Chartreux cat breed: facts, temperament and care

About the Chartreux

The Chartreux is a blue-grey cat from France, built like a small, powerful working animal. It has a broad chest, solid legs, a rounded head and a soft smile on its face, and the eyes are orange to copper. The coat is short and dense, slightly woolly, and water-resistant, and it comes only in blue.

The origin stories are legends. One says the cats lived with monks at a Carthusian monastery, and another says Crusaders brought them back from the Middle East, but neither is documented. A 1558 poem by Joachim du Bellay mentions the cats, and Buffon, writing in the eighteenth century, described the cat in print. The breed was greatly reduced during the First World War, and wild populations were not seen after the Second World War, except perhaps on Belle-Île-en-Mer. European breeders saved it, and the first Chartreux came to the United States in 1971.

The CFA gave the breed championship status in 1987. TICA, FIFe and Canadian associations also recognise it. Adults vary in weight, with males larger. The breed matures slowly, taking about two years to reach adulthood.

Temperament and living with one

The Chartreux is quiet and observant. Many hardly meow and some are almost mute, using chirps and trills when they have something to say. They bond closely, often with one person in the household, and follow them about. They are intelligent and playful into adulthood, and some can be taught to fetch.

The breed is generally good with children and other animals, and its calm manner suits a quiet home. It does not demand attention, though it appreciates company. Introduce it gently to dogs and other cats.

Care: coat, food and play

The thick coat needs a brush or comb once or twice a week and more often in the spring shed. Trim nails and check the teeth and ears.

Feed a complete diet in measured portions, since a sturdy cat can gain weight. Provide scratching posts, a stable cat tree and daily play with wand toys and puzzle feeders.

Health

The Chartreux is described as generally very healthy. Patellar luxation, in which the kneecap slips out of its groove, is the condition most often mentioned, and responsible breeders check for it. Other conditions, such as polycystic kidney disease, have been mentioned in profiles, but the evidence is thin. Ask a breeder what screening the parents have had. Limping, skipping or reluctance to jump are reasons to see a vet. Keep the cat lean.

Is it right for you?

The Chartreux suits a calm household that wants a gentle, smart and quiet blue cat. Kittens are rare, so expect to wait. For other blue cats, compare the Russian Blue, the Korat and the British Shorthair, and for a longer coat in blue, the Nebelung.