Norwegian Forest Cat: description, maintenance and breeding

Norwegian cats are descendants of wild forest animals that lived in dense thickets and rocky regions of Norway. Living conditions in the harsh climatic conditions gave these creatures a fluffy thick fur coat with a warm undercoat, the ability to easily withstand the cold and good health. Domesticated cats retained their wild appearance, but at the same time acquired a soft and docile character.

According to its characteristics, the forest Norwegian cat is comparable, perhaps, to the Maine Coons, which are popular in all countries of the world. Legends about the appearance of cats of this breed a lot. Scandinavian myths tell about the extraordinarily beautiful goddess of love and war, Freya, who moved across the sky in a chariot drawn by Norwegian cats.

Straight from magical legends, the Norwegian Fluffies moved to the Viking ships, where they actively exterminated ship rats. Breeders from the United States with great pride tell us about the first Norwegian who set foot on American soil from a ship known at that time as a navigator Leif Ericson.

According to some sources, the history of modern Norwegian cats began four centuries ago; at that time, due to living in the northern regions, animals formed a thick and long coat of wool with high water-repellent characteristics. Most researchers tend to believe that the ancestors of these creatures were the ancestor cats.

In the XVI century, they were brought to Norway, and over time, wild fluffy animals were able to successfully adapt to the difficult living conditions in the harsh climate. They ran, climbed tall trees, and even fished, thereby gaining strong strong claws.

According to another version, the breed got its start from the crossing of wild animals brought in by the Vikings from Scotland. If you look closely at the paintings and engravings depicting the goddess Freyja, then in the image of animals you can see a clear similarity with the very forest Norwegian cats. There is one more legend - it says that Norwegian cats became popular thanks to the priest who was famous in those years, who first found and described these animals, calling them predatory cats. These creatures are often mentioned in the Scandinavian epic - in ancient legends they are presented in the form of a cat with a long and very bushy tail.

In the postwar years, the breed almost disappeared from the face of the earth - at that time animals began to cross the cat with some other breeds everywhere. Thanks to the actions of environmental scientists, at the official level, it was decided on measures to preserve the population of forest Norwegian cats. A special commission was created that oversaw the breeding process, the breeders brought their pets there, and if they had many common characteristics with the standard Norwegian breed, the pets were registered.

Only after that the animals received the full right to speak at international exhibitions. Thanks to these measures, it became possible to preserve animals with pronounced species characteristics. The official approval of the forest Norwegian cat was rewarded only in 1977, and the peak of popularity fell on 1985 - from that moment the animal fell into America and Russia, where these furry pets immediately conquered the breeders' hearts.

The main features of the Norwegian Forest Cat are: strong torso, thick fur, large size and very graceful movements. Representatives of these animals are characterized by slow growth and reach sexual maturity only in 4-5 years.

In accordance with the approved breed standard, the following characteristics of animals of this species can be distinguished.

• Weight. The weight of an adult cat is 9-10 kg, the females are slightly lighter.
• Growth. Length at withers is approximately 30-45 cm.
• Color In accordance with the standards, the coloring of the animal can be any, with the exception of the colors obtained during the hybridization. This is cinnamon, chocolate and lavender.
• Character. Norwegian cats are very sociable, friendly and playful, they are wary of strangers, but try to keep calm in any situation.
• Intelligence. This is one of the smartest cat breeds, even the youngest kitten can always be pretty quickly accustomed to the claw and the tray. Animals understand words, tone of voice and gestures very well, they are fairly easy to learn, and learn the rules of behavior in the house from an early age.

The Norwegian cat looks pretty serious, so it is often presented at various exhibitions. The following parameters for breed evaluation are distinguished:

• head resembles a triangle with equal sides;
• neck smooth, shortened;
• forehead flat;
• straight profile;
• chin strong, slightly rounded;
• whisker pads are not indicated;
• the ears are large or medium in size, their base is expanded, there may be tassels on the tips;
• eyes are large, almond-shaped, while the outer edge is slightly higher than the bottom;
• body of medium length with pronounced muscles;
• strong bones;
• hind limbs of medium length, with tufts of hair visible between the fingers;
• double fur;
• collar pronounced.

