The Norwegian Forest Cat is an impressive cat with a splendid, thick coat and a sumptuous bushy tail. That coat is its most remarkable characteristic: it is a double coat with a long smooth outer garment arrayed with oily guard hairs as protection against rain and snow, and a dense, cottony undercoat that provides warmth and isolation. The longer hairs around its neck form a spectacular mane, but also on other `vulnerable’ body parts the “Wegie” has longer hair to stay warm: knickerbockers on the hind legs, considerable tufts in the ears and even on the paw pads, called snow shoes. With all this extra fur the Forest Cat is very well-equipped to survive in the harsh Scandinavian winters.

Most Forest Cats will lose their undercoat in spring, so that they may look like an ordinary housecat during the summer, except for the marvellous bushy tail, which will allways give away their breed. An explanation for this would be that Norway profits from the warm gulf stream, as a result of which the summers can be very mild compared to the long, harsh winters.

The coat can have all natural colours and patterns, with and without white, with exception of the pointscolors and -patterns, as seen in the Siamese and other pointed breeds.

The Norwegian Forest Cat has a triangular formed head and a powerful chin. The profile has to be long and straight. The ears are large, broad at the base, standing upright; the ears have to be well placed, meaning that they have to follow the triangular lines of the head. The eyes are large, almond-shaped, bright and open, due to which the cat has an alert and open expression.

Forest Cats are stronger and heavier than the average cat: tomcats vary in weight from 6 up to 9 kilogrammes, females generally are somewhat smaller and weigh between 3,5 and 6 kilogrammes.

The body is rather long, muscular and has a firm bonestructure. The cat stands high on its legs, which have large round feet. The hind legs are longer than the front legs, which give the cat extra jumping power.

The tail is very long and, laid over the back, it reaches (at least) up to the shoulderblades,  and has sumptuously bushy hair (a very warm blanket when sleeping!)

All in all the Norwegian Forest Cat has developed a perfect adaption to the hardy nature from which it originates and makes a magnificent and captivating impression: its appearance is naturally wild and stunningly beautiful at the same time…

The Norwegian Forest Cat is a natural breed, evolved in the course of centuries in the rough and freezing Norwegian climate by Mother Nature herself. The composition of this cat is adjusted entirely to survive in the wild nature. He has not needed human help to become what he is today and doesn’t need human intervention to improve or `cultivate’ him - at best to help him stay what he is: the 'wild' fairycat of the forests!

     for a description of the character of the Norwegian Forest Cat click HERE

     for the origin of the Norwegian Forest Cat and the recognition of the breed click HERE

     for the breed standard of the Norwegian Forest Cat click HERE