Profile: Nose is straight from the brow ridge to the tip without a break in the line. The flat forehead continues into a gently curved skull.

Ears: Medium to large, rounded at the tip, broad at the base, set as much on the side of the head as on top of the head – alert, with the cup of the ears pointing a bit sideways. The outside of the ear follows a line down the side of the head to the chin. Ears are heavily tufted. Lynx tips desirable.

Eyes: Large, almond shaped, well-opened, expressive; set at a slight angle with the outer corner higher than the inner corner.

Eye Color: Green, gold or copper. White cats may also be odd-eyed or blue eyed.

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

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

Ears are 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.

Eye color should be shades of green, gold, green-gold or copper. White cats and cats with white may have blue or odd eyes.

Eyes: Large, almond shaped, set obliquely. Alert expression. All eye colors except odd-eyes or blue permitted regardless of coat color. Odd-eyes and blue eyes permitted in white and with white only.

Ears: Large, wide at the base, arched forward as if listening, slightly rounded tips that appear pointed when lynx tips are present. Lynx tips and furnishings that extend beyond the outer edge of each ear are desirable. The outer edge of the ear should follow the line of the head down to the chin.

Muzzle: Following the line of the triangular head, with no evidence of pinch or snippiness.

Profile: Long, straight profile from tip of nose to brow without break in line, i.e., no stop.

Chin firm.

Ears large, with good width at the base; pointed tips; with lynx-like tufts and long hair out of the ears. Placement high and open, so that the outer lines of the ears follow the line of the head down to the chin.

Eyes large and oval, well opened, set slightly oblique, alert expression. All colours permitted, regardless of coat colour.

Body

Coat

Colors

And

Pattern

Faults

and

Penalties

Remarks

Legs/Feet: Medium in size with hind legs longer than front legs making the rump higher than the shoulders. Thighs are heavily muscled; lower legs substantial. When viewed from the rear, back legs are straight. When viewed from the front, the paws appear to "toe out". Large round paws with heavy tufting between the toes. Five toes in front, four in back.

Tail: Long and bushy. The length is equal to the body from the base of the tail to the base of the neck.

Double coat, consisting of a dense woolly undercoat, covered by long, smooth, glossy guard hairs. The coat is semi-long and uneven. The bib consists of three separate sections: short collar at neck, side mutton chops and full frontal ruff. Britches are full on hind legs. The body coat is long and flowing. Allowances are to be made for seasonal changes. The coat is in full development in the winter months. The coat "drops" in the spring making the cat look almost shorthaired except for the ears and toe tufting.

Every color and pattern is allowable with or without white WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THOSE SHOWING HYBRIDIZATION RESULTING IN THE COLORS CHOCOLATE, LAVENDER/LILAC, THE POINTED PATTERN OR THOSE COMBINATIONS WITH WHITE. Any amount of white is allowed e.g. white spots on paws, back, chest or belly; a blaze, a locket, etc. The degree of symmetry, whether in the pattern or the white spotting is of no importance. Nose leather and paw pads are accepted in all colors and in any color combination, 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-color or multi-colored.

Penalize; Profile with a definite nose break, square muzzle, long neck, whisker pinch, small ears, round eyes, short tail, delicate bone structure, malocclusion, poor condition.

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

Points

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.

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. 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.

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.

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.

Norwegian Forest Cat allowable outcross breeds: none.

POINT SCORE

10 .. Nose profile

10 .. Muzzle

10 .. Ears

5 .. Eye shape 5 .. Eye set

5 .. Neck

5 .. Chin

10 .. Torso

10 .. Legs/feet 5 .. Boning

5 .. Tail

Legs: In proportion to the body length, with hind legs higher than fore legs.

Feet: Large, round, well-tufted.

Tail: Long and bushy. Should be at least as long as the body.

Boning: Substantial.

Length: Semi-long.

Texture: The dense, woolly

undercoat is covered by a smooth, water repellant upper coat which consists of long, coarse and glossy hair covering the back and the sides. A fully coated cat has a full ruff and britches. Length of coat and density of undercoat vary with the seasons. Under no circumstances should a cat be penalized for having a semi-long coat. Coat is evaluated primarily on texture and quality.

All colors of all divisions of the traditional category are recognized including all colors with white. Any amount of white is allowed anywhere on the cat. Buttons, spots and lockets allowed in all colors.

PENALIZE: Too small and finely built cats. Round or square head; profile with a break (stop). Round eyes. Ears too small or narrow at the base. Legs that are short, thin - not in proportion to the body, or cowhocked. Short tail. Cobby or extremely long body. Dry or silky texture on coat.

PERMISSIBLE OUTCROSSES:

None.

Allow for size difference between males and females. Very slow maturing of this breed should be taken into account Mature males may have broader heads than females

Points

Shape . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Ears . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Eyes .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Chin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Muzzle . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Profile . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Torso . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Legs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Tail . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Boning . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Musculature . . . . . . . . . 7

Length . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Legs strong, high on legs; hind legs higher than the front legs.

Paws large, round, in proportion to the legs.

Tail long and bushy; should reach at least to the shoulder blades, but preferably to the neck.

Semi-long. The woolly undercoat is covered by a water repellent uppercoat which consists of long, coarse and glossy guardhairs covering the back and the sides. A fully coated cat has a shirtfront, a full frill and knickerbockers.

All colours are permitted, including all colours with white; except pointed patterns and chocolate, lilac, cinnamon and fawn. Any amount of white is allowed, i.e. a white blaze, white locket, white chest, white on the belly, white on the paws, etc

Amber and Light amber are only recognized for black and blue within the existing colour varieties of the Norwegian

Forest Cat.

Too small or finely built cats, round or square head, profile with a break (stop), small ears, ears set too widely apart or too close together, short or thin legs, short tail, dry coat, coat knotted with lumps or too silky.

Very slow maturing of this breed should be taken into account.

Mature males may have broader heads than females.

Coat is evaluated only on texture and quality. Length of coat and density of undercoat vary with the seasons.

Kittens can take up to 6 months of age to develop guard hairs.

Scale of Points

Total 100

general shape, forehead, nose, profile, jaw and teeth, chin

Ears 10

shape, size and placement

Eyes 5

shape, expression

shape, size, bone

structure legs, shape of

paws

Tail 10

length and shape

Coat 25

quality and texture length