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Norwegian Forest Cat
	A genuine Norwegian Forest Cat in Norway
Alternative names	Skaukatt; Norsk Skogkatt
Origin	Norway
Common nicknames	Weggie
Breed standard
FIFe	standard
CFA	standard
TICA	standard
AACE	standard
ACFA	standard
ACF	standard
CCA	standard

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 skogkatter or more properly, the Norsk skogkatt (literally, Norwegian Forest Cat).

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 'Skaukatts' 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 including the United States. The first international association to accept the breed was FIFe, in 1977. They are rumored to be the early ancestors of the Maine Coon and the long-haired Manx.

[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 coarse outer layer and dense underlay. They are very large cats with adult males weighing 6 to 10 kg (13 to 22 lb), while females are approximately half that size. 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 brush at least once a week.

[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.		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
		A Norwegian Forest Cat climbing down from a tree, characteristically head first.
Adult male Norwegian Forest Cat (foreground, left) teaching 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