C' era una volta il "Gatto Lince"
The first historical quotes begin in 1559 when the Danish priest and naturalist Peter Clausson Friis, resident in Norway, has divided the Norwegian lynx into three classes: the lynx-wolf, the lynx-fox and the lynx-cat. Later it became clear that all the Norwegian lynx belonged to the same class.
What Peter Clausson Friis called the cat-lynx was perhaps the "real Norwegian Forest Cat".
This would be really possible, as there are many similarities ; they are both large cats, with high legs, round feet, long mane and tufts of hair on the ears .
In the Norwegian villages there were many cats of course, but in the ancient legends there is a particular type that is mentioned very often, l' Huldrekat", it’s a big long-haired cat with a very thick tail.
Because of its size and the characteristics similar to those of the lynx, people thought it was a hybrid between dog and cat, or, more commonly, that it was a half-lynx. In addition to the physical similarities, lynx and Norwegian cat, have a common charatteristic, both love water and many stories told of cats in the woods capable of catching fish in lakes and streams, just like lynxes. Still today the Norwegian cat has a particular predilection for water and it is easy to find it with the legs into the bowl of water in the act of playing. Not infrequently many Norwegian cat owners tell how they even like to shower with their humans. It was these similarities between the lynx and the cat of the woods that pushed people over and over again to become interested in these cats
"RAGGEN"
IC Raggen, M, NFO n 25, 1985-07-01
The only ancestor with Ticked pattern in Norwegian Forest cats
The ticked is also the pattern of lynxes and many other wild animals.
The Raggen' s Story, original Norwegian document.
”Raggen”
I was a kitten who had lost my home and I was just wondering around. Found something to eat in ……….. and drank water from the tiny river.
I was not afraid of people; therefore I got a hug now and again. When I was hugged I rolled over and was happy. A man working in Lysager, where I lived around, was very nice to me, he bought food to me in the store. I was allowed inside in his breaks, and we really had a good time. Did I fell asleep in the sofa, I was never thrown out. It was lovely to be inside again as I had been outside for a few months.
One day the man took me for a ride in a thing he called a car. I lay down beside him as I was sure he would do me no harm. When we stopped I was taken inside to a bathroom. There I was bathed 2 times, and I did like it, my fur was full of cement dust from the building activities at Lysager. My fur stood right up in the air by itself. Then I lay on a … near a lovely hot oven. The same night I was at a man with a white coat who gave me an injection and looked if I was healthy, which I was.
My new people placed small pieces of paper all over Lysager. No owner came forward and I was pleased.
One day I was to attending ……………. . It was call something like SOGKATTEMESTERSKAB -86 ( Norwegian Forestcat championship 86). There somebody had to look at me. I let those strangers do it, and do you know what they said:
Type: High on legs. Fine male with strong paws and legs.
Head: Triangular, good profile, rather weak chin.
Ears: Fine placed ears. High with tuffs (hair)
Fur: fine coat quality
Tail: long and bushy
Temperament/condition: very good temperament
That was cool, I thought. They also said I was brown ticket and that I had to be born I July- 85, I do not know…
The ones accepting/examining me agree that I was a very fine SKOVKAT (NFO). Oh my g.. I had turned into a purebred cat, A Norwegian Forstcat / en Norsk Skovkat.
I wanted to try a cat show, as the others in the household did go there. Would you believe. The first time I went I had something called CAC. I had 3 more like that and in 8-3-87 I was Champion. ??????(words I cannot understand as it is Swedish or Norwegian).
I also went to Gotland along with the others and there I got another cert (certificate) and something they called BIV-V. I was up against a black and white male in order to become BIR-V, they messed a bit too much by my head and I hissed of them which was bad as I was send back to my cage. I got the title IN. CH. during -87.
I have become a father, even granddad. But and there is a big BUT. I am accused of being a mix of races. Nothing that I know of, nor do the people I live with now. I think it´s simple that people talk ugly/bad about me. The ones that have my children or grandchildren have to listen to words saying that I have nothing to do with a Norwegian Forest cat, that I might be a mix of perhaps an Aby or Somali. I have experienced one and only one judge saying I had aby-look. Why haven’t any other judge mentioned it if I have. Are we to believe the judges or the people gossiping behind my owner´s back? Those who do so do not know what they are talking about. I think that if I have had another color no one would have said anything bad about me. I also have to hear that I am angry/mad, well feel free to visit me and hug me and see for yourself. Am I the only Norwegian Forest cat that does not like shows? It seems like it sometimes. Those who is talking about it to others and new Norwegian Forest cat- people, don´t do that, it would be better if you came to my owners and asked about it, they do not bite. Those who do not like me, don´t talk to new Norwegian forest cat-owners/breeders so they do not dare have pedigrees for my children and grandchildren. If I was able to talk I would tell about my background.
As I am not able to do so I recommend you see to that everything is ok in your own breed before trying to make order in mine. (These are not the exact words in the last sentence but this is what it means).
Judges' original document, judgment on Raggen.
"Type: high on the legs. Beautiful male with strong legs. Head: triangular, good profile, rather weak chin.
Ears: ears well positioned. long with tufts - Fur: good quality of the coat
Tail: long and thick - Temperament / condition: excellent temperament "
CONTACT
Safeguard Project for the Ticked pattern
in the Norwegian Forest Cat
A co-operation between Karin Pedrona e Cristina Borella