The Norwegian Forest Cat

It is not known when this cat decided to step out of the forest and become a beloved companion to the people of Norway, but we do know that it did. The Norwegian Forest Cat is a cat that still possesses that wild ability to take care of himself, he is a great hunter, and it is said that if you let him, he will do all the hunting required to keep himself in shape, he absolutely loves the outdoors, and will spend all his time out there if you give him the chance.

The Norwegian Forest Cat has been around for a long time, there are tales of him dating back to the early 1900’s and there is a drawing of one that was made in 1910. Recognition of the breed did not really start in Norway until the 1930’s and by then, the war was coming on; the cat nearly went extinct during World War II, but thanks to some dedicated breeders, the cat was brought back to the land of the living.It was in the 1970’s when the Norwegian Forest cat had again a strong foothold (or pawhold) in the hearts and lives of all the people who met it.

This is a natural breed which means that they do not have as many health concerns as other breeds might, it is thought that they are related to the Main Coon breed but there is no evidence to support this, it is a breed that developed in Norway, they lived on farms as outside cats and probably used whatever shelter they could find. This had developed some interesting characteristics in the breed, such as their coat loosing a lot of its fullness during the summer, and then growing it all back in during the winter…their coats are supposedly water proof, the top coat is evidently oily, and that makes it hard to get the cat wet to the skin, good luck giving him a bath.

Another thing that developed in the Norwegian Forest cat is its love of the outdoors, also it has been noticed the fact that different lines have different sizes, a purebred cat from one line can be noticeably bigger then a purebred cat from another line. This is all a direct result of the cat being so close to its ancestors, and it being such a natural breed.

This is a friendly breed that likes to be petted, they are gentle affectionate cats, that get along well not only with the humans of the household but also with all the animals in the house as well. This is one of the few breeds that can climb down a tree head first due to their large paws and excellent sense of balance. This is a large heavy cat so careful consideration is needed before going out and buying one.

These are cats that need little coat care, as compared to the other long haired breeds, depending on who you listen to, some people will tell you that this cat needs to be brushed twice a week, and others are going to tell you that it only needs to be really brushed to any extent in the spring, one thing is certain though, mats and twigs that get caught in the fur, do need to be removed immediately to prevent any undue discomfort to the cat.

It has been reported that these cats are easily trained, something that is always a plus when considering a new pet; they are quiet indoors and they do not need as much attention as other breeds would demand of you. There are little health concerns for this cat although some hip dysplasia has been reported, probably a result of the big size of the animal. One thing that has happened because of the animal’s size is the fact that some have been shot, mistaken for Lynx, so you will have to keep an eye on him, when he is outside.

This is a cat that can fit into almost any situation, given that he has enough room to run around; he is a cat after all and they do need exercise. Take care of him and he will give you in return much love and devotion plus constant joy and laughs!