Welcome!

My name’s Gary, and I own and run Mountain Spirit. I am a small hobby breeder based in Bristol. Currently, I have four Norwegian Forest Cats and one moggie, named Kitty.

My love and passion for cats began when I left home at the age of sixteen, moving to the bright lights of London, where I went to college. I felt a bit lonely, as we all do from time to time, so I decided that I would get some feline company. That is when I became the proud owner of Tom and Kitty — original names, I know. They were not pedigree cats, however, just lovable moggies. I decided to let them do the natural thing before having them neutered. In time, Kitty and Tom produced just one adorable kitten. Since he was the spitting image of his father, I decided to keep him and call him Tom Junior, or TJ for short — another original name, I know.

Unfortunately, both father and son passed away two years ago, and after fourteen years of three cats and me, the house seemed altogether too quiet and too empty. After much discussion, Kitty and I both decided we would get two new cats, not to replace Tom and TJ, but to fill the gap they had left behind.

One evening, I stumbled across a website about Norwegian Forest Cats and immediately fell in love. I am now the proud owner of four of these magnificent animals. Their loving, playful and inquisitive nature won me over, and I’m sure it will win you over, too.

The Norwegian Forest Cat

The Norwegian Forest Cat is quite unique, with its Scandinavian origins steeped in history, mystery and Viking myth. None is better suited to the wilds of the Scandinavian forest than this remarkable cat. The Norwegian Forest Cat, or ‘Wegie’ for short, comes complete with its own survival kit, a unique double coat which consists of a dense woolen undercoat and a long flowing overcoat, which is formed by coarse guard hairs. With the addition of its snow shoes, this is a cat that is truly able to withstand the harsh Scandinavian climate.

These magnificent cats, with their big paws and long strong bodies, are excellent hunters and climbers; they can climb down trees head first and climb up vertical walls. It goes without saying, then, that you need to keep a close eye on them, as all these attributes make them the perfect escape artists. I have seen one of my girls, Matilda, climb up a vertical garden wall, and I have had to save countless squirrels which, unfortunately, have fallen in to my garden whilst jumping from the roof on to the silver-birch tree.

Norwegian Forest Cats make for excellent pets, since they are intelligent, playful and very sociable — but most of all very loving. When it comes to Norwegian Forest Cats, the expression ‘you get back what you give’ could not be any truer; with their endless affection, you are more likely to tire of playing and loving them than the other way round.

In some ways, owning a Norwegian Forest Cat can be like owning two cats; in the winter months the cat has its big winter coat, and in the summer months sheds it for a lighter, summer one.

The ‘Wegie’ is classed as a semi-long haired cat, but unlike other breeds whose coats need constant grooming, you only have to groom an Norwegian Forest Cat a couple of times a week. There isn’t anyone, after all, to groom them in the wild!

Travels In Peru

I have put together a page of photographs chronicling my travels in Peru - please click here to see the gallery!