The owners of the Norwegian forest cats agree that the representatives of these cats are exceptionally calm, balanced and intelligent creatures with an unpretentious and attractive character. They are suitable for keeping in the house: they communicate perfectly with children and adults, they like to play active games and prefer to be in constant contact with the breeder. Cats of this species need frequent communication.

However, like people, sometimes they need periods of peace - at these moments they retire for a short rest, but immediately after him again give their masters affection and playful mood.

This fluffy pet will never scratch, get angry and pursue his own through the manifestation of aggression. Even if these cats do not like something, they will still take everything with calmness and dignity. It is very important that the Norwegian forest cats are absolutely not vindictive, they are inherently unable to cause harm to humans. The animal perfectly adapts both to domestic life and to the bustle of the street: in the yard they show vigor and mischief, but, having crossed the threshold of their home, they turn into grateful and humble pets.

These cats are equally in love with all their owners, but they need a careful respect. These cats like to be stroked, picked up and combed. But they do not tolerate kisses. A characteristic feature of these cats is hospitality. They meet all the people who come to the house first, immediately show interest, sit down beside them and give other signs of attention. However, it is unlikely that a stranger could get him on his knees - the pet will need time to get used to the guest.

Norwegian forest cats are very loyal to other pets: they do not begin to fight with them for the attention of the owners, and do not try to dominate. Small children will surely be delighted with the games with cats - the fact is that these fluffies reach their final maturity only by the age of 4, so you shouldn’t be surprised that your adult cat starts running around the bow on a rope like a very small kitten.

Norwegian cats are distinguished by a rather loud voice, much more resonant than those of many other breeds, but they do not use this “weapon” and never bother their owners with an annoying meow.

Anyone who plans to become the owner of a charming Norwegian cat will surely be concerned about the question of how long these pets live. It should be noted that the representatives of this breed are quite hardy and have excellent health. With proper care, the life expectancy of these cats is 10-14 years.

There are several common colors of the Norwegian Forest Cat.

• Monophonic. Usually represented by black, gray, blue, and white.
• Smoky. For these species of cats, the color is characteristic, when the roots are white and the hairs are only half colored.
• Warm tones. The representatives of the breed common variety of shades of red and red.
• Tabby. As a rule, it is a striped color.
• Marble. This is a pronounced marble pattern on the prevailing hue.
• Combinations of white. Typically, Norwegian cats are black and white and reddish-white, less common are tricolor and some other options. This unusual color is due to the fact that the ancestors of modern Norwegian cats lived in natural conditions.

Standards are fairly stringent requirements for the coloring of the breed. So, solid colors should not include even the most minimal inclusion of other shades.

Caring for a Norwegian Forest Cat is a snap. The main point of keeping an animal is the need to brush the pet's long hair daily. Cats shed pretty much, especially in the offseason, so care should be systematic, otherwise the fur begins to tangle and can spread throughout the living space.

It is better to refuse the use of puhoderok in the care of wool, it will be correct to use scallops with long infrequent teeth. From time to time you need to comb the animal comb with short teeth. It is very important to follow the pet's ears and eyes: you should periodically wipe your ears with a cotton swab, and regularly wash your eyes with tea leaves or a weak solution of furatsilin.

Cats of this variety need constant movement and physical exertion: this will allow the pet to maintain a good shape, strengthen immunity and throw out the accumulated energy. It is advisable to start such an animal to the inhabitants of a private house, and if the pet is kept in an apartment, then it is necessary to take it out regularly for a walk, in this case it is worth putting a harness or leash on the pet.

Special attention should be paid to the status of the cat tray. The fact is that cats of this breed have very fluffy paws, therefore It is advisable to use wood-based filler, and in front of the tray it is not at all superfluous to place a rubber matso that the pet can dry paws on it after using the toilet.

As for the dressure, the Norwegian cat with anger will reject any of her attempts on the part of the breeder.You can not force your pet to carry out commands with a loud cry and even more physical force, otherwise you will lose your trust in your Fuzzy pretty quickly.

For the full growth and development of the animal must receive a balanced diet, consisting of all the necessary proteins, fats and carbohydrates, enriched with beneficial micro-and macro-elements. It is best to use premium food, but you can feed your pet with natural food. In this case, the diet should include the following product groups.

