The Norwegian Forest cats also know as Skogkatt are originally from Norway as the name suggests, their mentioned in folklore, believed to be the family pet of Vikings. Referred to in folklore as fairy cats. Only the cats with the thickest and most waterproof coats survived the cold winters of Norway and natural selection took place until a breed programme began.

This cat breed were thought of a normal house cats (not pedigree) until 1930′s when they were shown in cat shows in Germany but the world wars meant that interest soon dwindled. In 1977 they were finally accepted as a cat breed by Fédération Internationale Féline. They were first introduced into the united States in 1979, the UK in 1986, but weren’t introduced into Australia or Japan until the 1990′s.

Norwegian forest cats are very fluffy looking, they have a thick double coat which keeps them warm and dry in harsh climates such as Norway. They also have tuft of fur in their ears and between their toes (snow shoes). They have a triangular shaped head with large ears. They eyes are usually green but can be occasionally amber, they are set wide apart and are almond shaped. Their tails are long and bushy and are a similar length to the length of their body. They come in a variety of colours and patterns. They are very big cats with males weighing up to 10 kg but are generally a little smaller than a Maine Coon Cat. Strangely their back legs are longer than their front legs, they are very powerful allowing the cat to jump and climb with ease. They climb down things head first unlike most breeds of cat which go bottom first. This gives the impression of them running on a flat surface while climbing down. They are strong and muscular cats, features which helped them hunt in their harsh environment.

Like Siamese cat, the Norwegian Forest’s are very intelligent and like people, they are especially fond of children so would make good pets for young families. They don’t like to be alone for long periods of time so not a cat if you’re out all day. They’re laid back cats and adapt to other pets well. They are gentle and playful but not really interested in cat toys. They are affectionate and dependable, some will be happy to sit on your lap others will be to busy exploring their surroundings. They’re not an overly vocal cat like some of the oriental breeds so you should have them constantly meowing down your ear for attention.

Below is a video of a Norwegian Forest Cat giving themselves a bath

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