Norwegian Forest Cat

1 Norwegian Forest Cat Breed Overview

The Norwegian Forest Cat, in plain terms, is a cat that lives and survives in the forests of Norway. It is a breed unique to the Scandinavian Peninsula, with unclear origins, and often appears as an elf-like cat in Norse mythology. The Norwegian Forest Cat looks similar to the Maine Coon and is grouped together with the Siberian Forest Cat. Because the forest cat lives in a very cold and harsh environment, it has developed a thicker, denser coat and a strong, sturdy build than other cats. Large and strong-limbed, the Norwegian Forest Cat runs extremely fast, is unafraid of sun and rain, and its neck fur and tail fur flow gracefully as it walks, making it very beautiful. However, the number of cats living in Norway’s inland forests has been declining year by year, creating a crisis of temporary extinction. Therefore, in the early 1970s, efforts to preserve and breed them became especially important.