NORWEGIAN FOREST CAT
Standard of Excellence
GENERAL DESCRIPTION
|
|
A large, longhaired Norwegian breed. In its homeland it has been known as the Norsk Skaukatt or Norsk Skogkatt.
Norse mythology tells of a cat so large that the thunder god Thor could not lift it off the ground. Freya, the goddess of love and fertility is said to have ridden in a chariot drawn by two such cats. A large, powerfully built cat with muscles which may not be fully developed until the cat is nearly five years old. The head is unique among the semi-longhaired breeds as its shape forms an equilateral triangle with tufted ears set so that their outer edges are in line with the lines of the face. Seen from the side, the nose is straight. The chin is strong but the muzzle is gently rounded rather than being square. The coat is long, with a full ruff, tufted ears and a bushy tail. The front legs are slightly shorter than the hind legs. The long outer coat is glossy and water-resistant, while the thick undercoat adds protection against the cold. The winter coat is even thicker than the summer one. Inevitably, this means a heavy moult once a year.
| Head
| Shape
|
Triangular, where all sides are equal.
Long, straight profile without break in line (no stop).
| |
| Chin
|
Firm.
| | Ears
| Shape
|
With good width at base, with lynx-like tufts and long hair out of ears.
| |
| Placement
|
High and open, so that the outer lines of the ears follow the line of the head down to the chin.
| | Eyes
| Shape
|
Large, well opened, slightly oblique.
| |
| Expression
|
Alert expression.
| |
| Colour
|
All colours permitted, regardless of coat colour.
| | Body
| Structure
|
Long, strongly built. Solid bone structure.
| | Legs
|
|
High on legs; hind legs higher than the front legs.
| | Tail
|
|
Long and bushy; should reach to the neck.
| | Coat
| Structure
|
Semi-long.
A smooth, water repellent upper coat covers the woolly undercoat. This glossy hair covers the back and the sides.
A fully coated cat has a shirtfront, a full frill and knickerbockers.
| |
| Colour
|
All colours are permitted, including all colours with white, except pointed patterns and chocolate and lilac, cinnamon and fawn.
Any amount of white is allowed, i.e. a white blaze, white locket, white chest, white on the belly, white on the paws, etc.
|
|