GENERAL: the Norwegian Forest Cat is a sturdy cat with a distinguishing double coat and easily recognizable body shape. It is a slow maturing breed, attaining full growth at approximately five years of age.

HEAD: equilateral triangle, where all sides are of equal length as measured from the outside of the base of the ear to the point of the chin. The neck is short and heavily muscled.

NOSE PROFILE: straight from the brow ridge to the tip of the nose without a break in the line. The flat forehead continues into a gentle curved skull and neck.

CHIN: the chin is firm and should be in line with the front of the nose. It is gently rounded in profile.

MUZZLE: part of the straight line extending toward the base of ear without pronounced whisker pads and without pinch.

EARS: medium to large, rounded at the tip, broad at base, set as much on the side of the head as on top of the head, alert, with the cup of the ear pointing a bit sideways. The outsides of the ears follow the lines from the side of the head down to the chin. The ears are heavily furnished. Lynx tips are desirable but not required.

EYES: large, almond shaped, well-opened and expressive, set at a slight angle with the outer corner higher than the inner corner.

BODY: solidly muscled and well-balanced, moderate in length, substantial bone structure, with powerful appearance showing a broad chest and considerable girth without being fat. Flank has great depth. Males should be large and imposing; females may be more refined and may be smaller.

LEGS: medium with hind legs longer than front legs, making the rump higher than the shoulders. Thighs are heavily muscled; lower legs are substantial. When viewed from the rear, back legs are straight. When viewed from the front the paws appear to be “toe out.” Large round, firm paws with heavy tufting between toes.

TAIL: long and bushy. Broader at the base. Desirable length is equal to the body from the base of tail to the base of neck. Guard hairs desirable.

COAT: distinguishing double coat, consisting of a dense undercoat, covered by long, glossy and smooth water-resistant guard hairs hanging down the sides. The bib consists of three separate sections: short collar at neck, side mutton chops, and frontal ruff. Britches are full on the hind legs. The coat may be fuller in the winter than the summer because the dense undercoat has its full development in the winter. Softer coats are permitted in shaded, solid and bicolor cats. Type and quality of coat is of primary importance; color and pattern are secondary.

PATTERNS: every color and pattern is allowable with the exception of those showing hybridization resulting in the colors chocolate, sable, lavender, lilac, cinnamon, fawn, point-restricted (Himalayan type markings), or these colors with white.

COLORS AND PATTERN: the color and pattern should be clear and distinct. In the case of the classic, mackerel and spotted tabbies the pattern should be well-marked and even.

DISQUALIFY: severe break in nose, square muzzle, whisker pinch, long rectangular body, cobby body, incorrect number of toes, crossed eyes, kinked or abnormal tail, delicate bone structure, malocclusion resulting in either undershot or overshot chin, cats showing evidence of hybridization resulting in the colors chocolate, sable, lavender, lilac, cinnamon, fawn, or point-restricted (Himalayan-type markings) or these colors with white.

EYE COLOR: eye color should be shades of green, gold, greengold or copper. White cats and cats with white may have blue or odd eyes.

NOSE LEATHER AND PAW PADS: any color or combination of colors, not necessarily related to coat color except where so noted. Cats with white on feet may have pink paw pads or they may be bi- or multi-colored.

BUTTONS AND LOCKETS: allowable on any color and/or pattern. Cats with buttons and/or lockets shall be judged as their basic color with no penalty for such locket and/or button.

SOLID AND PARTICOLOR

WHITE: pure glistening white. Nose leather and paw pads: pink desirable.

BLACK: dense coal black, sound from roots to tip of fur. Nose leather: black desirable. Paw pads: black desirable.

BLUE: one level tone from nose to tip of tail, sound to the roots. Nose leather and paw pads: blue desirable.

RED: deep, rich, clear, brilliant red; without shading, markings, or ticking. Nose leather and paw pads: brick red desirable.

CREAM: one level shade of buff cream, without markings. Sound to the roots. Lighter shades preferred. Nose leather and paw pads: pink desirable.

AMBER (non agouti): yellow recessive color that presents as dark honey-chestnut. Kittens will be warm brown with coats gradually maturing to amber color. They may have ghost tabby markings that darken with age. Nose is dark brown/charcoal-black. Ears are rimmed with dark fading to amber. Paw pads: dark brown or black

LIGHT AMBER (dilute of non agouti): pale beige blonde. Kittens will appear blue with coats gradually maturing to light amber color. They may have ghost tabby markings that darken with age. Nose is blue/dark blue. Ears are rimmed with dark fading to light amber. Paw pads: blue.

