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The annual meeting of Norwegian Forest Cat breeders was convened on 7 April 1996 in Arnhem, the Netherlands, during the FIFé World Show. It was presided over by Paula Swepston, International Skogkatt Secretary. The meeting followed the general outline of the questionnaire circulated by Paula ahead of time. This report summarizes the verbal discussion. |
Question 3: Are you having any difficulties with Forest Cat type or color?
The discussion began with point 3, in view of recent information on two proposals planned for FIFé's upcoming General Assembly.
The first proposal would 'open the possibility for breeders of Norwegian Forest Cats (NFO), Maine Coons (MCO), and Turkish Angoras (TUA) to use the specific piebald white grade EMS codes 01 (van pattern), 02 (harlequin pattern) and 03 (bi/tri-color), next to the only current possibility 09 (any unspecified amount of white)' - in other words, it would add to our pedigrees genetic information concerning the distribution of white; this information has not been included before in NFO pedigrees. The second proposal would state that 'a NFO/MCO/TUA with a full-colored coat appearance but with a small medallion, a tiny white spot, or some white hairs at the bottom side of the body or a white chin should be allowed to be shown as though it had no white. This would allow cats to be shown outside their genotype group.
Raymond Saetre (Norway) said that the standard should be followed as written. In Norway it had been accepted that cats with a few white hairs could be shown as cats without white, but it should go no further than this. He felt that the first proposal could lead in time to a further subdivision of colors, and that this was also undesirable. He thought that the color groups for the Forest Cat should remain as they were.
Jette Eva Madsen (Denmark) reported that the practice of allowing cats with white to be shown as though they had no white has been followed for some years in the United States without undue difficulty, but that this would place cats outside their genotype. There could be a problem of deciding how much white would be acceptable. With regard to the proposal concerning the information in pedigrees, she pointed out that similar information is already included concerning tabbies (i.e. mackerel, blotched, spotted, ticked).
Maud Lindstedt (Sweden) noted that the proposals missed out the 04 code (designating white paws), and that to be complete they should include this.
Willem Bosscha (Netherlands) expressed concern over the possible addition of extra color groups in the future.
No firm consensus was reached on these proposals. It was generally accepted that additional genetic information was desirable, but many people had serious reservations about any action that could lead to a subdivision of the color groups 'with white'. The wish was expressed that NFO breeders should be consulted through their breed clubs if there were to be any question of changes to the standard.
'The Abyssinian is an interesting cat genetically. Fundamentally, the breed owes its appearance to a unique mutant of the usual tabby pattern of the cat. The Abyssinian, or ticked tabby, allele produces a restricted form of tabby, the pattern occurring on the head, limbs and tail, but only faintly on the rest of the body. Breeders of exhibition Abyssinians have further restricted the pattern but the ancestral form often reappears. The body fur is agouti, as shown by the evenly ticked appearance. The early Abyssinians were, in fact, affectionately known as ‘bunny cats' because of their resemblance to the agouti rabbit. Robinson's Genetics for Cat Breeders and Veterinarians, 4th edition, 1999
Vella, Shelton, McGonagle, Stanglein
© Reed Educational & Professional Publishing Ltd, ISBN 0 7506 4069 3
Other points raised under question 3.
There are still many cats with a 'pinch', but it was felt that this was not a big problem and that there had been improvement.
Jette reported that the Danes wished to exclude NFO's with 'ticked' tabby coats, as these cats date back to a novice cat thought to be part Somali. Raymond felt that there was no particular problem with this, since ticked tabbies have the right coat quality, though some people do think they look too much like Somalis.
Paula noted a recent surge of interest in 'golden', which is provided for in the FIFé color groupings (EMS y). Jette said that since we do not (except for white cats) register eye color for the Forest Cat, golden should not be registered either, as it is associated with green eyes, which always go together with the warmer colors. It is not allowed in Denmark. Willem reported one female in Holland that is registered as a golden spotted tabby.
Question 1: How many new NFO's were registered in your country in 1995? How many in total?
