cat norwegian forest cat norwegian breed domestic cat originating natural breed adapted cold climate coat glossy long water hairs uncertain breed ancestors short haired cats brought norway brought long haired cats like ancestral modern breeds world war breed nearly extinct efforts helped breed creating official breeding program registered breed 1970s local cat took notice breed efforts register currently norwegian forest breed popular norway sweden iceland france big strong cat similar breed long legs tail body breed good climbing strong claws lifespan usually years kidney heart diseases reported breed specifically breed complex branching cause collapse late juvenile onset storage disease type history norwegian forest cat adapted survive norway cold weather ancestors include black white cats brought norway great_britain time cats brought norway cats reproduced farm feral stock eventually evolved modern day breed cats russia turkey respectively possible ancestors breed norse legends refer mountain dwelling fairy cat ability climb sheer rock faces cats manage norwegian forest cat adept author believes ancestor modern breed norse organisations modern breed likely ancestors norwegian forest cat served ships cats viking ships original lived norwegian forests centuries later prized hunting skills norwegian farms discovered early twentieth century cat enthusiasts organisation devoted breed formed oslo norway club movement preserve breed interrupted world war owing cross breeding free ranging domestic cats war norwegian forest cat endangered nearly extinct helped breed comeback developing official breeding program cat leave norway 1970s registered breed pan european federation cat norwegian cat took notice breed efforts register breed registered europe 1970s recognized sweden accepted breed united_kingdom britain norwegian forest breed popular norway sweden fifth popular cat breed france year breed description strongly built larger average cat breed long body long legs tail coat consists long glossy thick water layer legs chest head profile breed generally straight head long overall shape similar triangle strong chin muzzle medium length square round shaped head considered defect eyes shaped oblique colour ears large wide base high set placed extension triangle formed head end hair like ears coat colors accepted chocolate cats strong claws good climb rocks cats quiet voice develop loud voice kept house dog friendly intelligent generally good people norwegian forest cat lot energy demanding attention cats live primarily outdoors swift effective hunters breed adapt indoor life bought registered usa tend cost cats usually live years old heavy tall require food domestic breeds males considerably heavier larger females health issues kidney heart diseases reported breed experiment directed concluded complex breed branching cause collapse late juvenile onset storage disease type breed disorder rare prove fatal cats dna tests available highly recommended cat associations cat members carry dna test animals breeding provide pedigree database comes health programmes publishing single cat test result provide useful information breeders informed breeding decision breed known suffer hip rare partially hereditary disease hip joint breed societies clubs society viking cat club
Norwegian Forest cat