Chartreux | Cat Breed Information & Facts – Pictures

The Chartreux cat was originally used as a rat hunter, but now it is an excellent pet characterized by its calm personality, its beautiful fur and its large golden eyes. It is also known as the blue cat.

Of uncertain origin but undoubtedly one of the oldest known breeds, the Chartreux cats shared history with figures as important as General De Gaulle and the Templar monks of a homonymous monastery located in France. Whatever their origin, these cats are undeniably adorable, with a docile and affectionate character they will win the hearts not only of their owners, but also of all those who know them.

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Chartreux cats have a fairly wide range of weights and sizes, this is due to the fact that there are large differences between females and males, the sexual dimorphism being much more marked than in other breeds of cats. The size is medium to large, with specimens weighing up to 7 kilograms and having a fairly large breast, females are almost always medium, not exceeding 3-4 kilograms. Its tail is medium in length and has a wider base than the tip, which is rounded.

• The head of the Chartreux is wide, in the shape of an inverted trapezium. The elongated shape of the head refers to disqualifying vices:
• The nose is wide and straight. IMPORTANT ! The nose is only grey! A black or pink lobe indicates the presence of unwanted impurities in the genus;
• The eyes are round, large in size, sufficiently close to each other. Eye color varies from yellow to dark orange. In a kitten, it changes in several months from blue to yellow.
• The ears are medium, set high, but not vertical, slightly tilted forward. The tips of the ears are rounded;
• The neck is strong and short, flowing into massive shoulders and a deep chest.
• Strong bones and powerful muscles gave the Chartreux a strong body. Dimensions – medium (height at the withers up to 30 cm). The hind legs are more massive than the front legs, but the hind and front legs are straight and rounded. IMPORTANT ! Blue cats are so blue that even the pads on their toes have to be the color of the coat.
• The tail is of medium length, proportional to body size, lint-free, rounded at the tip.
• The coat of an adult is short, but with a fluffy undercoat. The undercoat is slightly darker than the main coat. By the way, the wool is one of the differences from the already mentioned British – the Chartreux is longer and darker.
• Wool and color – these signs allow us to assign the breed to the category “Provence”. Indeed, the colors of Chartreux wool range from soft blue-gray to “lavender”. Preferably, of course, light gray-blue, but all tones and halftones belong to the category of “Maltese” coloring.
• According to the standard, a distinction is made between short-haired and semi-long-haired Chartreux.

This smiling and cheerful feline is as it conveys its image, because the Chartreux is a docile cat, sweet and delicate. It adapts to almost any environment, as well as coexistence with children and other animals.

Although it is more affectionate with its family, it is a very sociable and open cat, making friends with visitors and their pets, as it is known to play and get along well with dogs and others. cats.

This breed has been compared many times with dogs, because the Chartreux tends to follow its owner throughout the house, wishing to stay with him at all times, so it likes to spend hours lying or sitting on its owner , as well as sleeping with him and enjoying his company a lot, so this may not be the best option to let a Chartreux cat spend a lot of time alone.

In addition to all this, the Chartreux is a very intelligent cat, of a balanced character and an almost infinite patience, practically impossible to see behaving in an aggressive way, because it prefers to avoid clashes and especially fighting, and it is also able to predict when this can happen, and prefers to go away until things are calmer.

The owners’ reviews are very diverse, but everyone agrees on one thing – Chartreux cats are not mischievous and are VERY jealous. Balanced and calm Chartreux cats absolutely do not tolerate rivals – other animals in the family.

Given their adaptive abilities, you can be calm – a yellow-eyed French cat will easily get used to any environment and will not hold a meeting, defending his rights.

Their voice is weak, but their character is strong! And the character plus physiological characteristics allow the chartreuse to feel great on the street, and even in cold weather or in cold climates. Moreover, it has a great effect on the pet’s coat (draw your own conclusions!).

The Chartreux cat breed has good health and does not have a significant propensity for any serious illnesses. But remember that good health alone is not a panacea for all ills. Especially if the owner himself saves on food and does not provide proper care.

Because of the particularity of Chartreux’s coat, since it has a double layer, we must be aware of its care, brushing it daily to avoid hairballs, which can cause more serious problems such as intestinal obstruction, and the dispersion of these hairs throughout the house.

The baths are not necessary, but if it is suitable for any reason, it is recommended to be very careful when drying, because we can dry them superficially leaving the wooly underlay, which could cause a cold or pneumonia.

We must also clean her mouth and ears, watch for general health and watch if her eyes are dirty or watery.

• The Chartreux cat has an increased sense of jealousy. He is a terrible possessive.
• These cats meow almost inaudibly. They have a voice, but very quiet and weak.
• Passions are seething in silent Chartreux cat. The voice is not audible, but this cannot be said about the character. It is a combination of opposites in one animal.
• The black or pink lobes of the cat’s nose indicate not very favorable crosses in the pedigree. Only gray is allowed.
• Chartreux Kittens may have blue eyes, but with age they will acquire the final yellow color. The same goes for the colors, which at the beginning of life may be tabby.
• The Chartreux cat can live from 13 to 16 years under the right conditions.
• The famous writer Collette wrote a work about Chartreux cat called “Cat”.
• A Chartreux kitten can be bought, on average, for $ 350. It all depends on the pedigree, appearance, age and gender.

The Chartreux is a beautiful blue cat originally from France. The history of these pets dates back to the Middle Ages, thanks to which they can be considered a native breed of cats. There are several original variants, and all of them are more like legends than a version reliably confirmed by official sources.

The first legend is related to the Carthusian monks who raised these cats in their monasteries. And they would have brought them from Syria. In other words, according to this legend, the Chartreux cat is of Asian and not French origin. And the name of the cat breed was given in honor of the monastic monastery of Grande Chartreuse.

The second legend, again, is connected with the city of Chartres, which stood at the foot of the mountain, near which there were blue cats of incredible beauty. Their stunning appearance was complemented, like today, with bright orange eyes.

Townspeople interacted with these animals, helping them and providing them with shelter. In addition, the inhabitants also pursued a simpler and more mercantile goal: to protect warehouses and storerooms from rodents. Subsequently, these cats became popular with the nobility, they were turned into a beautiful living plush, which also has useful qualities.

The modern Chartreux retains the nobility of previous generations. Many of these cats were destroyed during the First and Second World Wars. However, in the 1950s and later the population was restored. Perhaps, among other things, because such a cat, named Gris-Gris, was with the legendary General Charles de Gaulle. In the 80s, these cats were recognized by the American Cat Fanciers Association, and they appeared in America ten years earlier.