest Cat was recognised as a separate pedigree breed, there have been discussions about the correct NFC look — this is determined by a number of factors:
The shape of the head
The profile
The size and set of both ears and eyes
A strong chin
The head seen from the front is a triangle, from the side a long straight profile with a strong chin should be seen. The eyes are large and obliquely set. The ears must be large, set high on the head and placed so that the outer edge follows the triangular line from the chin past the cheeks. The inner edges of the ears have long hairs all the way along and ideally the tips of the ears should have long, high lynx like tufts.

TEMPERAMENT, PERSONALITY & CHARACTER OF THE
NORWEGIAN FOREST CAT
The Forest Cat is very courageous, fearless and strongly nerved. It does not normally become nervous or restless. It also takes to all kinds of change with amazing ease, quickly settling into new, unaccustomed surroundings and conditions. The NFC is intelligent and inventive. It is also a very lively, aware strong cat. However, it will be equally at home in a small flat or a large house with a garden. It is advisable, if the cat is to be kept in a flat to provide climbing apparatus to satisfy the natural need for exercise. The Forest Cat loves other breeds, dogs and children and although it will attach itself to one member of the family slightly more than the others, especially in times of trouble, it is nevertheless a family cat, friendly and interested in all members of the household. The Forest Cat’s well developed intelligence and its energetic lively behaviour makes demands upon its owner. It loves to learn through play, will easily learn to walk on a harness, fetch, carry & much more. As long as a Forest Cat has something to occupy its mind and is able to use its extra strong muscles, it will reward you by being a happy, beautiful and exceptionally interesting friend.

SUMMARY
The Norwegian Forest in Great Britain is ever increasing in popularity and can be seen, albeit in fairly small numbers at most cat shows throughout the Country. All colours are available with the exception of the “man made” colours, i.e. chocolate, lilac and the Siamese points.

In conclusion, the Norwegian Forest Cat is a beautiful, intelligent playful ingenious cat with a coat that needs very little grooming adapting well to living within the confines of a family home. The Forest Cat looks like a cat, it is healthy and uncomplicated, a large muscular elegant cat full of mischief and exceptional loving. In fact: The Perfect Pet.

Copyright. Eileen M Hancock, “Kyrrekatt” 5 College Court, Uffculme, Devon, EX15 3EQ