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About ragdolls and Norwegian Forest cats
Norwegian Forest Cat
The Norwegian Forest Cat is truly a natural breed and really does originate from Norway. The exact origins of the Forest Cats will never be precisely established, but one thing is certain: NFCs can be found in Norwegian folklore, where it is said that these cats were the family pets of the Vikings. As early as the sixteenth century such cats were described as being large, with long legs, big ruffs and ear tufts. Just like the Forest Cats of today, they had a particular liking for water, with the ability to catch fish in lakes and streams. In some folk tales they are referred to as the "Fairy Cat" - it is easy to imagine them appearing supernatural as they flitted amongst the trees with their long, elegant bodies and flowing, bushy tails.
The Norwegian Forest Cat as we know it today has developed through natural selection, as only the toughest cats with the thickest waterproof coats and other special features would be able to survive in Norway's harsh climate. However, they probably crept in to keep warm by the farmers' hearths when they could, and have always been known to like being around people. Eventually, as the remote areas of Norway became more heavily populated the breed was in danger of dying out, so a special breeding programme began. Since then the breed has gone from strength to strength and is now extremely popular in many countries, particularly Scandinavia. Taken from the Norwegian Forest Cat Club web site
Ragdolls
Ragdolls were developed in the the 1960's in California by Ann Baker. Unlike other breeds that evolved naturally these are a man made breed. They all decend from Josephine a gentle loving,longhaired white female.
They first came to the UK in 1981 and were eligable to be shown in the assessment classes in 1990.
They are a semi-longhaired cat with stunning blue eyes, they come in three patterns,
*colour point- solid points.
*mitted- white socks
*bi colour- with inverted v to face.
and are available in 6 colours, seal, blue, chocolate, lilac, cream and red, with the veriations of tabby and tortie as well.
The ragdoll lives up to its name, tending to relax and go limp when held, they are also friendly, sweet loving, docile and gentle with their easy going nature they get on with other pets and children well. Ragdolls should be indoor cats only as they are very trusting in nature which can lead to them being lost or stolen easily.
They are one of the largest breed of domestic cat, with nuetered males weighing between 15-20lbs, they are slow to mature at around 3-4 years.
