Norwegian Forest Cat

The Norwegian Forest Cat is a breed of domestic cat native to Northern Europe, and adapted to a very cold climate. In Norway they are known as Skogkatter or Skaukatter (skog and skau being forms of the word for 'forest' in different Norwegian dialects) or more properly, the Norsk Skogkatt (literally, Norwegian Forest Cat).
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Dilute calico Norwegian Forest Cat showing off its voluminous tail.
Photo: Marc Henrie, ASC NUJ

Weight: 8-10 lbs.
Overview
Norwegian Forest Cats are gentle, friendly cats that enjoy climbing and, according to one source, fishing. They thrive in a busy household with lots of children, other animals, and plenty of action. While these cats love to be with people, they don't necessarily want to be on them.
Appearance
The Norwegian Forest Cat is large, sturdy, and boxy, with back legs that are slightly longer than the front legs and paws tufted with fur between the toes. The head is triangular, with widely spaced ears and large, almond-shaped eyes that range in color from green to hazel to gold. White cats may have blue eyes or odd eyes. The Wegie's coat is well designed to withstand the harshest of winters, but by spring it sheds its dense, woolly undercoat, leaving only the magnificently plumed tail and the tufts of its ears and feet to remind you that this is indeed a longhaired cat. Wegies come in all coat colors and patterns except the Siamese point patterns.
Special Grooming Needs
Apart from periods of heavy shedding (less pronounced with indoor cats), the Norwegian Forest Cat does not generally require daily grooming; combing once or twice a week is recommended.
Origins
The domestic cat appeared in Norway sometime after A.D. 1000. The Siberian and the Turkish Angora, natural longhaired breeds from Russia and Turkey, respectively, have been named as possible precursors of the large, densely furred Norwegian Forest Cat, as have descendants of crosses between Angoras and Scottish Wildcats. Whatever the breed's true origins were, the development of the Norwegian Forest Cat probably paralleled that of longhaired breeds elsewhere. In cold, wet environments, cats with woolly undercoats and long, water-repellent outercoats survived by adapting well to harsh climates.
Special Alerts
Breed-related health problems include glycogen storage disease (a rare and fatal nervous system disorder).