TORTOISESHELL: black with patches of red or softly intermingled area of red on both body and extremities. Presence of several shades of red acceptable.

BLUE-CREAM: blue with patches or softly intermingled areas of cream on both body and extremities.

AMBER TORTOISESHELL: amber with patches of red or intermingled area of red on body and extremities. Presence of several shades of red acceptable. Kittens appear as black/dark brown and red, with black portions becoming amber.

SILVER AND GOLDEN

CHINCHILLA SILVER: undercoat pure white. Coat on back, flanks, head, and tail sufficiently tipped with black to give the characteristic sparkling silver appearance. Legs may be slightly shaded with tipping. Chin, ear tufts, stomach, and chest, pure white. Rims of eyes, lips, and nose outlined with black. Nose leather: brick red desirable. Paw pads: black desirable.

SHADED SILVER: undercoat white with a mantle of black tipping shading down from sides, face, and tail from dark on the ridge to white on the chin, chest, stomach and under the tail. Legs to be the same tone as the face. The general effect to be much darker than a chinchilla. Rims of eyes, lips, and nose outlined with black. Nose leather: brick red desirable. Paw pads: black desirable.

CHINCHILLA GOLDEN: undercoat rich warm cream. Coat on back, flanks, head, and tail sufficiently tipped with black to give golden appearance. Legs may be slightly shaded with tipping. Chin, ear tufts, stomach, and chest, cream. Rims of eyes, lips, and nose outlined with black. Nose leather: deep rose desirable. Paw pads: black desirable.

SHADED GOLDEN: undercoat rich warm cream with a mantle of black tipping shading down from the sides, face, and tail from dark on the ridge to cream on the chin, chest, stomach, and under the tail. Legs to be the same tone as the face. The general effect to be much darker than a chinchilla. Rims of eyes, lips, and nose outlined with black. Nose leather: deep rose desirable. Paw pads: black desirable.

RED CHINCHILLA SILVER: undercoat white, the coat on the back, flanks, head, and tail to be sufficiently tipped with red to give the characteristic sparkling appearance. Face and legs may be very slightly shaded with tipping. Chin, ear tufts, stomach, and chest, white. Nose leather and paw pads: rose desirable.

RED SHADED SILVER: undercoat white with a mantle of red tipping shading down the sides, face, and tail from dark on the ridge to white on the chin, chest, stomach, and under the tail. Legs to be the same tone as face. The general effect to be much redder than the shell cameo. Nose leather and paw pads: rose desirable.

CHINCHILLA TORTOISESHELL: undercoat white. Coat on the back, flanks, head, and tail to be delicately tipped in black with patches or softly intermingled areas of red tipped hairs as in the pattern of the tortoiseshell. Presence of several shades of red acceptable. Face and legs may be slightly shaded with tipping. Chin, ear tufts, stomach, and chest, white to very slightly tipped.

SHADED TORTOISESHELL: undercoat white. Mantle of black tipping and patches or softly intermingled areas of red tipped hairs as in the pattern of the tortoiseshell. Presence of several shades of red acceptable. Shading down the sides, face, and tail from dark on the ridge to slightly tipped or white on the chin, chest, stomach, legs, and under the tail. The general effect is to be much darker than the chinchilla tortoiseshell.

SMOKE

BLACK SMOKE: white undercoat, deeply tipped with black. Cat in repose appears black. In motion the white undercoat is clearly apparent. Points and mask (i.e., face, ears, paws and tip of tail) black with narrow band of white at base of hairs next to skin which may be seen only when fur is parted. Light silver frill and ear tufts. Nose leather and paw pads: black desirable.

BLUE SMOKE: white undercoat, deeply tipped with blue. Cat in repose appears blue. In motion the white undercoat is clearly apparent. Points and mask (i.e., face, ears, paws and tip of tail) blue with narrow band of white at base of hairs next to skin which may be seen only when fur is parted. White frill and ear tufts. Nose leather and paw pads: blue desirable.

RED SMOKE (Red Smoke): white undercoat, deeply tipped with red. Cat in repose appears red. In motion the white undercoat is clearly apparent. Points and mask (i.e., face, ears, paws and tip of tail) red, with narrow band of white at base of hairs next to skin which may be seen only when fur is parted. White frill and ear tufts. Nose leather, rims of eyes and paw pads: rose desirable.

