Viking Cat – The Norwegian Forest Cat

We all know stories about the Vikings with their longboats, horned helmets and seafaring skills.  But we don’t know so much about their pets – did they prefer cats to dogs?  If they were cat people then one breed that may well have been a Viking favourite and is still around today is the Norwegian Forest Cat.

About the breed

No one really knows where the forest cat came from but there is an idea that says the Vikings actually brought long haired cats from Britain to Norway.  These cats then interbred with local feral cats, already adapted for the cold conditions and the Norwegian Forest Cat was created.  Both the Siberian and Turkish Angora are suggested as possible ancestor breeds while the Norse legends talk about the ‘skogkatt’ a mountain dwelling fairy cat that could climb places no other cat could manage.  The forest cat is known for its particularly amazing climbing abilities and this led some to believe these could be early reports of the breed.

In fact, the forest cat is likely to be a landrace who have occupied Norway for many centuries and were spread around the area by the Vikings who kept them on ships for their mousing skills.  The first note of the breed in terms of a pet was in 1938 when the Norwegian Forest Cat Club was formed.  Their work took a back seat during World War II and due to outcrossing, the breed came perilously close to extinction.  By the 1970s it was gaining in strength and was beginning to be registered with cat registries across Europe.  The American Cat Fanciers Association accepted the breed in 1994.  It remains a popular breed in both Norway and Sweden as well as being the 5^th most popular breed in France.

Description

These are strong cats with a solid build frame, long legs and a bushy tail.  Their coat is very water repellent and thick with a woolly undercoat and densest areas being around the legs, head and chest.  They have a long head roughly triangular in shape with a medium length muzzle and almond shaped eyes.  They come in almost all colours of coat but lilac and chocolate aren’t accepted for show standard as these showing crossing with the Siamese breeds.

Forest cats have a quiet voice but can also be quite vocal, particularly if kept with other animals.  Intelligent and friendly, these cats are good with people but do demand attention.  They like to be outdoors though can be raised to be an indoor cat.  Their average lifespan is around 14-16 years.