Country Registered in 1995 Registered altogether Austria 445 no figures Denmark 870 no figures Finland 179 including 81 imports 1550 France 237 in FIFé no figures Germany problems with the pedigree secretary & the computer.... no figures Italy 199 722 Netherlands 363 no figures Norway 365 no figures Spain 24 51 Sweden 1054 no figures Switzerland about 200 no figures United Kingdom 70 -100 about 1,000 The doubling of numbers in Spain was warmly applauded.
Question 2: Have you noticed any health or genetic problems among your Forest Cats, either in the ones bred in your country or in those you have imported from elsewhere?
Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP)
Jette Eva Madsen reported that there had been FIP in at least 3 Danish catteries, and that quarantine had been imposed on them after the dead cats were autopsied. Other cases elsewhere in Europe had also been traced to cats exported from Denmark. No cases had been reported in Norway. Paula mentioned that there have been various cases of cats (not specifically NFO's) imported from the United States with 'negative' FIP test results; after they arrived in Europe they developed full-blown FIP, which would indicate that a higher titer is accepted in the U.S. as a negative result.
Paula noted that a FIP vaccine, administered as nose drops, is in use in Switzerland, and seems to protect about 50% of the cats that have received it; no negative side effects have been observed. Stéphane Bernard (France) remarked that after the administration of the vaccine, FIP tests are positive - doesn't this indicate that there is a danger from the vaccine itself?
Jette explained that FIP is a corona virus, of which there are many varieties, and that most cats carry some form of corona. However, corona viruses can mutate into FIP. If FIP is not detected early it can spread rapidly. About 1% of infected cats die, while others recover but may take a year or two before registering zero results on a FIP test. After the cats are vaccinated, a test will show a slightly positive result, because the vaccine generates antibodies and the test measures the antibodies - this is harmless, and is the way all vaccines work. However, there was no evidence that NFO's are any more susceptible to FIP than any other breed. All cats are more susceptible to all kinds of infection in conditions of stress, including overcrowding.
[ More reading: Feline Infectious Peritonitis: and Update for Breeders by Dr. Susan Little.]
Other health problems
Paula reported a case in which a pair of 14-month-old Forest Cats, properly vaccinated, were diagnosed as having typhus, a disease normally associated with younger cats. Could this indicate a mutation in the disease? There was no information from anyone else on this.
Jette told of a recent case of patella luxation (displaced, or 'floating' kneecap) in an imported cat, which had had to be put to sleep. She had also noted problems with the teeth in a certain number of cats; this should be watched carefully in the futures.
Some cases of 'pig tail' were reported in Norway, France, and Denmark: in 'pig tail' cats, the tails lie flat along the upper body, in some cases flexibly but in others in a locked position.
Some question was raised as to whether NFO's had more delicate digestive systems than other cats, but there was no firm evidence of this.
The problem of Glycogen Storage Disease, occurring in some Forest Cats in the United States, was mentioned; so far there have been no cases reported in Europe.
Paula reported two cases in which half-sisters breeding with the same male had both given kittens with birth defects; but Jette, familiar with the case, said it sounded as though the mothers had been exposed to some chemical or poison, or had contracted some illness that went unnoticed, at a vulnerable stage of the gestation. This could have caused the birth defects, in the same way that smallpox or measles can cause problems with a human birth.
[For links to sites dealing with FIP, Glycogen Storage Disease, NFO blood types, etc., please refer to Skogkatt Online.]
Question 4: Have you noticed among NFO's in your country a different blood type from the usual type A?
One B-type cat has been seen in Finland; other countries reported that their veterinarians seemed uninterested in or unaware of he question. Nevertheless, it was found important to note that if kittens have a different blood type from their mother's, they could die from the drinking the colostrum produced by the mother just after birth; this could be the reason for many 'crib deaths' in which whole litters die without explanation. It was felt that blood testing for this anomaly should be encouraged where possible, and type-B cats should not be included in breed programs.
Question 5: Are you happy with the way judges respond to the Forest Cats raised in your country? Does anyone feel that specific characteristics are favored to the detriment of others (profile? fur quality? body build? etc.), or do you believe the judges are reviewing the WHOLE CAT? Do you feel there are sufficient judges whose understanding of the standard corresponds to that of the breeders?
