Skogkatt or Norwegian Forest Cat

The Norwegian Forest Cat (or Wedgie) is a cat with deep roots in ancient Norse mythology.

They are believed to have been introduced to Norway around 1000 AD by conquering Vikings, who used them as mousers on ships. Once there, this very large cat quickly adapted to the cold climate, and quickly gained footing in Norway's folklore.

One of the oldest Norse legends about this cat is the tale of Freya, the goddess of love, fertility, and beauty; who was depicted riding a chariot pulled by two Skogkatts. The Skogkatts were not just transportation cats, but battle cats-driving Freya into battle with Aesirs and the Gods of the Dark. They also pulled her chariot to the funeral of Balder.

The adaptations that these cats acquired, allowed it to thrive in Norway's harsh, snowy climate and are what make it an oddity in the feline world. The Forest cat has a dual layer coat. The undercoat is thick and woolly which keeps the cat insulated, while the long top coat is glossy and has the ability to repel water. Think of it's coat like a ducks': the down feathers keep it warm in cold water and the oil on the feathers causes the water to bead off of the duck.

This "mountain-dwelling fairy cat" has the ability to climb sheer rock faces that other cats could not manage. This is due in part to their large and fur-tufted paws. These tree-lovers have heavily muscled back legs and thick claws. These thick claws allow the cat to do something no other cats can. They can actually climb DOWN a tree. You know the scenario: cat climbs tree, cat gets stuck, firemen are called, cat eventually just jumps out of said tree and everyone is like, "What the Hell cat?" Cats can't climb down trees because their claws are curved. The wedgie, with it's in-ordinarily strong claws is frequently seen climbing head first down tree trunks.

The Wedgie is sometimes called a Dog-Cat. This people-loving cat is calm, loyal, loves cuddling with it's owners and they actually LOVE water. They have no problem wading around in rivers, waiting for their fishy prey to get close enough to catch. If you're Forest cat is an indoor cat, you can actually look forward to bath time. They not only enjoy bathing, they like splashing. I would suggest a bath mat of some sort under their water bowl as they frequently splash the water out of it for fun.

Indoors or outdoors, these intelligent, laid-back cats not only make great companions, but their mythological background make for great bed-time stories.