CREAM SMOKE: white undercoat, deeply tipped with cream. Cat in repose appears cream. In motion the white undercoat is clearly apparent. Points and mask (i.e., face, ears, paws and tip of tail) cream with narrow band of white at base of hairs next to skin which may be seen only when fur is parted. White frill and ear tufts. Nose leather and paw pads: pink desirable.

AMBER SMOKE: undercoat white, deeply tipped with Amber. Face, legs and tail, amber with narrow band of white at base of hairs next to skin which may be seen only when fur is parted.

LIGHT AMBER SMOKE: undercoat white, deeply tipped with Light Amber. Face, legs and tail, light amber with narrow band of white at base of hairs next to skin which may be seen only when fur is parted.

TORTOISESHELL SMOKE: white undercoat, deeply tipped with black with patches or softly intermingled areas of red tipped hairs as in the pattern of the tortoiseshell. Presence of several shades of red acceptable. Cat in repose appears tortoiseshell. In motion the white undercoat is clearly apparent. Points and mask (i.e., face, ears, paws, tip of tail) tortoiseshell pattern with narrow band of white at the base of the hairs next to the skin that may be seen only when fur is parted. White ruff and ear tufts.

BLUE-CREAM SMOKE: white undercoat deeply tipped with blue, with patches or softly intermingled areas of cream as in the pattern of the blue-cream. Cat in repose appears blue-cream. In motion the white undercoat is clearly apparent. Points and mask (i.e., face, ears, paw, tip of tail) blue-cream pattern with narrow band of white at the base of the hair next to the skin that may be seen only when fur is parted. White ruff and ear tufts.

AMBER TORTOISESHELL SMOKE: amber with patches of red or intermingled area of red on body and extremities. Presence of several shades of red acceptable. Undercoat is white which may only be seen when fur is parted. Kittens appear as black/dark brown and red, with black portions becoming amber and undercoat white at the base.

TABBY

CLASSIC TABBY PATTERN: markings dense, clearly defined, and broad. Legs evenly barred with bracelets coming up to meet the body markings. Tail evenly ringed. Several necklaces on neck and upper chest, with locket allowed. Frown marks on forehead form an intricate letter “M.” Unbroken line runs back from outer corner of eye. Swirls on cheeks. Vertical lines over back of head extend to shoulder markings which are in the shape of a butterfly with both upper and lower wings distinctly outlined and marked with dots inside outline. Back markings consist of a vertical line down the spine from butterfly to tail with a vertical stripe paralleling it on each side, the three stripes separated by stripes of the ground color. Large solid blotch on each side to be encircled by one or more unbroken rings. Side markings should be the same on both sides. Double vertical rows of buttons on chest and stomach. White buttons and/or lockets allowed.

MACKEREL TABBY PATTERN: markings dense, clearly defined, and all narrow pencillings. Legs evenly barred with narrow bracelets coming up to meet the body markings. Tail barred. Necklaces on neck and chest distinct; white locket allowed. Head barred with an “M” on the forehead. Unbroken lines running back from the eyes. Lines running down the head to meet the shoulders. Spine lines run together to form a narrow saddle. Narrow pencillings run around body. White buttons and/or lockets allowed.

PATCHED TABBY PATTERN: a patched tabby (tortie) is an established silver, brown, blue or blue-silver tabby with patches of red and/or cream. White buttons and/or lockets allowed.

SPOTTED TABBY PATTERN: markings on the body to be spotted. May vary in size and shape with preference given to round, evenly distributed spots. Spots should not run together in a broken mackerel pattern. A dorsal stripe runs the length of the body to the tip of the tail. The stripe is ideally composed of spots. The markings on the face and forehead shall be typically tabby markings. Underside of the body to have “vest buttons.” Legs and tail are barred. White buttons and/or lockets allowed.

TICKED TABBY PATTERN: body hairs to be ticked with various shades of marking color and ground color. Body when viewed from top to be free from noticeable spots, stripes or blotches, except for darker dorsal shading. Lighter underside may show tabby markings. Face, legs and tail must show distinct tabby striping. White buttons and/or lockets allowed.

All tabby colors are acceptable in any described pattern.

BROWN TABBY: ground color brilliant coppery brown. Markings dense black. Back of leg black from paw to heel. Nose leather: brick red desirable. Paw pads: black or brown desirable.

