The Norwegian Forest Cat is a breed renowned for its striking appearance and robust build. These magnificent cats are characterized by their distinctive double coat, which provides excellent protection against harsh climates, and their captivating, sturdy physique. They are a slow-maturing breed, typically reaching their full growth and presence around five years of age, embodying a sense of timeless nobility. This comprehensive guide delves into the intricate breed standards, a crucial aspect for understanding and appreciating these magnificent felines.
Understanding the Breed Standard
The Norwegian Forest Cat’s breed standard is meticulously outlined to ensure the preservation of the breed’s unique characteristics. These standards are assessed across several key areas, including the head, body, coat, and color.
Head and Facial Features
The head is shaped as an equilateral triangle, with measurements from the ear base to the chin being equal. This striking head is supported by a short, heavily muscled neck. The nose profile is straight, flowing seamlessly from the brow ridge to the nose tip without any discernible break. The forehead is flat, transitioning into a gently curved skull and neck. A firm chin aligns with the front of the nose, presenting a gentle curve in profile. The muzzle is part of the straight facial line, extending towards the ear base without pronounced whisker pads or pinching.
Ears are a significant feature, being medium to large with rounded tips and a broad base. They are set both on the sides and top of the head, conveying an alert expression. The ear cups point slightly sideways, and their outer edges follow the lines from the side of the head down to the chin. Heavy ear furnishings are characteristic, and while lynx tips are desirable, they are not strictly required.
Eyes are large, almond-shaped, well-opened, and expressive. They are set at a slight angle, with the outer corner positioned higher than the inner corner, contributing to the breed’s intelligent and captivating gaze.
Body Structure and Physique
The body of the Norwegian Forest Cat is solidly muscled and well-balanced, with a moderate length and substantial bone structure. This build gives them a powerful appearance, highlighted by a broad chest and considerable girth, yet they should not appear overweight. The flank possesses great depth, emphasizing their robust build. Males are typically large and imposing, while females may be more refined and slightly smaller.
The legs are medium in length, with the hind legs being longer than the front legs. This creates a rump that is higher than the shoulders, contributing to their distinctive silhouette. The thighs are heavily muscled, and the lower legs are substantial. When viewed from the rear, the back legs appear straight. From the front, the paws may seem to “toe out” slightly. They possess large, round, firm paws, with heavy tufting of fur between the toes.
The tail is long and bushy, broader at the base. Ideally, its length is equal to the body’s length, measured from the tail’s base to the base of the neck. Guard hairs are a desirable feature of the tail.
Coat Characteristics
The Norwegian Forest Cat’s distinguishing double coat is a marvel of natural engineering. It consists of a dense undercoat, providing insulation, overlaid by long, glossy, and smooth water-resistant guard hairs that hang down the sides. The chest features a prominent bib, divided into three sections: a short collar at the neck, side “mutton chops,” and a frontal ruff. The hind legs are covered in full “britches.” The coat’s fullness can vary seasonally, often being more luxuriant in winter due to the dense undercoat’s development. Softer coats may be permissible in shaded, solid, and bicolor cats. The type and quality of the coat are paramount, taking precedence over color and pattern.
Colors and Patterns
A wide array of colors and patterns are accepted for the Norwegian Forest Cat. However, any colors indicating hybridization, such as chocolate, sable, lavender, lilac, cinnamon, fawn, or point-restricted (Himalayan-type markings), are disqualified. The color and pattern should be clear and distinct. For tabby patterns (classic, mackerel, and spotted), the markings must be well-defined and even.
Eye color typically ranges from shades of green, gold, greengold, to copper. White cats and those with white markings may have blue or odd eyes. Nose leather and paw pads can be any color or combination, though specific desirable colors are noted for solid coats. Buttons and lockets (small white markings) are permissible on any color and pattern without penalty.
The breed standard meticulously details accepted colors for solid, shaded, silver, golden, tabby, tortoiseshell, smoke, and bi-color variations. Each color description specifies the desired tone, clarity, and markings, along with preferred colors for nose leather and paw pads. For instance, a solid black cat ideally has black nose leather and paw pads, while a red tabby ideally has brick-red nose leather and paw pads.
The various tabby patterns—classic, mackerel, spotted, and ticked—each have specific requirements for marking density, clarity, and distribution. The “patched tabby” pattern, a variation of tortoiseshell, involves tabby markings combined with patches of red and/or cream.
Specialized patterns like “smoke” involve a white undercoat deeply tipped with color, appearing solid when at rest but revealing the white undercoat in motion. “Van” patterns feature color confined primarily to the extremities (head, tail, legs) on a white base.
In recent years, “Amber” colors have been introduced, stemming from a recessive yellow gene. These range from dark honey-chestnut (Amber) to pale beige-blonde (Light Amber), with corresponding tabby and smoke variations. These amber-related colors and patterns are accepted, with the same exclusions for hybridization as other colors.
Disqualifications
Certain characteristics lead to disqualification from breed shows. These include a severe break in the nose profile, a square muzzle, whisker pinch, a long or cobby body, incorrect toe count, crossed eyes, a kinked or abnormal tail, delicate bone structure, and malocclusion (undershot or overshot chin). Critically, any evidence of hybridization, such as the excluded colors (chocolate, sable, lavender, lilac, cinnamon, fawn, or point-restricted markings), also results in disqualification.
Allowable Outcross Breeds
For the Norwegian Forest Cat, there are currently no allowable outcross breeds. This strict policy helps maintain the purity and distinctiveness of the breed.
Color Class Numbers
Color class numbers are provided for reference in cat shows, categorizing various accepted colors and patterns. These numbers help in organizing and judging cats within their respective color classes.
The Norwegian Forest Cat is a breed that combines a captivating appearance with a rich history and a well-defined set of breed standards. Understanding these standards is key to appreciating the unique qualities that make this breed so special.