Raymond, speaking as a judge, stated that both in Norway and elsewhere the general type is improving. Five or six years ago on saw a tendency towards cats that were too long and slender, but now judges are looking for a stronger cat. He felt that there have never been what some of us call 'new style' and 'old style' Forest Cats, and he cited a cat, from 18 years ago in Norway, that looked very like the Cat of the Year in Norway from 1994. (N.b. Those of us who saw pictures of the two cats, photographed in the same pose, can testify to the similarity.)
Paula noted that there was a tendency in France a couple of years ago to see the slimmer-looking cats on the podium. When questioned, breeders said they were breeding such cats because the judges preferred them, but some judges said that they were choosing them to oblige the breeders! (Not surprisingly, general laughter followed this statement.)
Stéphane pointed out that the judges often appear to concentrate more on the quantity of fur than on its quality. Raymond agreed that the coat is very important, and recalled that there is actually only one correct NFO coat, for all colors.
Some examples had been encountered in Norway and Sweden of NFO's having 'good MCO coats'
The quality of fur should not necessarily be more important to judges than other points relating to the fur, but it is the first point to be examined, with condition and the time of year taken into account. Jette remarked that judges sometimes see cats with good quality fur, but lacking some of the other Forest Cat characteristics, such as the knickers or the 'frill' around the neck.
Question 6: Is there any feeling among exhibitors in your country (or NFO club) that certain semi-longhair breeds are preferred to others for Nomination and Best in Show?
Paula asked whether it is felt that all the semi-longhair judges understand the NFO standards. The Swedish club sends its magazine to all semi-longhair judges in Scandinavia, and they appeared to benefit from it. It was felt that this should be done more generally.
Speaking on Forest Cat size, Raymond remarked that he was shocked to hear that Maine Coons were supposed to be larger than Norwegians. The standard for the Maine Coon calls for a cat that is 'medium to large' , and that for the Forest Cat simply says 'large'. Jette agreed that we should not give up and breed for smaller NFO's, but that in practice, all the same, the largest MCO is larger than the largest NFO. As concerns the inconsistency in the standards, the recent judges' meeting in Göteborg has set up a working group to examine this kind of anomaly in standards, and it is hoped that this group will not decide to describe the NFO as being smaller than the MCO. It was pointed out that the fact that the MCO attains its full size at one year, while the NFO takes 3 to 4 years to mature contributes to this impression.
Paula reminded the group: 'Don't forget your Norse mythology, and the cat that was so big, even Thor had trouble lifting him!'
[Update on this issue: since 2001, the FIFé Maine Coon standard now reads 'large' for the size.]
Paula said she had heard it said that because it is more difficult to breed a good Sacred Burmese (Birman), if judges get a SBI and a Norwegian of equal quality they will prefer the Sacred Burmese. Raymond agreed that there are indeed special technical problems in breeding the SBI.
Question 7: What is you opinion about novice Norwegian Forest Cats? Do we all, in fact, understand what we mean by the word 'novice'?
Paula noted that there was no intention to reopen the novice class in FIFé, but that with FIFé and the independent clubs drawing more closely together, the problem may still be with us.
FIFé president Alva Uddin, who stopped by the meeting briefly at this point, remarked that in the early 1970's when there was a novice class in Sweden, two full brothers were accepted as being of two different breeds - the result of uncontrolled breeding.
She also stated that she personally was in favor of admitting chocolate and lilac NFO's; there was no reaction expressed to this from the meeting.
However there was mention of this matter in the Norsk Skogkattring's written report to the meeting. They are concerned about having 'sufficient racetypical breeding material in the future.' For this reason Norsk Skogkattring sees no problem in theory in allowing the colors lilac and chocolate into the breed - if (and only if) the cats have superb NFO coats and satisfy the demands of the standard in other respects.'
[For more information about how the x-color situation has developed since 1995, please refer to: About those colors and to the report from the Poznan 1998 meeting.]