BLUE TABBY: ground color, including lips and chin, pale bluish ivory. Markings a very deep blue affording a good contrast with ground color. Warm fawn overtones or patina over the whole. Nose leather and paw pads: rose desirable.

RED TABBY: ground color red. Markings deep, rich red. Lips and chin red. Nose leather and paw pads: brick red desirable.

CREAM TABBY: ground color, including lips and chin, very pale cream. Markings of buff or cream sufficiently darker than the ground color to afford good contrast, but remaining within the dilute color range. Nose leather and paw pads: pink desirable.

AMBER TABBY: Ground color amber. Markings deep, rich amber. Kittens will appear as warm brown tabbies; amber color evolves with maturity. Nose leather: pink. Paw pads: pink as kittens, changing to dark brown or black as cat matures.

LIGHT AMBER TABBY: Ground color pale, beige blonde. Markings sufficiently darker to afford good contrast. Kittens will appear as blue tabbies; light amber color evolves as kitten matures. Nose leather: pink. Paw pads: pink as kittens, evolving to blue as cat matures.

SILVER TABBY: ground color, including lips and chin, pale, clear silver. Markings dense black. Nose leather: brick red desirable. Paw pads: black desirable.

BLUE-SILVER TABBY: ground color pale, clear silver. Markings a deep blue affording a good contrast with ground color. White trim around chin and lip allowed. Nose leather: old rose desirable. Paw pads: rose desirable.

RED SILVER TABBY markings red. Undercoat white. Nose leather and paw pads: rose desirable.

CREAM SILVER TABBY: Markings cream. Undercoat white. Nose letter and paw pads: pink desirable.

AMBER SILVER TABBY: Ground color silver. Markings dense dark honey chestnut affording a good contrast with ground color. Undercoat white.

BROWN PATCHED TABBY: ground color brilliant coppery brown with tabby markings of dense black with patches or softly intermingled areas of red tabby on both body and extremities. Presence of several shades of red acceptable. Lips and chin the same shade as the rings around the eyes.

BLUE PATCHED TABBY: ground color, including lips and chin, pale bluish ivory with tabby markings of very deep blue affording a good contrast with ground color. Patches or softly intermingled areas of cream tabby on both body and extremities. Warm fawn overtones or patina over the whole.

SILVER PATCHED TABBY: ground color, including lips and chin, pale silver with tabby markings of dense black with patches or softly intermingled areas of red tabby on both body and extremities. Presence of several shades of red acceptable.

BLUE-SILVER PATCHED TABBY: ground color pale, clear silver with tabby markings of a deep blue affording a good contrast with the ground color. Patches or softly intermingled areas of cream tabby on both body and extremities. White trim around chin and lip allowed.

AMBER PATCHED TABBY: Ground color dark honey chestnut. Tabby markings sufficiently darker affording a good contrast with the ground color. Patches or softly intermingled areas of red tabby on both body and extremities. Presence of several shades of red acceptable.

LIGHT AMBER PATCHED TABBY: Ground color pale beige blonde. Tabby markings sufficiently darker affording a good contrast with the ground color. Patches or softly intermingled areas of cream tabby on both body and extremities.

CALICO AND BI-COLOR

SOLID COLOR AND WHITE (including Van): black and white, blue and white, red and white, or cream and white. White with colored portions, the colored portions of the cat to conform to the solid color standard.

CALICO/TORTOISESHELL AND WHITE (including Van):: white with colored portions, the colored portions of the cat to conform to the tortoiseshell standard.

DILUTE CALICO/BLUE-CREAM AND WHITE (including Van): white with colored portions, the colored portions of the cat to conform to the blue-cream standard.

AMBER CALICO/AMBER TORTOISESHELL AND WHITE (including Van): white with colored portions, the colored portions
of the cat to conform to the amber tortoiseshell standard.

SMOKE/SHADED/CHINCHILLA AND WHITE (including Van): white with colored portions, the colored portions of the cat to conform to the corresponding color standards. Calico smoke included with tortoiseshell smoke and white; dilute calico smoke included with blue-cream smoke and white.

TABBY AND WHITE (including Van): white with colored portions, the colored portions of the cat to conform to any of the currently established tabby corresponding color standards.

ANY OTHER NFC COLORS: any other color or pattern with the exception of those showing hybridization resulting in the colors chocolate, lavender/lilac, the himalayan pattern, or these combinations with white.

The following information is for reference purposes only and not an official part of the CFA Show Standard.

Norwegian Forest Cat allowable outcross breeds: none