The Arrival of Norwegian Forest Cats in the UK

It is believed that the first Norwegian Forest Cats were brought into this Country in 1986 and came from Holland. In 1987 further Forest Cats arrived from Norway. These first Norwegian Forest Cats were the basis of a breeding programme that is still continuing today.

These days Forest Cats are still being brought into this country, with many coming from Scandinavian countries such as Norway, Denmark and Sweden. Thanks to an extensive breeding programme, there are now thousands of Forest Cats in this country. Some of the original importers of Forest Cats are in fact still breeding them.

The Norwegian Forest Cat Club in the United Kingdom was founded in 1987. 1997 saw the Club's 10th birthday. The Club has grown over the years and has been helped along the way by a number of other Clubs. The NFCC was helped along the path to GCCF affiliation by the Colourpoint Rex Coated and A.O.V. Club, who acted as the NFC Club's sponsors. The Norwegian Forest Cat Club actually became affiliated to the GCCF in June 1993. In the UK the main governing body is the Governing Council of the Cat Fancy (GCCF) and therefore recognition of the Norwegian Forest Cat by FIFe did not apply to the Norwegian Forest Cats registered with the GCCF. This meant that the NFCC had to set about getting recognition for the Forest Cats with the GCCF. And so, whilst the Club was working towards affiliation it was also working towards getting the breed official GCCF recognition.

In 1990 the Norwegian Forest Cat was given Preliminary Status. This meant that the Forest Cats could attend Shows and be awarded Merit Certificates. A Merit Certificate is awarded to a cat that conforms to its Standard of Points (The Standard of Points is laid down by the Breed club and agreed by the GCCF). The Cats do not compete against one another for Merit Certificates. The first Norwegian Forest Cats were officially shown at the Supreme Show in 1990 thanks to a special dispensation given by the GCCF. There were 7 Norwegian Forest Cats competing for Merits at this show. However it was not until the 1995/96 Show Year that the Norwegian Forest Cat was granted Provisional Status. Norwegian Forest Cats could finally compete against each other. An Intermediate Certificate was awarded to the best entire and neutered adult cats, both male and female, and a Best of Breed award could also be awarded. In June 1997 The Norwegian Forest Cat was granted full Championship status.

The History of the Breed

The Norwegian Forest Cat is a truly natural breed and it really does originate from Norway. The exact origins of the Forest Cats will never be precisely established, but one thing is certain, the Forest Cats were produced by Mother Nature and no one else.

The earliest tales of what we now recognise as Forest Cats can be found in Norwegian folk lore, where it is said that these cats were the family pets of the Vikings. In 1599 a Danish-born priest called Peter Friis who was living in Norway described and categorised the Norwegian Lynx. The categories were the wolf-lynx, the fox-lynx and the cat-lynx. Some years later it became apparent that what Peter Friis had called the cat-lynx were most likely to be Norwegian Forest Cats. Indeed the similarities between the two make this very possible. Both are large with long legs, have big ruffs,/manes and ear tufts. Both indeed have a particular liking for water, with the ability to catch fish in lakes and streams.

Other references to the Forest Cats can be found in the folk tales of Asbjornsen and Moe, where they are referred to as "Huldrekat" which translates as "Fairy Cat". The Cats are actually described as "wood" or "forest" cats with thick bushy tails. Possibly the first documented Forest Cat was in a children's book. The Norwegian author Gabriel Scott wrote a book in 1912 entitled "Solvfaks". The main character in this book is a Forest Cat called "Solvfaks".

The Norwegian Forest Cat as we know it today has developed through natural selection, as only the toughest cat, with the thickest waterproof coat and other special features would be able to survive in Norway's harsh climate.

It was not until the 1930's that the Forest Cats were looked at with interest. But, with the outbreak of War, this interest was put on the back burner. It was not until the 1970's that the Forest Cats were looked at again. By this stage it had become apparent that the Forest Cats were facing extinction, and that if they were to be saved from disappearing altogether a specialised breeding programme had to be developed. In 1975 enthusiastic Norwegian breeders formed the Norsk Skogkattring (the first Norwegian Forest Cat Club).

In these early years many difficulties arose in establishing a breed standard. Carl Frederick Nordane (Freddy) was a driving force in getting the breed recognised. It was not until Freddy (a member of the specially formed Breeder's Committee) saw photographs of a Cat called Pans Truls that the possibilities of a widely accepted and agreed official standard became achievable. Pans Truls lived with the Nyland Family near Oslo. Freddy and other members of the Breeder's Committee went to see the Nylands and Pans Truls (a brown tabby and white kitten). It was soon apparent that Pans Truls was indeed the cat they were looking for. Pans Truls became the "model" cat and a standard of points was formulated.

It was not until 1977 that the Breed was officially recognised by FIFe as an International Pedigree. This meant that Norwegian Forest Cats could now compete for such titles as Champion, European Champion and International Champion, etc. Unfortunately it took a further 20 years before the GCCF recognised Norwegian Forest Cats as Championship grade cats.

Copyright Vanda Clunas 1997.