The Norwegian Forest Cat Used To Be A Favorite Pet Among The Vikings

Jan 08, 2020 by apost team

Norwegian Forest cats, also affectionately called scogkatts and “wegies”, figure prominently in the literature and history of the Nordic countries. These cats are large, long-haired, strong-willed, and reputed to be a bit on the grumpy side.

The legends say that Vikings collected some cats in Britain long ago and brought them home, where they adapted to the local conditions. They may have inter-bred with cats already present in the area. They were a favorite pet among the Vikings. Every ship and farm had at least one Norwegian Forest cat, and they also lived feral in the forests. It's not clear how long ago the Vikings came home with their cats, but their presence in Scandinavia is well-documented at around 4,000 years ago.

Cats played two roles in the Viking's lives: they killed mice and other rodents and made excellent pets, providing affection, cuddling, and amusing antics. This particular breed also engages in conversation and will often meow back when their owners talk to them.

apost.com

The average Norwegian Forest cat weighs 15 to 20 pounds and has a dense wooly undercoat overlaid by a long, silky outer coat. They have ear tufts like a lynx and are extremely resistant to cold and wet weather. They are also reputed to be better-than-average climbers, to be very intelligent, and to be devoted to their owners.

Despite their legendary past, this breed of cat almost went extinct during World War II. It was rescued by dedicated breeders in Norway, but unfortunately suffered from severe inbreeding during that period of time, which has rendered the breed susceptible to heart and kidney disease, and some lines carry a rearrangement of the gene that codes for the glycogen branching enzyme, which can lead to the development of glycogen storage disease type IV. Breeders have vowed to get rid of these problems through genetic testing of all potential breeding animals.

However, in general, the modern Norwegian Forest cat is healthy and most individuals live to age 15 to 18. Currently, this breed of cat is extremely popular in Norway, Sweden, and France. Norse legends refer to these cats as "mountain-dwelling fairy cat with an ability to climb sheer rock faces that other cats could not manage."

What do you think about this cat breed? If you know someone looking for a large, cuddly cat, why not tell them about the cat breed that enchanted the Vikings?