Question 8: How do you feel about the wording of the NFO standard as compared to those of other close-lying breeds (Maine Coon, Turkish Angora, Siberian Cat, etc.?
Paula said that she received a number of different standards for the 'Siberian Forest Cat', and all were inconsistent with each other. Mrs. Uddin stated that FIFé would shortly examine the Siberian for a standard, but that the breed needs more uniformity than it has now; this position was echoed by Raymond Saetre as well. (N.b. But it is our understanding that Siberian breeders will be seeking FIFé accreditation in 1997.)
Recalling an earlier point, it was also noted that for some semi-longhair judges, a Turkish Angora looks a lot like an NFO with thin legs, making it even more important to assure that our NFO's are stronger cats. There are other differences too /the coat being an important one; the TUA does not have the double coat), and as long as the standards are followed, there should be no confusion.
Question 9: Which are the most popular NFO colors in your country? For showing? For selling as pets?
Paula observed that most of the written reports cited the black, blue, and silver tabbies a the most popular colors, though Finland had said that reds were more popular than before. Black and white can be difficult to sell in some countries, but in spite of all the publicity about deafness, white has become much more popular in the pas year, at least in France. It was also noted that preferences change depending on what people see in magazines and television.
Question 10: Breeding and showing of white cats
For most countries a veterinary certificate, stating that the cat hear, is sufficient for the moment. It was reported that in Germany, an audiometric test is now required for breeding, but contrary to earlier reports, only a veterinary certificate is necessary for entry into shows. Most countries are now working on tests of various sorts.
[Update 2002: for various links to material about white cats and deafness, please refer to Skogkatt Online: NFO links page].
Question 11: Future of the NFO secretariat
Paula reported that Judith Zuurveld has resigned from the international secretariat in order to be free to participate (along with Jette Madsen) on the FIFé working group for feline health problems. Paula proposed to continue on her own for the time being, with a view to developing a more cohesive format as the season goes on.
She felt that the participation of the clubs subscribing to the International Secretariat should be more active and better organized, and suggested a return to the plan adopted at the Geneva World Show. Each club should select an international correspondent. The correspondent would be responsible for communicating club news to the secretariat and for distributing international information to his/her club members, usually in the club newsletter. Club members could subscribe directly to their club correspondent if they wished to receive the mailings in their complete form. Individual subscriptions would still be possible on Paula's list, but ideally only to those who do not belong to a subscribing breed club. (Those breeders already on the mailing list will, of course, remain on it.) This set-up would yield a smaller, more manageable mailing list for the secretary, and should encourage a stronger, more personal exchange of material between clubs and secretary. In addition, it would bring the secretary's expenses closer to the financial resources available through subscriptions. (N.b. The cost of the mailings for one year between the Lisbon and Arnhem World Shows was not nearly covered by the 30 Swiss francs subscription fee!) She stated that a 'secretariat' is not the same thing as a 'secretary', and that the time has come for a livelier international collaboration, leading to a true International Secretariat composed of representatives from all participating countries.
It was generally agreed that each club would select a correspondent, if possible a member with some English (the language of the Secretariat) and that their names would be communicated to Paula by 1 May.
In addition, it was noted that the fee for receiving the mailings is 30 Swiss francs per year, per person, and that unfortunately those who had not contributed would have to be dropped from the list.
[Update 2002: Ah, well, it never really worked, did it? I only ever received subscription fees from a few loyal clubs, and almost nobody chose a representative. The other problem was that it was like pulling teeth to get people to send me their news, so I had to play detective a lot of the time! Fortunately, e-mail has come to our rescue. I don't have to ask for money at all and never have to photocopy or lick envelopes anymore. - Paula]
Finally the meeting thanked the Dutch breed club Noorseboskattenkring 85, and in particular Anne Weijmann and Marcel Lamers, for their hospitality and the great amount of work they went to in arranging the meeting facilities and the dinner after the meeting. A big round of applause followed this statement!
The meeting adjourned at 9 p.m.
Congratulations to the 1996 World Winner Kitten, Magnus av Fager,
bred by Ulrike Wahl of Germany, and owned by Richard Herrmann of France!BACK TO:
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