| Country of Origin: | Norway |
| Colors: | White, Black, Blue, Red, Cream, Silver, Golden, Red, Cameo, Tortoiseshell, Bluecream, Brown |
| Average Size: | Weight: 8-16 lbs (3.6 – 7.25 kg) Length: Large |
| Life Span: | 8-14 yrs. |
| Coat: | Long |
| Personality: | Athlete, curious, playful, exploring every nook and corner of the house |
| Characteristics: | Energy: Active Talkative: High Kid Friendly: Yes Allergic: No |
Domestic cats first arrived in Scandinavia somewhere around the year 1000 thanks to trades between the Vikings with the Byzantine Empire in the east, whose capital was Kostantinopolis (now Istanbul). There is evidence that domestic cats were traded between the Vikings and Byzantines, as the cat population in Norway has the same hair color as the Turkish cat, which is rare in Europe.
Long-haired cats are common throughout Scandinavia. While in Norway they are called “wegie”, Denmark and Sweden have their own versions called “racekatte” and “rugkatt”.
Norwegian Forest Cat, or Norsk skaukatt, is a Scandinavian breed, and was developed in the cold northern climate of Norway. Its exact origin is unknown, but the same as Maine Coon cats, it adapted to life in the cold thanks to its magnificent double coat consisting of a soft woolly undercoat, which retains body heat, and long, shiny, hanging outer coat that rejects snow and rain.
Just as the Maine Coon cats, such fur requires a bit of care, but as with all long-haired cats the outer coat is discarded once a year, and remains a beautiful fluffy tail which shows that it really is a longhaired cat. Its long tail is abundantly covered with cat hair which keeps it elevated.
This cat has big and strong legs (rear legs higher than the front), large, heavy and powerful paws and sharp claws. Norwegian Forest Cats are excellent climbers – perhaps these very agile cats are descendants of the mythical giant cats that dragged the carriage of the Norwegian goddess Freya!
Today there are about 400 registered Norwegian forest cats in Norway, and many more of them in other countries, particularly in neighboring Sweden. Although large and powerful, the Norwegian Forest Cat never appears clumsy. All colors are permitted at shows and competitions.
