What primary factor caused the significant decline in the Norwegian Forest Cat population by the early 20th century?
Answer
Increased crossbreeding, modernization of farming, and urbanization
Several pressures converged, including crossbreeding reducing gene pool purity, and modernization reducing the need for barn mousers.

Related Questions
What is the affectionate Norwegian name often used for the Norwegian Forest Cat?What primarily drove the initial evolution and traits of the Norwegian Forest Cat?Which historical group is romantically theorized to have transported these long-haired cats across the seas?What is the cultural significance linking the Norwegian Forest Cat to Norse mythology?What is the primary function of the dense, woolly undercoat found in the Norwegian Forest Cat's double coat?What specific purpose did the longer, water-repellent guard hairs serve on the cat's coat?What primary factor caused the significant decline in the Norwegian Forest Cat population by the early 20th century?When did Norwegian cat fanciers first recognize the severity of the breed's population decline, marking the start of active conservation?What term describes the Norwegian Forest Cat's origin as a naturally occurring population shaped by geography and climate?In what year did the Cat Fanciers' Association (CFA) in the United States grant the Norwegian Forest Cat championship status?Historically, what was the primary economic value of these cats to Norwegian households?