The Norwegian Forest Cat, often affectionately called “Wegie,” is a breed renowned for its robust build, distinctive double coat, and captivating wild appearance. Originating from the forests of Norway, these cats are slow to mature, only reaching their full size and grandeur at around five years old. This standard outlines the ideal characteristics of the Norwegian Forest Cat, providing a guide for breeders and enthusiasts alike.
General Standard: The Sturdy Forest Cat
The Norwegian Forest Cat is immediately recognizable as a sturdy and substantial feline, primarily due to its water-resistant double coat and powerfully built body. They are a naturally developed breed, adapted to survive in harsh Scandinavian climates. Their muscular physique and dense coat are key features, contributing to their overall impressive presence.
Head: The Equilateral Triangle
The head of the Norwegian Forest Cat is defined by its equilateral triangle shape. Imagine drawing lines from the outside base of one ear to the point of the chin and then to the outside base of the other ear – all sides should be of equal length. This triangular structure, combined with a short and heavily muscled neck, gives the breed a balanced and powerful head carriage.
Nose Profile: Straight and Unbroken
A key feature of the Norwegian Forest Cat’s head is its straight nose profile. From the brow ridge to the very tip of the nose, the line should be unbroken and straight. The forehead is flat, flowing into a gently curved skull and neck, avoiding a pronounced stop or break.
Chin: Firm and Rounded
The chin should be firm and align vertically with the front of the nose. In profile, it exhibits a gentle, rounded shape, contributing to the overall balanced appearance of the head.
Muzzle: Straight Lines and Gentle Contours
The muzzle is an extension of the straight line running from the ear base towards the chin. It should blend smoothly into the head structure, without prominent whisker pads or any hint of a pinch. This gentle contour adds to the natural and unrefined beauty of the breed.
Ears: Medium to Large, Well-Furnished
The ears are medium to large in size, broad at the base, and rounded at the tips. They are set as much on the sides of the head as on the top, appearing alert and slightly sideways-pointing. The outer lines of the ears follow the contours from the side of the head down to the chin, creating a harmonious frame for the face. Heavy ear furnishings are characteristic, and lynx tips (hair tufts at the ear tips) are considered desirable but not mandatory.
Eyes: Almond-Shaped and Expressive
The eyes of the Norwegian Forest Cat are large, almond-shaped, and wide-set, giving them an open and expressive appearance. They are positioned at a slight angle, with the outer corner sitting higher than the inner corner. The eye color should be shades of green, gold, green-gold, or copper. White cats and cats with white markings may have blue or odd eyes.
Body: Muscular and Well-Balanced
The body of the Norwegian Forest Cat is solidly muscled and well-balanced, displaying moderate length and substantial bone structure. They possess a powerful appearance with a broad chest and considerable girth, without being overweight. The flank has a notable depth, contributing to their robust silhouette. Males are typically large and imposing, while females can be more refined and slightly smaller.
Legs and Feet: Medium Length, Strong Paws
Legs are of medium length, with the hind legs being longer than the front legs. This creates a characteristic stance where the rump is higher than the shoulders. Thighs are heavily muscled, and lower legs are substantial. When viewed from the rear, the back legs are straight. From the front, the paws may appear to toe out slightly. The paws themselves are large, round, and firm, with prominent tufts of fur between the toes – a practical adaptation for walking on snow.
Tail: Long and Bushy
The tail is long and bushy, broad at the base and tapering slightly towards the tip. Ideally, the tail length should be equal to the body length from the base of the tail to the base of the neck. Guard hairs are desirable, adding to the tail’s full and plume-like appearance.
Coat Length and Texture: The Distinguishing Double Coat
The defining feature of the Norwegian Forest Cat is its double coat. This consists of a dense, woolly undercoat, essential for insulation in cold climates, overlaid by long, glossy, and smooth water-resistant guard hairs that hang down the sides of the body. This outer coat is designed to repel rain and snow, keeping the cat dry and comfortable.
