The Chartreux, a superb blue-gray cat

The Chartreux is a cat with a dignified, feline look and a mischievous gaze. Its beauty and distinction are immediately noticed and make it an enigmatic cat. Very discreet and independent, this cat is however very attached to its masters and is suitable for all members of the family.

• Size: 30 to 40 cm
• Weight: 3 to 7 kg
• Hair: short
• Colour: blue-gray
• Life expectancy: 15 to 20 years
• Gestation period: 65 days

Description and characteristics of Chartreux

The Chartreux is a sturdy-looking cat with broad, muscular shoulders and strong legs and neck. This cat has as recognizable particularities, on the one hand, its uniform gray-blue coat, which resembles a slightly woolly fur, and on the other hand, its large and round eyes of pale gold to copper color. At birth, Chartreux kittens have a striped coat which gradually becomes uniform around the age of 3 or 4 years. The Chartreux's cheeks are round and well developed and his muzzle is quite narrow. Its slightly rounded ears are set high on its head. This flexible and agile cat is known to be an outstanding mouse and rat hunter.

Origin of Chartreux

The Chartreux is a very old breed probably brought from Syria to the West by the Crusaders in the Middle Ages. This cat takes its name from the blue-gray color of its fur. It appeared in Europe in Morbihan, and more particularly in Belle-Île-en-Mer. Long confused with another breed of cat, the British Shorthair, the Chartreux inbreeding developed at the beginning of the 20th century to become today one of the favorite cats of the French and the ambassador of good taste and culture. French.

Character and behavior of the Chartreux – Who is it for?

The Chartreux is a domestic cat with temperament but who is calm, patient, and very affectionate with his master, whom he never takes his eyes off. He does not appreciate being hugged if he has not decided it himself. Independent and reserved, the Chartreux has everything feline. Even if he is a cat who does not fear loneliness, he is suitable for the whole family whose company he likes. One of the characteristics of the Chartreux is to communicate with its surroundings with particular movements of its tail. It meows only exceptionally.

How to take care of your Chartreux: its needs!

A very intelligent, receptive, lively, and playful cat, the Chartreux must be trained firmly from the start. It does not require any special maintenance apart from brushing its hair once a week and once a day during molting. The countryside is his favorite place to live since he can satisfy his instincts as a hunter of mice and rats. But the Chartreux adapts just as well in town if it can have a balcony or an attic for example. It is a cat that appreciates calm environments and, like all its congeners, the Chartreux likes its litter box to be very clean. His hunting instinct demands that he always have accessories within his reach with which he can play, as with prey.

Carthusian diet

The Chartreux has no particular food needs. Meat served with rice and vegetables or croquettes will surely delight him. He regulates his diet by himself if he is left with a bowl.

The health of the Carthusian

The Chartreux is in solid health with no specific problems. During molting, it is a cat that licks itself regularly and therefore can swallow its hair which forms a lump in its stomach and causes digestive problems. It is therefore advisable to pay particular attention to its brushing during this period.