This
page features a beautiful Norwegian Forest Cat family and talks about
the parents. Helmi very kindly sent me
some fantastic pictures some time ago now. I confess that I had
forgotten about them. How could I have done that?! I must have been
sidetracked. Anyway, I downloaded the latest version of Picasa from the
internet. Picasa and Picasa Web Albums are simply awesome. What a
combination! Helmi Flick photographs and Google technology. Picasa made
the collage and the video on this page. I wouldn't have done this but
for Picasa scanning through the hard drive and finding photographs that
I thought were not there.
The Norwegian Forest
Cat is one of my favorites. This is partly because
I lived with one many years ago. Actually, she was a Norwegian Forest
Cat mix but very definitely Norwegian Forest Cat, nonetheless. Such
athletism. What a climber! And how courageous. I adore these
photographs. If you live with an NFC, can we hear from you? Try this input form.
The Norwegian Forest
Cat has a fine temperament. They are intelligent.
They are quiet. I remember my girl making the smallest of meows -
completely charming. Gloria Stephens (author: Legacy of the Cat)
calls this cat a "definite cat".
She says that this breed of cat know what they are doing and how to
achieve what they want. A nice sentiment but I think going just a tiny
bit too
far. The breed, though, is one of the most popular, which is hardly
surprising considering their size (large, or in cat fancy language:
"substantial" - see cat
body types) and their heavy
double
coat made for those cold
Norwegian winters and handsome face. Although at first glance there is
similarity between the Norwegian Forest Cat, Maine
Coon
and Siberian
cat they are quite different in
a cat fancy sense (i.e. breed
standard). And actually to those outside the cat fancy differences in
appearance are quite noticeable. For instance, the Maine Coon is long
and flexible and the NFC has a more pointed muzzle (this is my
opinion). Although it is said that the cats may originate from the same
source. The
differences could reflect differences in evolution and breeding.
Breeding has been the main driving force in differentiating the breeds
in appearance. The Siberian cat and Norwegian Forest Cat share a
similar early origin in that they evolved in pretty harsh conditions
resulting in their thick coats, strong constitutions and finely tuned
survival instincts.
Gloria Stephens also says, in her fine book, that they are dependable
and sensible. I wish all people were the same. The history of this
distinguished cat breed took a massive turn towards celebrity in the
1930s when what was an "ordinary" moggie cat companion to Norwegians
began the long journey to a finely developed show cat. The 1930s was
the
decade when this cat breed was shown at cat shows for the first time
and who could resist developing the breed.
So, what about this gorgeous Norwegian Forest Cat family? Well, Helmi
Flick tells the story on her blog.
The Norwegian Forest Cat family (minus the father it seems
- he is
directly below) were
brought to the Flicks' home in Bedford, Texas by cat breeders Jim and
Donna Armel of ForestKatz who are based in Spring, Texas.
The Forestkatz
website
is quite special with a high quality design on the home page by Helmi
Flick. The design features a fantastic Norwegian Forest Cat, "Treat".
To the left, on this page, is another wonderful Norwegian Forest Cat,
from this cattery, who is also in a successful
video.
This
cat is called Guri.
His full
name is RW QGC/CH HattKatts Guri of ForestKatz. He is
extraordinarily distinguished and special looking. These are his awards:
2005-2006
TICA International # 4 Norwegian Forest Cat Kitten
2005-2006 TICA South Central Region # 14 Kitten
2005-2006 TICA South Central Region # 2 BOB NFC Kitten
2005-2006 TICA South Central Region # 15 LH Cat
2005-2006 TICA South Central Region # 2 BOB NFC Cat
2005-2006 CFA Gulf Shores Region # 2 BOB NFC Cat
This
photo (left) of RW
QGC/CH HattKatts Guri of ForestKatz
is copyrightHelmi
Flick - please respect it -
thank you.
Guri is a Red Classic Tabby & White
and his date of birth is:
12/04/2004. On their website, Jim and Donna Armel call Guri "G Baby".
The name made me smile because I can empathise with it. He is the
"King of ForestKatz". Well, when I saw him for the first time he looked
like royalty to me. He is the sort of cat that demands and gets the red
carpet treatment. G Baby is a very successful show cat. On their
website,
they also say he is one "Best Cat" rosette short from becoming a
supreme
champion. I
wonder if he has achieved that yet? Not sure. Guri came to ForestKatz
in 2005 from the cattery of Pete Meisinger and Donna Lawry, HattKatts.
He was brought to ForestKatz with the objective of being the
best possible sire for the cattery and he has lived up to that
objective we are told. I am sure his offspring will achieve fame and
fortune!
Now what about the Norwegian Forest Cat Family, as I called it, in the
collage and video above? Well, you won't be surprised to know that the
father is the king himself, Guri. While the mother is RW SGC NorseStar
Berit of ForestKatz (she's the cat in the small picture above and to
the
right and in the video - first frame). What parents! Helmi says that
Donna Armel calls
the kittens her, "Angel Litter". Their names are in the video
as captions. The super six are: Ariel, Calli, Faith, Gabriel,
Grace and Kadi.
And the picture of the cats gazing at and trying to catch the bubble
(bottom right in the collage) illustrated a profile of this breed that
was published
in Cat Fancy magazine. You can't get better than that. The Flicks are
very careful in selecting the correct background. The
background can make or beak a picture and on this occasion it is called
"Green Felt". Just in case anyone wants to line up the Flicks
for a photo session. Oh, and that bubble that graces the Cat Fancy
photo was added in post processing, something Helmi is also skilled at.
Guri is a red classic
tabby and white; the associations allow
all traditional colors and divisions. Also NorseStar
Berit of ForestKatz is a brown
classic tabby & white. I try and summarise the breed standards
of
the
major associations while showing more of Helmi's photographs (and those
of some
other fine amateur photographers) in a large slide show on this page:
Norwegian Forest
Cat
Picture [link].
Then there is lots more
reading and viewing: Norwegian
Forest Cat [link]
- this takes you to a big page on this cat breed.
This Norwegian Forest Cat family is stunning.
Norwegian Forest Cat family? -- We all love to hear from people about
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My Norwegian Forest Cat
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We adopted this cat from a no-kill shelter about 6 mos. ago. they estimated him to be around 3-4 years old. We have no other information on him because ...
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The Norwegian Forest Cat family (minus the father it seems
- he is
directly below) were
brought to the Flicks' home in Bedford, Texas by cat breeders Jim and
Donna Armel of ForestKatz who are based in Spring, Texas.
The 