Funnily enough, Norwegian Forest cats are known for their exceptionally strong claws and ability to climb rocks. She was often portrayed with Norwegian Forest cats playing or napping around her, or driving her around in her chariot. Eldredge, Debra (2003). The Norwegian Forest Cat is a mystical breed, originally thought of as fairy cat. Molecular Genetics and Metabolism. Because Freya was the goddess of love, people also believed that girls who loved cats had greater chance of getting married and having a happy marriage. It is believed that their ancestors were black and white short-haired cats brought to Norway from Britain around the year 1000 AD, by the Vikings. PMID 17257876. To avoid obesity, it is recommended to dose their high-quality food in two measured meals per day. The breed appears in a Norwegian fairy tale, which states the Norse goddess Freyaâs chariot was pulled by these six giant cats. The Norwegian Forest Cat is a large feline and one that boasts being a natural hunter. The Norwegian Forest has evolved through the centuries as a product of its environment. Adult males weigh anywhere from 5.5 to 7.5 kg (12 – 16.5 lbs), and females from 3.5 to 4.5 kg (7.7 – 10 lbs). Jump to full list of Norwegian fairy tales. J Vet Emerg Crit Care (San Antonio). He likes to choose when and how he will snuggle on your lap or by your sideâbut he will snuggle. They once almost became extict.. During World War II, the breed didn’t get a lot of attention, and thanks to crossbreeding, came very close to extinction. Farmers and sailors prized the Norwegian Forest cat for its mousing skills. But they might also be descendants of long-haired cats brought to Scandinavia by the Crusaders. However, there is not much known about how the breed came into existence. "17: Preventative Health Care for Your Pet". (They also have tufted ears and toes, which work like built-in earmuffs and boots.) Fascinated by their glamorous ways, we hope to have delivered some of the magic to you too! Thor, the God of Thunder, could not lift a Norwegian Forest. Make the sessions short at first, and prolong them as the cat is getting used to it. The Cat Who Could Eat So Much. THEYâRE BIG IN EUROPE. 2. Their lifespan is usually around 14-16 years of age. This rearrangement can cause a perinatal hypoglycemic collapse and a late-juvenile-onset neuromuscular degeneration in glycogen storage disease type IV in the breed (Fyfea J. C. et al, 2007). These handy physical traits helped the breed survive snowy Scandinavian winters. Norwegian Forest cats appear in a Norwegian fairy tale, which states the Norse goddess Freyaâs chariot was pulled by these six giant cats. They are VERY large and VERY fluffy. © 2021. Although generally strong and healthy, there are some health issues reported in the breed. True to their forest roots, they love to climb. The Norwegian Forest Cat, called \"wegie\" for short, is both independent and an affectionate member of the family who loves attention but does not demand it. "A complex rearrangement in GBE1 causes both perinatal hypoglycemic collapse and late-juvenile-onset neuromuscular degeneration in glycogen storage disease type IV of Norwegian forest cats". Watching the kittens grow into beautiful confident babies is an absolute delight. 2. To no surprise, the Norwegian Forest cats are their country’s national cat. 2015;25(2):263-272. Dedicated owners learned that their cats have the possibility of suffering from hip dysplasia.". Some published studies have also recognized the Norwegian Forest cats, among several other breeds, to be at a higher risk from Diabetes mellitus (Cooper RL et al, 1997-2007)(Ohlund M et al, 2015). But there is also the enormous Cat Sith of Celtic folklore, the fairy-like Norwegian forest cats of the goddess Freya, and the monstrous Yule Cat of Iceland. The Chronicle of the Pancake. If you have, it was most likely a Norwegian Forest cat. Don’t forget to reward the pawesome behavior with their favorite treats! He figures in fairy tales and legends, one being that the Norse goddess Freyaâs chariot is pulled by six giant cats. 4. Other possible ancestors could include Turkish Angora and Siberian cats, as well as longhaired cats from Turkey and Russia. Norse mythology tells that these cats were the favourites of Freyja, goddess of love, fertility and the hearth. The Norwegian forest cats are large, sturdy and strong. Most beloved by Freya, the Norse goddess of beauty and love, this longhaired cat (referred to as the skogkatt) features in numerous tales that refer to it as a âFairy catâ. They had to feed, defend, and protect themselves from the elements in the forests. Millers Point, N.S.W. 1. The Norwegian forest cat (Norsk skogkatt) is a hugely popular cat in Norway and across northern Europe. While Norwegian Forest cats donât crack the top 10 most popular cat ⦠Origins. The Norwegian forest cat (or scogkatts in Norwegian) originated between 1500 and 4,000 years ago, as a result of natural selection. National fairy tales by Asbjomsen and Moe mention Troll Cats who were huge and furry-. While Norwegian Forest cats don’t crack the top 10 most popular cat breeds in America, they do have a legion of loyal fans in Europe. But even when not snuggling, forest cats like to stay fairly close to their owners. Farmers believed that if Freya passed through their fields, it would cause their crops to sprout and grow. Appearances aren’t deceiving. Norwegian Forest cat is one of a mystical origin, believed to be between 1000 to 2000 years old. These kitties love to explore and they make for excellent climbers. Norwegian forest cats are very addictive, I could not imagine my life without one (or 5ð¤£). A Norwegian Forest cat lives life on his own terms. ForestFairy Norwegian Forest Cats. Fyfe, J. C.; Kurzhals, R. L.; Hawkins, M. G.; Wang, P.; Yuhki, N.; Giger, U.; Van Winkle, T. J.; Haskins, M. E.; Patterson, D. F.; Henthorn, P. S. (2007). The back ⦠As mentioned before, one of the famous legends following the cat is that in which Thor, the strongest God of them all, lost a contest of strength to Jormungand who came disguised as a Norwegian Forest cat. Although this is uncertain, the breed's ancestors may have been a landrace of short-haired cats brought to Norway by the Vikings around 1000 AD, who may also have brought with them long-haired cats, like those ancestral to the modern Sib⦠Sadly, Norwegian Forest cats aren't as hardy as their ancient Viking owners. The Norwegian Forest Cat is native to Norway, with a history going back hundreds and maybe thousands of years. And in one Norwegian tale, Thor loses a contest of strength to the tricky god Jormungand, who’s disguised as a skogkatt. It’s not surprising that the breed is well-loved in—you guessed it—Scandinavia. Norwegian Forest Cats are mentioned in Scandinavian fairy tales and mythology, where they have been described as âenchanted cats of the forest that could disappear at willâ¦â. {"id":"", "email":"","default_address":null,"first_name":"","last_name":"","name":"" }. In 1912, Gabriel Scott. However, fanciers didn’t start noticing and showing the breed until the 1930s. Although usually identified by their tabby-white medium-long fur, Norwegian kitties come in all possible colors and patterns except for chocolate, lilac, fawn and cinnamon. On average, a Norwegian forest kitten can cost anywhere from $300 to as much as $900. For a show-quality cat with a great bloodline, the costs could be closer to $1,000.