The Norwegian Forest Cat... looking at it, it certainly doesn't seem like your typical house cat, does it? With its wild bearing and that cool, determined expression so reminiscent of the great predatory felines, you will be surprised to discover what a cheerful and affectionate character it hides. Let's explore it together by tracing the history, habits and characteristics of the Norwegian cat.

History of the Norwegian Forest Cat

The history of the Norwegian cat goes back a very long time, and is intertwined with that of the Vikings, who kept them in their homes and loaded them onto their ships to hunt rats. The first verified historical references date back to 1559, when a Danish priest, Peter Clausson Friis, divided lynxes into three groups: wolf-lynxes, fox-lynxes and cat-lynxes; the latter, according to some images, appear to have been the ancestors of the Norwegian Forest Cat.

The Norwegian cat, after almost completely disappearing during the First World War, managed to survive thanks to crossbreeding with domestic cats, which saved the breed, although it slightly altered its appearance, making it a little gentler. Shortly before the Second World War, the Norwegian cat took part in its first cat show in Oslo, meeting with great success, but the first hint of a breed standard would not arrive until 1972. Official recognition by the FIFe would have to wait until 1975, the year in which the Norsk Skogkattring, the Norwegian Forest Cat club, was founded.

Norwegian Forest Cat breed standard

There are undoubtedly two remarkable features of the Norwegian Forest Cat: its size and its coat. As far as size is concerned, we can safely say that this is a large-sized cat; an adult male weighs around 8 kg, while a female is closer to 5 kg. The coat is semi-long, glossy and water-repellent, much longer around the neck and tail; all colours are accepted except colourpoint, chocolate, lilac and fawn. The undercoat is thick and woolly, clearly designed to protect it from the cold of its country of origin. The head is a perfect equilateral triangle, continued by the large, upright ears; the eyes are large and slightly oblique, and their colour can range from green to gold.

The build is very powerful, with a solid, broad chest that lends stability to the strong, sturdy legs. The paws are large and round, with tufts of fur between the webbed toes. The cat's tail is very full and long, so much so that in some individuals it can reach the neck when pulled back. The Norwegian Forest Cat has such a robust constitution that it very rarely needs medical attention; even when it falls ill, its immune system usually does such an excellent job that medical intervention is seldom required. The diet of the Norwegian Forest Cat should be varied and balanced, but in general it is not difficult to satisfy; with the exception of rice, which it appears not to enjoy at all.

Character of the Norwegian Forest Cat

Contrary to what its appearance might suggest, the Norwegian Forest Cat is a great playful spirit; it loves interacting with its owner, and it is the cat itself who chooses its favourite person within the family that hosts it. In general, it is sociable with everyone, happily playing with children, other cats and even dogs. It is very content living in an apartment, as long as it has a good sturdy scratching post that can withstand the assaults of its powerful paws. It also loves spending time outdoors and following its hunting instincts. It is an intelligent cat, calm and sociable, dislikes being left alone and rarely causes any damage around the home. It learns to follow commands but never submits entirely — it is a predator and makes this clear by asserting its character, though it never reacts aggressively towards its owner.

The Norwegian cat hates being spoken to in a domineering or aggressive tone of voice; it has a very strong and untameable character. In short, the Norwegian Forest Cat is truly wonderful company, but only on its own terms. A fun fact about the Norwegian cat breed is that it loves playing with water — yes, really — so if you want to make it happy, leave a small paddling pool at its disposal.

Norwegian cat breeding

The Norwegian Forest Cat kitten is one of the most beautiful things you can ever see; a little ball of slightly ruffled fur that rolls endlessly around the house, tireless and inexhaustible. Norwegian cat kittens need cat toys right from the start to channel their boundless energy. When the kitten is finally exhausted — and only then — it will come to its owner looking for cuddles. It is vitally important not to spoil it too much from a young age; being a natural dominant, you risk losing control over it. The Norwegian Forest Cat is very well suited to lively, large families, and it is best to bring it into one while it is still young, so that it grows up with what it will consider, in every sense, its own family.