Thorskatt Cattery Presents…The Norwegian Forest Cat THE NATIVE LONGHAIRED CAT OF NORWAY.  IT HAS A THICK, HEAVY, ALL- WEATHER COAT.  A HUGE, BUSHY TAIL AND LARGE APPEALING, ALMOND- SHAPED EYES.  THESE STRONG, STURDY, INTELLIGENT CATS LIKE TO WALK BESIDE YOU LIKE A LOVING DOG. ORIGIN: The Norwegian Forest Cat, or Skogkatt, is a very old breed in Norway; their origin is unknown.  The Norwegians say they have been around forever.  They are not of Persian descent, as Persian cats did not enter Norway until the twentieth century and the Forest Cat dates back much earlier.  It is not a domesticated wild cat; zoologists agree that Scandinavia had no wild cats. In Norway, the early Forest Cat lived outdoors. Norse mythology speaks of a cat so huge that even the god Thor could not lift it from the ground.  The goddess of love and fertility, Freya, had a carriage pulled by two large white cats.  Usually referred to as "The Snow Cats." Forest Cats developed the necessary attributes for survival: a heavy, double coat; Sturdy boning; long hind legs and strong claws for swift, strong running, jumping and climbing, enhancing their hunting ability and allowing them to be comfortable on the snow, in a tree, or in rocky terrain.  In earlier days thousands of these cats lived in wooded areas of the Norwegian countryside.   Through the years they became more and more rare until they were on the verge of disappearing as a separate breed  It was not until the early 1970’s that a real effort was made to preserve this unique breed.  There are over twelve hundred priestly registered in Norway.  They are fairly new to the United States; the first breeding pair was exported in 1979, and the first surviving litter was born in 1981.  They were recognized for championship status in TICA in 1984, then accepted in CFA in 1993. The coloring of some of the Norwegians in Norway is black smoke and white. The foundation male was a black and white named Pans Polaris. American cat fanciers who went to Norway reported that the Forest Cats there are larger than most in the United States, and noted that the Norwegian cats resemble the Maine Coon in America.  It is believed that the Maine Coon is a descendent of the Norwegian Forest Cat. GENERAL DESCRIPTION AND JUDGING: The body of the Norwegian Forest Cat is large and imposing, of moderate length, with heavy boning and substantial musculature.  There should be considerable depth of flank, the legs are medium in length, and hind legs longer than the forelegs.  The full, flowing tail is as long as the body.  The straight lines of the head fit into an equilateral triangle.  The almond-shaped eyes are extremely large and expressive.  The ears are medium to large, placed as much on the side as on the top of the head, with ear furnishings extending beyond the outer edge of the ear. The distinctive all weather, double coat is semi-long, uneven and dense, with a full ruff.  Water beads up on top of the coat; bathing can be a problem as it takes a lot of shampoo to cut through the oil on the coat.  Usually a good combing once a week keeps their coat in good condition.  In general, grooming is no problem; the cats groom themselves and keep themselves very clean. TEMPERAMENT: The Norwegian cats have a soothing disposition.  Most owners have said that they have had cats all their lives and never encountered such lovable ones.  If the cats have a fault, it is that they want to be with you and love you all the time.  Most are not lap sitters ,  they do however love to lay beside you.  They will pile up on your bed at night but prefer not to sleep under the covers. Due to their heavy coats the cats tend to get too warm for long cuddling.  They are gentle yet can be quite firm in having their requirements met.  Extremely calm in appearance, they do not miss a thing. They are very intelligent, dependable and sensible.  Very good about coming when called.  They are not picky about their food but some will refuse to eat if deprived of human companionship.  Their ancestors were known to eat roots of plants and wasps’ nests along with their regular diet of whatever they could catch. A breeder in Norway said; “The Skogkatt is a very kind, lovable cat, though with the genuine instincts of a cat having to cope with a rough life outdoors.   It is in many ways like the real alley cat, only a long beautiful coat which requires much less care than that of other longhaired cats…From the beginning, nature permitted the survival of only the fittest, and in the spirit of this principle, the Norwegian Forest Cat emerged from the woodlands of Norway to international recognition.  As a result of the extreme conditions of life, this cat naturally gained and manifested its special traits along with intelligence, courage and speed.” Excerpts taken from:  “Legacy of the Cat” Written by:  Gloria Stephens - A TICA judge >^..^<