The Norwegian forest cat drew some attention in 1938 when it was exhibited at a cat show. The Norwegian Forest Cat was presented to the Cat Fancier's Association for registration acceptance in 1987 and in 1993 was accepted for full championship status. Why Norwegian Forest Cats? The Norwegian Forest Cat, called the skogkatt (forest cat) in Norway, is a natural breed and despite a feral appearance is not a descendant or a hybrid of any wild cat species. The Norwegian forest cat is the official cat of Norway. Norwegian Forest Cats are adept at grooming themselves through licking, but excessive self-grooming can lead to excessive hairballs, which is at least very uncomfortable for your cat. Norwegian forest cat, Norse mythology tells that two great cats called Bygul (golden bee) and Trjegul (golden amber tree) pulled the chariot of the powerful and beautiful goddess Freya. These cats are great with children. Reputable breeders are also a great source of information to answer your questions about these lovable cats. Get a cat tower or tree for this cat to exercise its natural inclination to climb. [19], The Norwegian Forest breed is very popular in Norway and Sweden. They can sometimes be picky if their food does not comply with this preference. Appearance and coat colours As mentioned previously, the Norwegian Forest cat is a large breed with males weighing up to 20lb. [33], The main factors causing Toxoplasma gondii seropositivity on cats are age, raw meat and outdoor access. The wegie arrived in Norway hundreds, and perhaps even thousands of years ago. The Norwegian Forest Cat Club was formed to help preserve the breed. It is long, thick, and truly beautiful. [24] All coat colors and divisions in the traditional, sepia and mink categories are accepted. It is not unusual for one of these kitties to live well beyond 15 years. [26] As they are heavy-boned and tall, they eat more food than most other domestic breeds.[5][26]. Norwegian forest cat … The breed is very good at climbing, since they have strong claws they are one of the few domestic cats capable of descending a tree head first. Brush its teeth at least once a week to help prevent periodontal disease. It is suited to being a playful, indoor cat. Forest Cats probably arrived in Norway from Europe, descendants of domestic cats introduced to northern Europe by the Romans. The breed has also been known to suffer from hip dysplasia,[29] which is a rare, partially hereditary disease of the hip joint. Use precise geolocation data. [16] Since the cat did not leave Norway until the 1970s, it was not registered as a breed in the Fédération Internationale Féline (FIFe), the pan-European federation of cat registries, until Carl-Fredrik Nordane, a Norwegian cat fancier, took notice of the breed, and made efforts to register it. The breed has a long, sturdy body, long legs and a bushy tail. [6] If bought from a registered breeder in the US, they tend to cost from $800 to $1500. [34], Glycogen storage disease type IV due to branching enzyme deficiency was found in an inbred family of Norwegian forest cats. Although these don't occur often, it's important to be aware of their existence. Its history can be traced back to Norse lore. Black and white longhaired Norwegian Forest Cat.jpg. The ears are medium sized and the chin is strong, but slightly rounded. Create a personalised ads profile. [4] The Norwegian Forest cat has a lot of energy. Unfortunately, World War II interrupted its ascent to fame. Ava Yawning.jpg. Develop and improve products. These cats typically weigh between 12 and 16 pounds —with males typically being larger than females—and have a long, bushy tail and full coat of fur that makes them appear even larger. 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