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Furiously Fluffy Facts About Norwegian Forest Cats.

Sometimes confused for their equally fluffy cousin, the Maine Coon, Norwegian Forest Cats are descended from a long line of felines that are shrouded in mystery. Have they descended from warrior cats? Are they the reason for some Scandinavian fairy tales? Even so, with their thick, fluffy coats, large sizes, and friendly dispositions, is it any wonder that this breed continues to this day? Here are 10 furiously fluffy facts about Norwegian Forest Cats or "Wedgies" as they're affectionately called!



1. Their origins are mysterious.

As its name suggests, this breed originated in Norway. The Norsk Skogkatt (Norse for Norwegian Forest Cat) appears to have come out of the Scandinavian forests thousands of years ago, corroborated by all the large, longhaired cats found in Norse mythology. Some accounts even put the cat on the boat of Leif Erikson, a famous Viking explorer, as his traveling companion and as pest control.

No one knows about the origins of the Norwegian Forest breed. They might be related to the longhaired cats that were brought to Scandinavia by the Crusaders, or they may be related to the shorthaired black and white cats from Great Britain. The Vikings used these cats on their ships to catch the mice, and it’s possible they came over in the Viking boats and then mingled with the feral and barn cats, in the forest of Norway. Genetic testing has shown that there is a genetic connection between the breed and the Maine Coon.

The only thing certain about the Norwegian Forest Cat is that it is an old breed.

2. They're water repellent.

These tough cats managed to survive the extreme climate of Norway, a land where the sun does not set from midMay until August, and where winter nights are long and bitterly cold. Because of this they developed long, dense, waterresistant coats, hardy constitutions, quick wits, and wellhoned survival instincts.

Not your average advertisement for a cat, but here you have it! Norwegian Forest Cats are known for their thick, doublelayered coats that actually repel water. Their fur coats are basically waterproof thanks to the coarse outer layer of fur and dense underlay. They're also equipped with their own winter gear, as it were, with tufted ears and toes, which serve as natural earmuffs and snowshoes. Essentially, these cats were born for survival in the snowy wild!

3. They're surrounded by legend.


Norse goddess Freyja was said to be a cat lover, and her chariot was sometimes depicted as being pulled by two cats!

This fierce, fluffy feline might have also served as inspiration for a mythological creature in Norwegian myths! These fairy tales speak of the skogkatt, or ("forest cat") which is said to be a huge cat that lived in the mountains and was able to climb sheer cliff faces that no other cat could.

Norwegian Forest Cats are known for their adept climbing skills, and their large statures might have helped contribute to this myth. In another Norse story, Thor gets into a handtohand battle with the god Jormungand, who was disguised as a the skogkatt, as well. In fact, in Norway, Norwegian Forest Cats are called "skogkatt" even to this day.

4. They're ginormous.

"Wedgies" are known to be one of the largest breeds of domestic cats. They're generally much larger than your average house cat, and even some small dogs! As you can tell in the image above, these hulking felines even rival foxes in size! Male Norwegian cats can tip the scales anywhere from 13 to 22 pounds.

5. The breed nearly went extinct.


Though prized by farmers and sailors as an expert mouser, the Norwegian Forest Cat as a pure breed was nearly lost to breeding with freeroaming domestic shorthair cats in Norway. Efforts by cat fanciers to save the breed were put to a halt during World War II, and the breed was nearly lost.

An official breeding program preserved the breed for future generations. It was officially accepted into the Cat Fanciers' Association in 1987.

6. They're the official cat of Norway.


This giant breed of cat was designated the national cat of Norway by late King Olaf V. As it seems so connected to the folklore and fairy tales of the country, is it any wonder?

7. They're related to Maine Coon cats.

Genetic testing has indicated that Maine Coon cats are descendants of Norwegian Forest Cats and a mysterious, nowextinct domestic cat. As the Viking used Norwegian Forest Cats on their ships as mousers, it’s a likely theory!

8. They're built for tree climbing.