The Norwegian Forest Cat is a majestic and hardy breed, recognized for its distinctive double coat and robust physique. These cats are slow to mature, reaching their full growth potential around five years of age, embodying a sturdy and well-balanced appearance. This guide delves into the official breed standards, exploring the physical characteristics, permissible colors, and patterns that define this magnificent feline.
Breed Standard: A Detailed Look
The Norwegian Forest Cat’s physical attributes are meticulously defined by breed standards, ensuring the preservation of its unique traits.
Head and Neck
The head is an equilateral triangle, with equal sides measured from the ear base to the chin. The neck is short and powerfully muscled. The nose profile is straight from the brow ridge to the nose tip, without any breaks. A firm chin, aligned with the front of the nose and gently rounded in profile, is crucial. The muzzle is part of the straight line towards the ear base, lacking pronounced whisker pads or pinch. Ears are medium to large, rounded at the tip, broad at the base, and set both on the sides and top of the head, appearing alert with the cup pointing slightly sideways. The ear outsides follow the head lines down to the chin, and heavy furnishing, including desirable lynx tips, is characteristic.
Eyes are large, almond-shaped, well-opened, and expressive, set at a slight angle with the outer corner higher than the inner.
Body and Structure
The body is solidly muscled and well-balanced, of moderate length with substantial bone structure. It conveys a powerful appearance with a broad chest and considerable girth, without being fat. The flank has great depth. Males are typically large and imposing, while females may be more refined and smaller.
The legs are medium, with hind legs longer than the front, causing the rump to be higher than the shoulders. Thighs are heavily muscled, and lower legs are substantial. Hind legs appear straight when viewed from the rear, and paws seem to “toe out” when viewed from the front. Large, round, firm paws with heavy tufting between the toes are a hallmark. The tail is long and bushy, broader at the base, ideally as long as the body from the base of the tail to the base of the neck, with desirable guard hairs.
Coat
The defining feature is its distinguishing double coat. This consists of a dense undercoat protected by long, glossy, and smooth water-resistant guard hairs hanging down the sides. The bib comprises three sections: a short collar at the neck, side “mutton chops,” and a frontal ruff. Full britches adorn the hind legs. The coat is typically fuller in winter due to the dense undercoat’s development. Softer coats are permissible in shaded, solid, and bicolor cats. The type and quality of the coat are paramount, with color and pattern being secondary.
Permissible Colors and Patterns
The Norwegian Forest Cat breed accepts a wide array of colors and patterns, with specific exclusions related to hybridization.
Accepted Colors and Patterns
- Solid Colors: White, Black, Blue, Red, Cream.
- With White: Any solid color with white.
- Tabby Patterns:
- Brown Tabby (classic, mackerel, spotted, ticked)
- Blue Tabby (classic, mackerel, spotted, ticked)
- Red Tabby (classic, mackerel, spotted, ticked)
- Cream Tabby (classic, mackerel, spotted, ticked)
- Silver Tabby (classic, mackerel, spotted, ticked)
- Blue-Silver Tabby (classic, mackerel, spotted, ticked)
- Ticked Tabby variations.
- Smoke and Shaded Varieties: Black Smoke, Blue Smoke, Cream Smoke, Cameo Smoke (Red Smoke), Black Chinchilla, Shaded Silver, Chinchilla Golden, Shaded Golden, Shell Cameo (Red Chinchilla), Shaded Cameo (Red Shaded).
- Tortoiseshell Varieties: Tortoiseshell, Blue-Cream, Smoke Tortoiseshell, Blue-Cream Smoke.
- Calico Varieties: Calico, Dilute Calico, Calico Smoke, Dilute Calico Smoke.
- Bi-Color and Van Varieties: Black and White, Blue and White, Red and White, Cream and White, and their corresponding Van and Smoke Van variations.
- Tabby and White: Combinations of tabby patterns with white.
- Smoke/Shaded/Shell and White: Smoke, shaded, or shell patterns combined with white.
- Tortoiseshell and White: Tortoiseshell patterns with white.
- Blue-Cream and White: Blue-Cream patterns with white.
- Amber Colors: Amber, Amber Smoke, Light Amber, Light Amber Smoke, Amber Tabby, Light Amber Tabby, Amber Tortoiseshell, Amber Tortoiseshell Smoke, Amber Patched Tabby, Light Amber Patched Tabby, Amber Silver Tabby, Light Amber Silver Tabby.
- Other Accepted Colors: Any other color or pattern not showing evidence of hybridization.
Exclusions
The breed standard explicitly excludes colors and patterns resulting from hybridization, including chocolate, sable, lavender, lilac, cinnamon, fawn, and point-restricted (Himalayan-type markings), or these colors combined with white. Crossed eyes, kinked or abnormal tails, delicate bone structure, and significant malocclusion are also disqualifying faults.
Eye, Nose, and Paw Pad Colors
Eye color should be in shades of green, gold, green-gold, or copper. White cats and cats with white may have blue or odd eyes. Nose leather and paw pads can be any color or combination of colors, not necessarily related to coat color, except where noted. For example, black cats ideally have black noses and paw pads, while red cats have brick-red noses and paw pads. White cats may have pink or multi-colored paw pads.
The Norwegian Forest Cat is a breed of remarkable beauty and resilience, with a standard that emphasizes its natural, wild appearance and sturdy build. Understanding these standards is key for breeders, owners, and enthusiasts alike.
