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A peaceable wildcat with a long, thick coatThe Norwegian Forest Cat has wandered Scandinavia for centuries. Many legends depict a large cat with a long, thick tail. According to Norse mythology, Thor, the most powerful god, was unable to lift this cat, and Freya's (the goddess of love and fertility) chariot was pulled by these cats. Though Norway is considered the country of origin of the "Fairy Cat", it is possible that the Vikings of the 13th century brought specimens back from Asia Minor (Caucus, Anatoly, etc.) to hunt the rats that infested their drakkars. Or perhaps Central European or Asian tribes traveling to Scandinavia before the Middle Ages introduced the cats.Cats brought in from other regions would have had to adapt to the extremely harsh climate of Scandinavia, and therefore, develop a thick, double, insulating, weather-proof coat. Their weight and size would have increased. Norwegian Forest Cats slowly moved from the wild to farms. Around 1930, Norwegian breeders began a selection program to preserve the breed and to combine hardiness and the beauty of its coat.Several specimens were shown in Oslo. The breed was recognized in 1972, and the first breed club and standard appeared in 1975. The F.I.Fe recognized the Norwegian Forest Cat in 1977. An official standard was written, then modified to avoid confusion with the Maine Coon Cat, for example the Nrcoon, a cross between a Norwegian Forest Cat and a Maine Coon.The first Forest Cats arrived in Germany and the United States in 1979, in Great Britain in 1980, and in France in 1982. Sweden is thought to maintain the highest population of Forest Cats. This breed meets great success in cat shows. Its wild, robust appearance and natural beauty are greatly admired.

Head:Triangular shape with equal length and width. Flat forehead. Straight nose. The muzzle follows the line of the head; no whisker pinch.Nose of medium length.Strong, square rather than rounded chin; never pointed (u).Early Forest Cats had longer heads and their profile was not as straight as it is today.
Eyes:Large, almond shaped, and set at a slight angle. Any color is acceptable (?), but preferred colors are green or gold. White cats may be copper, blue, or odd-eyed (u).
Body:Massive, robust, with a powerful appearance. Moderately long with a broad, rounded chest. Heavily boned and muscled.
Tail:Of medium length, muscular.
Coat:Double coat.Medium long, with a very thick, wooly undercoat.The smooth, shiny, oily guard hairs are waterproof.The coat is uneven; shorter on the shoulders and becoming progressively longer on the back and flanks.The full ruff is comprised of the back-of the neck ruff, side mutton chops, and a full front bib.All colors permissible, except colorpoint, chocolate, and lilac (n), cinnamon, fawn, and Burmese patterns (?).Any amount of white is allowed.