Norwegian Forest Cat
| Norwegian Forest Cat | |
|---|---|
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| A genuine Norwegian Forest Cat in Norway | |
| Alternative names | Skogkatt / Skaukatt Norsk Skogkatt / Norsk Skaukatt |
| Origin | Norway |
| Common nicknames | Wegie |
| Breed standard | |
| FIFe | standard |
| CFA | standard |
| TICA | standard |
| AACE | standard |
| ACFA | standard |
| ACF | standard |
| CCA | standard |
| Cat (Felis catus) | |
The Norwegian Forest Cat is a breed of domestic cat native to Northern Europe, and adapted to a very cold climate. In Norway they are known as the skogkatt/skaukatt which means forest cat ("skog" and 'skau" being alternate words for "forest" in different Norwegian dialects), or more formally as the Norsk Skogkatt (Norwegian Forest Cat). A common name for them is weegie.
The breed is very old, and occurred as a natural adaptation to the cold climate of the region, but it was not regarded as anything other than a standard house-cat until the late 1930s, when a small number of 'Skaukatten' were shown in Germany and received very favorably by the judges. World War II brought an abrupt end to the fledgling Norwegian show cat industry, and the breed was forgotten until the 1970s. The cats are now being bred and shown in several countries. The first international association to accept the breed was FIFe, in 1977.
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[edit] Description
Norwegian Forest Cats have a thick fluffy double-layered coat, long tufts of fur in ears and between toes, and a long bushy tail to protect them against the cold. Their coat is essentially waterproof due to its water repellent outer layer and dense underlay. They are very large cats with adult males weighing 6 to 10 kg (13 to 22 lb), while females may be smaller. Their hind legs are longer than their front legs. They are very intelligent, playful cats that enjoy human company but can get upset if left alone for a long period of time. The nickname of "Wegie" (pronounced to rhyme with 'squeegee') began in the United States and is a shortened version of the word Norwegian.
[edit] Behavior
Like Maine Coons, Norwegian Forest Cats are an intelligent, robust and playful breed. They like the outdoors, are well suited to cold conditions and are great hunters. Despite their great affection for the outdoors, they also enjoy the company of humans and other pets and will sometimes go looking for company if left alone by their owners. They are not easily stressed and are quite patient, which makes them great for a family with children. They appreciate high vantage points and enjoy climbing trees, or, if they are indoor cats, climbing on appliances, bookshelves and other elevated surfaces in the home. Norwegian Forest Cats are very good family pets and do not need too much maintenance, only a comb at least once a week, without which the coat can become knotted and tangled. They are extremely loyal and strong vocalizers.
[edit] Countries introduced
- Australia: First introduced in the late 1990s
- Japan: First introduced in the early 1990s
- United States: First introduced in 1979
- United Kingdom: First introduced in 1986
- South Africa: First recognised in 1994
[edit] Varieties
 18 month old, male black Norwegian Forest Cat from Los Angeles, California, USA. Winter coat. |
.jpg) Norwegian Forest cat in snow, red tabby, named S* Reedbank Kadrilj, also called "Spock". |
 15-month-old neutered male Norwegian Forest Cat from Germany |
 6-month-old Norwegian Forest cat. |
 A tuxedo-coloured Norwegian Forest cat. |
 Two-year-old male tiger & white Norwegian Forest cat. |
 White Norwegian Forest cat. |
 Five-Year-Old Norwegian Forest Cat |
 Eight-year-old Norwegian Forest Cat (farm pet). |
 Grey Norwegian Forest Cat |
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 A Norwegian Forest Cat climbing down from a tree, characteristically head first. |
 Adult male Norwegian Forest Cat (foreground, left) is observed by gray female Maine Coon kitten (background, right) to hunt grasshoppers. |
 Norwegian forest cat enjoying the sunlight |
 A Norwegian forest cat from Sweden |
 Norwegian Forest Cat from Florida, USA |
 19 year old, female calico Norwegian Forest Cat from Colorado, USA |
[edit] See also
- Siberian cat
- Maine coon (this breed is also considered a forest cat)
- Dewey Readmore Books, probably a Norwegian forest cat
[edit] External links
[edit] Clubs
- Norsk Skogkatt Society, UK
- Norwegian Forest Cat Club, UK
- Viking Cat Club, UK
- Cat Fanciers' Association Breed Profile: Norwegian Forest Cat
