Chartreux

Known for its woolly blue coat ( ranging in color from ash to slate) , brilliant orange eyes, and smiling expression, it is a large, sturdy, muscular, statuesque cat with a husky, robust body structure, and it is sweet-tempered. Their smile is famous. The Chartreux is neither cobby nor slender – many cats fanciers describe its conformation as „primitive“ and eve as „potato on matchsticks“. Its finely boned legs are not thick, although they are and sturdy and the rounded paws are small in relation to body size. The head is a broad trapezoid shape, with a high forehead and rounded-tip ears set high. Whisker pads are rounded and jowls are quite heavy and they become even more pronounced with age. Muzzle is narrow, but the face does not look pointed. Chartreux do not require daily grooming, though regular combing during shedding seasons is recommended. Chartreux breeders strongly discourage brushing because a brush pulls out the undercoat and leaves a very ugly, spiky-looking coat with only guard hair left. Moreover, a brush just is not nearly as effective a tool as a comb for removing the huge volume of loose, woolly hairs on this breed.

Chartreux are attentive, gentle, and adaptable cats who enjoy being nearby their favorite people. They are extraordinarily dedicated to family life and are very dog-like in devotion and behavior. Their dog-like behavior is so obvious that some of them learned same tricks as dogs. And they tend to follow their owners around. They are tolerant and gentle with strangers, small children, and other animals. Highly intelligent, the Chartreux quickly learn its name and comes on call. Chartreux is a very quiet cat having a tiny voice and sweet smiling expression. Chartreux can be completely mute; they purr, but cannot meow. Others have a quiet, high pitched meow or chirp although.

ORIGIN: References to the breed date back as far as 1558. They were said to have been bred by the Carthusian monks at the monastery of La Grande Chartreuse in France , which is famous for producing aromatic liqueur, Chartreuse. The name of the breed Chartreux was mentioned for the first time in Universal Dictionary of Commerce in France 1723. They were even given Latin name Felis Catus cartusianorum by Carolus Linneaus. By many people they are considered to be old natural breed which was just used by monks. First appearance in a show was in Europe 1931. During Second World War they almost disappeared because of efforts from British breeders who mixed British shorthair with Chartreux to preserve their breed. They first arrived in the United States in 1970 through the efforts of John and Helen Gamon who were committed to finding and acquiring the beautiful cats. Today, many American-bred Chartreux are being returned to French breeders to enlarge gene pool needed for effective breeding, thus reducing even further their availability in the United States .

STANDARD:

Accepted colors: blue

Other links: CFA TICA ACFA CCA WCF SFDH FBRL

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