The Origins of Norsk skogkatter
Although NFC still is always considered a relatively new breed, he lives in reality for centuries in his homeland Norway (as in Sweden and Finland, incidentally). Nobody knows exactly how long the Forest Cats in Scandinavia already live or where their origins lie.
A number of scientists is now more or less certain that the Norwegian Forest Cat owes its creation to the Vikings: on their trade routes along the Volga and the Dnieper they penetrated into Asia Minor and took while medium hair cat and the Turkish Angora and Turkish Van back to their motherland. From research it became clear that this savage and warlike barbarians kept cats as pets and mouse catchers, both at home and in their famous dragon ships. This would also be the existence of wild longhair cats for example. Normandy and the 'New World' can be explained.
According to another theory, the cat moved with the great migration wave from southern Russia to northern and western Europe got underway After the Huns - even though such a rugged and ruthless people - about 370 AD. suddenly in the areas around the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea appeared and there were sowing death and destruction.
It may also be that there is a combination of both theories. In any case, the history of the Norwegian Forest Cat goes back to before the Dark Ages
Sprookjeskat from the Norwegian forests
The ancient Norse mythology speaks of a cat that was so enormous that even the god Thor could not lift him off the ground. The goddess of love and fertility Freija had a golden chariot drawn by two big cats. In the Norwegian tradition (after the Middle Ages) are big troll cats with thick fur and a long tail. This was later translated as "Wildcat" but actually means Trolkat "Feeënkat" (sprookjeskat so).
In the 16th century, the Danish priest Peter Clausson Friis, when he lived in Norway, a division of the Norwegian lynx. He distinguished three types: the katlynx, voslynx the lynx and the wolf. It is quite possible that the katlynx was a Norwegian Forest cat. The first written mention of the Wildcat comes from fairy tales and legends by Peter Christen Asbjørnsen and Jørgen Moe were collected around 1835. It discussed the "Huldrekatt" the cat with the bushy tail.
In the Scandinavian version of Puss in Boots is probably also talk of a Norwegian Forest cat or Norsk Skogkatt.
In 1912, the Norwegian poet Gabriel Scott wrote a children's book about a white Forest Cat, Sølfvaks called, which was robbed by other cats, because he had long hair. The illustrations in this book have seen a big cat with a bushy tail and a full collar.
Natuurkat
In the rugged Norwegian climate is the Norwegian Forest Cat has become what he is today because only remained the best adapted cats alive. Because these cats had to worry in the forests for their food and defend themselves against enemies, have survived only those which were the best in hunting and escape predators. Cats who came through their first winter had long legs and were resilient, intelligent and courageous.
Through the centuries, developed the Wildcat in the cold, wet climate a double coat: the greasy, slippery and stiff guard hairs of the outer coat prevents the cat in rain and snow soaking wet is and with the woolly undercoat, which mainly develops in winter , the animal during this period is well protected against the cold. The plumes in the ears and between the toes (known as 'snow') keep snow and ice from and then finally the long thick bushy tail which can serve as a blanket when the cat goes to sleep.
So this unique breed has developed without any interference from people and the Norwegian Forest Cat belongs therefore to the "natural breeds".
The road to recognition as a breed
Until the thirties, the Wildcat was an ordinary native cat like any other cat in Norway. Nobody was really interested in this wandering longhair cats and their existence was so common that it never occurred to the head of the Norwegians to consider this cat a 'breed'. Only the farmers appreciated the presence of this beautiful, big cats for their skills as mouse and rat catchers. Like our farm cats these cats were not really wild, but they were looking for the man, because on and around the farms had the best chance to survive. Still live here and there 'original' Forest Cats on farms in Norway. Around 1933 appeared sporadically lovers with a Norwegian Forest cat shows - they could compete for prizes for the home, garden and kitchen cats.
In the sixties of the last century Boskattenpopulatie decreased more and more by deforestation, population growth and crossbreeding with short hair breeds. Eventually ran their number so alarmingly back that only a recognition as a breed could save the Noor for extinction.
In 1963, with this aim, the Norske Rasekattklubbers Riksförbund (NRC) was established, which meant a lot to the preservation and recognition of the Norwegian Forest Cat. This association has also recorded the breed standard.
For this, one male was chosen which was regarded as a particularly fine specimen breed characteristics.
All efforts were finally rewarded in 1977: the breed was officially recognized by the FIFe. This recognition is passed to any resident of Norway, as the Norwegian media as the 'hot news' recognized and devoted much attention to it.
This hangover, Pan's Truls, was the property of Els and Egil Nylund of Pan cattery.
In 1975, the 'Norsk Skogkattring committee was established to manage the breeding in the right direction.
Breeders followed strict rules and only 'original' Forest Cats were admitted to the breeding program. Meetings to ensure this were held where breeders could show their cat to the breeding committee. Only cats that were approved by the Commission, could be registered.
On the occasion of it was even issued a special stamp in Norway.Soon after the official recognition of the breed also managed to win the hearts of non-Scandinavian cat fanciers.
The Norwegian Forest Cat and his enthusiastic breeders can now be found virtually all over the world, from Iceland to Japan, the United States, South Africa and Australia!