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Samantha av Saltfjord
Breeder & Owner: Andrea Rother,
Cattery av
Saltfjord, Mühlheim/Ruhr, Germany |
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| Norwegian Forest Cats exist in almost any colour and
pattern, except pointed colours:
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SC (N) Alneskatten's Batman DVM
Breeder/owner: Monica Alnes,
Alneskatten
cattery, Os, Norway |
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black and blue
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chocolate and lilac (those colours are not recognized in some
organizations)
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red and cream
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In some organizations also cinnamon and fawn are recognized.
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All these colours can also appear as tortie, i.e. patched with red resp.
cream.
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All these colours can also have a tabby pattern (blotched, mackerel,
spotted and ticked)
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All these colours can also exist with silver, for example smoke,
silver tabby, etc.
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Herrhagens Cesar
Owner: Ramona Hunziker,
Mapiya's cattery,
Switzerland |
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- All these colours exist also in Golden, for example golden
shaded, golden tabby, etc.
- These colours can have patches of any amount of white, for example
with white toes, with small white patches, in any bicolour pattern.
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Amber
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Note:
In FIFe a new colour variant has been recognized in 2004,
the so called Amber (formerly known as X-colour).
You will find an interesting article about the history of those colours
at the
cattery vom Arlesbrunnen. |
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Pialotta vom Arlesbrunnen
Breeder: Christa Utescheny,
Cattery
vom Arlesbrunnen, Zaisenhausen, Germany |
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Literature
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Norwegian Forest
Cat HCM research
Winn Foundation, Feline Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
Washington State University, Veterinary Cardiac Genetics Lab,
Pullman, WA
Dissertation about the colour Amber:
L’AMBRE CHEZ LE CHAT DES FORETS NORVEGIENNES, UN MYSTERE RESOLU,
Marc Peterschmitt, ECOLE NATIONALE VETERINAIRE DE LYON, 30.1.2009
Website of Marc Peterschmitt about the colour Amber |
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Eurocatfancy
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Breed profile
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| The Norwegian Forest Cat is said to be a
natural breed, which are breeds having a natural origin. This cat is rather
large, very solid built and has a long dense coat. The Norwegian Forest
Cat is rather large, the body is slightly elongated, very strong and
muscular. The legs are high (long) and sturdy with strong paws. The bone
structure is heavy and strong.
Their head builds an equilateral triangle, where the nose is long and
straight. When viewed in profile, a long straight line can been seen, which
starts at the center of the top of the skull and continues down to the tip
of the nose. When viewed from the front, the outer edges of the head built
an equilateral triangle. On top the skull is rounded.
The neck is strong.
The eyes are large and oval, and set slightly oblique towards the base of
the ears. The eyes have a very characteristic expression, sparkling as if
the cat would be always alert for its surrounding. The eyes can show any colour, which is not associated with the colour or the pattern of the coat.
The ears are large, wide at their base, and are placed to continue the outer
edges of the head.
The coat is fairly long, it has a coarse water repellent upper coat, with very
dense woolly undercoat. In winter the Norwegian Forest Cat shows an imposing
ruff, the hairs on the hind legs are rather long, thus resembling so called
knickerbockers. The upper coat develops rather slowly, and can hardly be seen
in kitten.
The tail is long, and reaches at least up to the shoulders. The tail is very
bushy. |
History
The Norwegian Forest Cat, called Skogkatt, is a very old breed from Norway.
Their origin is unknown, these cats have been around for ever. Norwegian
Forest Cats are not the result of crossbreeding with Persians, because
Persians did not exist in Norway up to the 20th century, but Norwegian
Forest Cats are dated back much earlier. Norwegian Forest Cats are also not
domesticated cats of wild origin. The first Norwegian Forest Cats had been
outdoor cats. In the Norsk mythology it is said that even the god Thor could
not lift up this huge cat from the ground because it was too heavy for him.
Freya, the goddess of love and fertility, had a carriage which was pulled by
two large cats.
Norwegian Forest Cats develop all attributes necessary for their survival:
a heavy double coat, a sturdy boning, strong hind legs with strong claws to
ensure jumping and climbing for hunting, to ensure the survival when living
outside in the snow and in a rough environment. In the early days thousands
of Norwegian Forest Cats had lived in the forests and the countryside of
Norway. It was in the 1970s that breeders made an effort to preserve the
original uniqueness of this cat. 1979 the first breeding pair was exported
to the US. |
Temperament
The Norwegian Forest Cat has a soothing and lovely disposition. Forest Cats
are always around you and will be your best friends for a life time. These
cats are not lap sitters, they do it only on their own terms. They like to
sleep in your bed, but prefer not to sleep under the covers. They are gentle
and quiet, but they know exactly what they want. Forest Cats are very
intelligent and sensible cats. They will follow your word, when being
outdoors, and they like to bring also little prizes from outdoor for you. |
Grooming
Norwegian Forest Cats have a coarse all weather coat, which is adapted very
well to rainy weather or winter times. Their coat has no tendency to mat or
getting knots. In general they are easy to groom, combing their coat
regularly will enhance the silkiness and glistening of their fur. |
Breeding
and Health
Since 2007 a HCM research project is running, conducted by Dr.
Kathryn Meurs,
Washington State University, Veterinary Cardiac Lab.
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Since 2009 a DNS-test from LVD69, France, exists for the colour amber. |
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