• Meat. Feeding animals with veal, beef, chicken and turkey is allowed, and from the by-products it is necessary to offer the liver, lung and heart from time to time. But smoked meat and sausages should be avoided, it is not recommended to also include duck, pork and kidneys in the menu.
• Milk products. Many believe that cats of all ages like milk. However, this is a common misconception. The fact is that the body of adult animals does not produce enzymes that promote the digestion of milk, so the product can be offered only to very small kittens from 2 months, it simply does not digest in the body. And natural yogurt, ryazhenka and low-fat cottage cheese will be a good source of calcium for fluffies, so they should be part of the animal's diet. In addition to milk, you should avoid cream, sour cream and butter.
• Vegetables. From vegetables, cats can be offered chopped pumpkin, broccoli, zucchini and beets, they are added to food, and legumes, potatoes and all sorts of exotic fruits should say a firm "no."
• A fish In the diet of fluffy, only low-fat sea varieties are allowed; there is no place on the menu of the Norwegian cat for red varieties and river fish.
• Eggs Once a week you can offer eggs to animals, but keep in mind that cats eat only the yolk, the protein is harmful to them.

If you have not brought a cat for breeding, it is worth thinking about pet sterilization or castration: cats in this case will not mark their territory, and cats after surgery will become less susceptible to malignant neoplastic diseases.

If you plan to knit an animal, then it should be done only after the pet has reached puberty. If the cat starts a new life early, then the growth of the animal will stop, pregnancy and childbirth will proceed painfully and seriously weaken the animal. The minimum allowable age of the first mating is 2 years, the optimal is 4.

The Norwegian Forest Cat should mate only with cats of the same breed, otherwise there is a high probability of the appearance of weakened offspring with pronounced genetic abnormalities. Carrying kittens lasts about 9 weeks, usually without complications. At this time it is very important to pay special attention to the diet of the animal: you should increase the daily dose of feed, as well as introduce special vitamin supplements with a high content of folic acid.

If you are determined to become the "parent" of the Norwegian, it is advisable to purchase a kitten in a specialized nursery. Before buying, you should carefully examine the baby, paying particular attention to the eyes, coat and activity of the animal. It is necessary to require from the breeder a certificate of vaccination, clarify all aspects of antiparasitic treatment.

As a rule, these kittens are sold along with the pedigree. The cost of animals usually starts from 2 thousand rubles, however, there is no guarantee that for this amount you will receive the Norwegian Forest Cat. Even kittens with signs of defectiveness in reliable kennels cost no less than 5 thousand.rubles, so the purchase is better to make only a credible seller.

The following points affect the final cost of a kitten:

• breeder's reputation and the prestige of the nursery;
• location - usually in nurseries located in large cities, the cost of animals is somewhat higher;
• color - cats of different colors are estimated differently;
• kitty class: the degree of its compliance with the standards, and pedigree.

Purebred kittens with a full set of all the necessary documents and excellent pedigree, vetpasport and the presence of all the necessary vaccinations are estimated at 50-70 thousand rubles, there are cases where the rarest samples were worth even 150 thousand.

Forest Norwegian cat comes from wild animals, so she is naturally endowed with good health. With proper care and provision of a balanced diet, she lives for 15 years without pronounced health problems. In rare cases, a pet suffers from one of the following genetic diseases.

• Glycogenesis. This pathology is associated with impaired glucose metabolism, which often causes serious damage to the liver. The disease is congenital, and most often sick kittens die before the age of six months.
• Lack of pyruvate kinase. This problem is caused by a deficiency of red blood cells, which causes anemia in an animal. In the event of the development of such a disease, the cat requires a balanced diet and maintenance therapy. Subject to the recommendations of the cat can live to a great age
• Obesity. Cats after castration are often obese. To avoid such a disease, as well as cardiovascular diseases, which often appear cats with increased body weight, you should follow a balanced diet and create conditions for the physical activity of the pet.

Keep in mind that Norwegian Forest Cat must be vaccinated without fail, the very first vaccinations are given to pets in 1.5-2 months, at the age of 6-8 months they are given a second vaccination. Further vaccinations are carried out every year.

All about the Norwegian Forest Cat see below.