The Norwegian Forest Cat

Originally written April 1987 by Jane Barletta

(Updated April 2024 by Kathryn Beason and Pam Ware)

The Norwegian Forest Cat is one of Mother Nature’s finest achievements. Their silky soft flowing coats are almost waterproof and virtually tangle free, a great advantage to people who don’t have the time or patience for the extensive daily grooming associated with many other long-haired cats.

Over thousands of years these large, extremely people-oriented cats evolved in the frozen forests of Norway and environments. To stay warm, they developed dense double coats; the underlining is crinkled in the manner of lambswool to form air pockets and the semi-waterproof outer guard hairs are surprisingly long and silky. Their inner ears sport long sweeping curls of hairs to deflect the wind and snow. Their tails are as bushy as a fox’s. A full, fluffy mane, several inches long in mature cats, forms a picture frame to highlight their large green, gold or blue eyes. Six-inch long whiskers are not uncommon. A bit of practical whimsey by Mother Nature are the jaunty lynx tips on each ear top and the built-in snowshoes they sport on all four feet - feathery clumps of fur sprouting from between their toes that allow them to run across snow without sinking in.

Wegies, as they are affectionately known here, almost disappeared before a group of dedicated cat lovers in Norway banded together in the early 1970s to preserve a national treasure. The Skogkatt, as they call them. The rules of the Norske Rasekattklubbers Riksforbund, the Norwegian cat association, required a minimum of four registered generations to ensure the quality of the breed. Some independent cat clubs in Europe accepted any long-haired cat of unknown parentage and allowed the owner to register it; for this reason, members of the Norwegian Forest Cat Fanciers’ Association had only FIFE-approved breeding stock. This approval involved the careful assessment of several generations of cats when a previously unregistered cat was brought before the FIFE board for registration.

The first two registered NFC were brought from Norway into the USA by Sheila Gira Windom of Romulas MI on November 1st 1979. A male named Pan’s Tigris of Mycoon and a female named Mjavo’s Sala Palmer of Mycoon. The third registered cat was brought into the US from Norway by Sue Patrizzi Shaw of New Jersey. Mjavo’s Sangueetah of Zazzara was mated with Pan’s Tigris of Mycoon cattery; two kittens were born 3/21/1979 and were the first surviving kittens born on this continent. This same female, called ‘Yago’ by her many admirers, was featured on the green Purina cat food box.

A common misconception is that Forest Cats are Persians ‘gone wild’. Forest Cats were documented in Norse mythology some four thousand years ago, but Persians were not imported to Europe until the 20th century. Neither are they a ‘wild cat’ that has been tamed. Forest Cats always lived with or near people, according to generations of Scandanacians. Nor is there any absolute proof that they are related to the Maine Coon Cat, although these two breeds do appear similar to the uninitiated eye.

The Maine Coon is a proportionally long-bodied, boxy-muzzled, semi-longhair with very large ears perched high atop a wedge-shaped head. The Maine Coon’s coat is all-weather with a silky texture; the slight undercoat provides body but the coat falls smoothly. Its back is level. The Forest Cat has a moderate length body, high haunches, long hair all over except across the top of the shoulders, a true double coat. They have a straight profile, with the finger extending along its top, and large ears set on the top ‘corners’ of an equilateral triangular face. Because the Forest Cat developed in a semi-Arctic part of the world, its ears, like those of other species from that type of environment, do not sit high or tall on the head; if they did, they would have been frozen. Wegie owners tell how their cats sleep with their heads propped up on something (a pillow, a shoe, etc.) so they don’t miss hearing something interesting or threatening.

 

Their unique chirping voices and calm dispositions make them avid conversationalists; it’s common for them to hold a full-length conversation. They are exceptional family companions as they are gentle and easy to handle. They love children and are not weary of strangers. Their calm disposition has contributed to their popularity in photo advertisements.

Wegies win admiration and an enthusiastic following at every show they attend. Highlighted early achievements are:

1984

• Richard Hotz’s male, Mycoon’s Nuggett, raced to Grand Campion Alter status at the very first show after TICA accepted the breed in August 1984. 
• Mjavo’s Sangueetah of Zazzara, Yago, then became the first TICA Supreme Grand Champion.

1985-1986

• Mary Mulrennan’s Maineline Padraic Cluvane of Irlu (alias ‘Paddy’) overwhelmed the judges and spectators alike on his meteoric rise to stardom as the first Master Grand Champion the first show year (1985-86) of their recognition by CFA.

1986-1987

• Maineline Skadikatt of Norskau achieved TICA 12th top 20 Championship Cat. Breeder Louise Clair / Owner Susan Hall.
• Kelas Merlin Kat achieved 13th top 20 TICA Altered Championship Cat. Breeder/Owner Kathryn Ann Beason.

1993-1994

• During the first year NFCs were accepted for full Championship status Walkuren’s Oskar-Olaf achieved Grand Champion, Best NFC, 21st best cat in North West Region. Owner/Breeder Bob and Linda Thaler

1995-2022

• To be expanded / under CATSTRUCTION

2023-2024

• LA BW SGC Lostwoods Katy acheived TICA International Best Norwegian Forest Cat, Northwest Region's Best All Breed Cat, Best Long Hair Cat and Best Norwegian Forest Cat. Breeder / Owner: Lisa Vasa

Forest Cats come in every color designed by Mother Nature; black/brown, red, blue, silver, amber, white and include diluted colors such as cream and blue. This includes all colors with white. In addition, combinations of colors such as black, red and white as well as solid colors are accepted. They may show classic, mackerel, spotted or ticked tabby patterns or no pattern at all. Everything but plaid, it seems. You will not find NFCs with pointed patterns.

Besides being the designated cat of Norway, you will find the NFC in every country on every continent. From near extinction to FIFE acceptance in 1977 to its arrival in this country in 1979. This ages-old breed has found its way to a secure niche in the cat world, a lovely example of what results from the selection of the best and the survival of the fittest; a true masterpiece designed not by man nor by woman, but by Mother Nature herself.