Norwegian Forest Cats are an old breed native to the north of Europe. They are known as Forest Cats in many parts of Europe. It is an ancient breed and is acclimatized to the harsh winters which plague northern Europe. References to the Norwegian Forest Cat can be found in many instances of Norse mythology. Sometime during the 20th century, the Norwegian Forest Cats started to become a rare sight almost to the point of extinction. Certain steps were taken to ensure the continuity of this breed but were interrupted during the Second World War. Later, in the 1970s, a breeding program was undertaken to revive the breed.

As the name of the Norwegian Forest Cat implies, it was originally a wild cat which adapted itself to the extreme climate of its native place. At first sight, it is very similar to the Maine Coon breed of cats, which is not surprising since they both originate in places where the temperature is several degrees below the freezing point. The body of the Norwegian Forest Cat has excellent muscle tone and a very sturdy build. The features of this breed of cat are very well balanced. When looked at from the front, the head of the cat is perfectly triangle shaped. The eyes of the Norwegian Forest Cat are its best feature. They are slightly raised at the outer rims and have a beautiful almond shape. Purebred Norwegian Forest cats have eye colors ranging from gold to green.

Norwegian Forest Cats, or Wedgies as they are popularly called, have a thick double coated fur, which is resistant to water. The thick and oily water resistant coat is a necessity in order to survive the freezing winters and is one of the many adaptations for survival. Even the ears and feet of the Norwegian Forest Cat are tailor-made to brave the chill. The heavily furnished ears have thick tufts of hair, which extend from the tips of the ears to the inner ear flaps. The feet too have tufts between the pads to protect the cat from the snow and ice. During winter, the Norwegian Forest Cats grow an extra layer of neck fur to keep the cold out. This neck fur gets fuller each year as the cats grow older.

Once winter is over, the Norwegian Forest Cats shed the excess fur from their undercoats so that only the top layer of guard coat remains. The guard coat is long and silky to touch, and is very easy to maintain. Being naturally fussy about their appearance, these cats take care of much of their grooming themselves. An additional weekly brushing and occasional baths are all it takes to keep the coat soft and glossy. Norwegian Forest Cats may come in any color except color point, lilac, cinnamon, chocolate and fawn. Though white is the most common color, other combination do exist.

Norwegian Forest Cats are intelligent, gentle and patient creatures. They are well suited to households which have small kids or other pets. These cats enjoy human company and make good pets.