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 I'm a line chaser - are there any on-line resources?
Oh, definitely - http://www.skogkatt.co.uk/cgi-bin/NFO , operated by Doug Campbell. Please send pedigrees to Doug for inclusion in his database of Norwegian Forest Cats! The goal is to be able to trace all the way back to the foundation cats.
Is this a large breed ?
Yes, medium to large. They don't seem to get quite as large as the Maine Coon, though, males generally weigh 6 to 10 kg and the females only half as much. This can be a hazard to the cat, we sometimes hear of cats that get shot at because they're mistaken for lynx -- seems those hunters need glasses if they can't see the cat's long tail. And lynx _are_ about twice as big ! ( That's 'Lynx lynx', weighing on the average 20 kg at a length of just over 1 m ). The conversion to US units is left as an exercise for the reader :-) Also note that the size varies widely.
Are they really a natural breed ?
Yes. Cats arrived in Norway probably around 1000 AD, and it is entirely possible that the ancestors of the skaukatt are Turkish longhairs - since several Byzantine emperors had Scandinavian guards - the vaeringer. Cats have been farm animals ever since, usually living outdoors with shelter wherever they could find it in the barns and stables. Possibly the skaukatt _evolved_ here, since it is very well adapted to such a life. There is speculation that the Maine Coon, the Siberian, the Turkish longhairs and the skaukatt are related, having a common ancestral basis somewhere, but this is still just speculation. It may equally likely be a case of parallel evolution under similar living conditions
Isn't there a lot of trouble with that long coat?
Not at all. Just brush thoroughly and comb it, once a week or so. As with any cat, check the coat for lumps when you pet it so you can remove lumps as and if they form. Mostly the cat can handle its coat without help, solid-coloured cats may need a little now and then. There are some cats whose coat mat more easily than others, but they do not need a lot of grooming. In fact, a Norwegian Forest Cat should never require a bath, unless there's been an accident of some sort. Yes, some associations fault the cats for oily fur - which we Norwegians consider a feature of the cats. It should be a little oily, dry coat is a fault according to the standard. See also Care and Training, above.
Is it true that their fur is waterproof?
For all practical purposes, yes, it is waterproof.
Steve & Louise Clair, of Maineline Cattery, report:
"Based on our experience of bathing a Forest Cat before a show... their top layer of fur is as close to waterproof as you can get. It is very hard to get the animal wet to the skin."
This may be why a breeder friend of mine does not want cats with white paws. Normally she does not bathe the cats - but white paws on an outdoor cat _must_ be cleaned before a show :-)
Are they strictly outdoor cats?
No, they make perfectly good indoor cats. They do need room, though, being large, heavy cats - and parts of normal cat behavior indoors are those sudden rushes off in all directions, to work off energy. However, you should decide indoor/outdoor when you get your cat. A cat who has never been outside might be terrified to go out, and one who has lived outside for years might not want to stay indoors all the time ! Many, if not most, breeders have outside enclosures where the cats are safe while still enjoying the outdoors.
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