The bib, or frontal ruff, is composed of three distinct sections: a short collar at the neck, side mutton chops, and a frontal ruff at the chest. Britches, the longer fur on the hind legs, are full and pronounced. The coat’s thickness varies seasonally; it is generally fuller in winter, when the dense undercoat is at its peak development, and lighter in summer. Softer coat textures are permissible in shaded, solid, and bicolor cats. While coat type and quality are paramount, color and pattern are considered secondary.
Color and Pattern: A Wide Spectrum
Norwegian Forest Cats boast a wide array of colors and patterns. All colors and patterns are permissible, with the exception of those colors that indicate hybridization. These excluded colors are chocolate, sable, lavender, lilac, cinnamon, fawn, and point-restricted colors (like Himalayan markings), or any of these colors combined with white.
Eye Color, Nose Leather, and Paw Pads
Eye color should be in shades of green, gold, green-gold, or copper. White cats and those with white markings can have blue or odd eyes. Nose leather and paw pads can be any color or combination of colors, and are not necessarily linked to coat color, except in specific cases. Cats with white on their feet may have pink paw pads or bi-colored or multi-colored pads.
“Buttons” (small spots of white) and “lockets” (larger patches of white on the chest) are allowed in any color and pattern. Cats with buttons or lockets are judged on their base color, without penalty for these white markings.
Specific Color Descriptions
The standard provides detailed descriptions for various colors, including:
- White: Pure glistening white. Pink nose leather and paw pads are desirable.
- Black: Dense coal black, sound from roots to tip. Black nose leather and paw pads are desirable.
- Blue: A consistent tone from nose to tail tip, sound to the roots. Blue nose leather and paw pads are desirable.
- Red: Deep, rich, clear, brilliant red without shading, markings, or ticking. Brick red nose leather and paw pads are desirable.
- Cream: A uniform shade of buff cream, without markings, sound to the roots. Lighter shades are preferred. Pink nose leather and paw pads are desirable.
- Silver and Golden Chinchilla and Shaded: These colors involve tipping of black on a white or cream undercoat to create sparkling silver or golden effects.
- Cameo (Red Chinchilla and Shaded): Similar to silver and golden, but with red tipping creating a warm, sparkling appearance.
- Tortoiseshell and Smoke Variations: These describe complex patterns and color distributions, including smoke (white undercoat deeply tipped with color) and tortoiseshell (patches of red and cream).
- Tabby Patterns: Classic, mackerel, spotted, and ticked tabby patterns are described in detail, including variations like patched tabby (with red/cream patches), and tabby with white.
- Amber and Light Amber: Unique colors that are genetically recessive, presenting as dark honey-chestnut (amber) or pale beige blonde (light amber). These colors also have smoke and tabby variations.
- Bi-Color and Van Patterns: Descriptions for cats with white markings covering varying amounts of their body, from bi-color (color and white) to van patterns (color restricted to extremities).
The standard meticulously outlines the desired characteristics for each color and pattern variation, ensuring breeders and judges have a clear guide for evaluating these magnificent cats.
Disqualifications: Features to Avoid
Certain traits are considered disqualifications in Norwegian Forest Cats, as they deviate from the breed standard or suggest hybridization. These include:
- Severe break in nose profile.
- Square muzzle.
- Whisker pinch.
- Long, rectangular body.
- Cobby (short and stocky) body type.
- Incorrect number of toes.
- Crossed eyes.
- Kinked or abnormal tail.
- Delicate bone structure.
- Malocclusion leading to undershot or overshot chin.
- Cats exhibiting colors indicative of hybridization: chocolate, sable, lavender, lilac, cinnamon, fawn, point-restricted colors (Himalayan type), or these colors with white.
Conclusion: Embracing the Wild Beauty
The Norwegian Forest Cat embodies a unique blend of wild beauty and gentle temperament. This breed standard serves as a comprehensive guide to appreciating and preserving the distinctive traits of these “Forest Cats Of Norway.” From their robust physique and water-resistant double coat to their expressive almond-shaped eyes and wide array of colors and patterns, the Norwegian Forest Cat continues to captivate cat lovers worldwide with its majestic presence and enduring charm.
