Chartreux
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Chartreux
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| The blue cat of France with golden eyes has existed for centuries This breed is very old. Its short, wooly coat is said to have been sold as otter fur in ancient times! The Chartreux has apparently existed in France for many centuries. In the 16th century, Joachim du Bellay mourned the death of this little gray cat, Belaud. In the 18th century, Buffon, in Natural History, refers to the Chartreux as the Cat of France, while Linne distinguished it from the Angora cat, naming it Felis cattus caeruleus, or blue cat. There are many theories as to the origins of this breed. Legend holds that the Carthusian monks bred these cats after bringing them back to France from South Africa. So what is the origin of this breed's name? Some believe the name describes its dense, wooly coat that resembles a Spanish wool fabric called Chartreux pile. Others, such as Fizniger, posit that the breed is a cross between the Manul cat and the Egyptian cat. In fact, its ancestors may have been born in the harsh mountainous regions of Iran, Syria, and Turkey where they would have needed their thick coat. Some Chartreux were introduced in France during the Crusades.In the 1920s, French breeders crossed the Chartreux with Persians. A formal breeding program did not begin until 1926, when the Leger sisters began working with smoke blue cats roaming freely on Belle-Ile-sur-Mere in Morbihan. After defining their body features, Dr. Jumaud (1930) named these cats Felis cattus cartusinorum. The breed was shown at the Cat Club de Paris in 1931. The first standard was published in 1939. In the 1960s and 1970s, crossbreeding with Blue British Shorthairs was so common that the F.I.Fe decided in 1970 to combine the two breeds. So was the Chartreux destined to disappear? Indeed no. J. Simonnet, President of the Chartreux Cat Club, effectively proved the authenticity of this ancient French breed to the F.I.Fe, which then separated the two breeds and prohibited mating across the two breeds. The first Chartreux arrived in the United States in 1970. Both the C.F.A. and T.I.C.A. recognize the breed. |
| Warm and friendly. Smile a lot. The Chartreux is a sturdy French breed coveted since antiquity for its dense, water-repellent fur. Its husky, robust body structure is neither cobby nor classic but does not deter from the cat's extreme agility, intelligence and amenability. |
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Head
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Rounded and broad, but not a sphere, resembling an upside down trapezoid. Skull not domed, slightly rounded, with a narrow, flat space between the ears. Full, round, low-set cheeks, with mature males having larger jowls. The straight, broad nose is not turned up. Slight nose break allowed, though no nose break is preferred. Muzzle straight in relation to the head, tapered, but not pointed. Sizable whisker pads with moderately pronounced whisker pinch, giving the breed its characteristic smile. Powerful jaws, particularly in males over two years of age. |
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Eyes
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Rounded and open; alert and expressive. Color range is copper to gold; a clear, deep, brilliant orange is preferred. |
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Neck
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Short, strong, and heavyset. |
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Body
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Medium in size, muscular in development, and presenting a compact appearance. Allowance to be made for larger size in males. An ample, rounded chest, with back level from shoulder to tail. |
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Paw
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Straight, short to medium in length, strong, and very muscular. Small, round, broad paws. |
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Tail
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Of moderate length. Thick at the back and tapering slightly to a rounded tip. Lively and flexible. |
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Coat
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Coat : medium-short and slightly woolly in texture (should break like a sheepskin at neck and flanks). Resilient undercoat; longer, protective topcoat. NOTE: degree of woolliness depends on age, sex and habitat, mature males exhibiting the heaviest coats. Silkier, thinner coat permitted on females and cats under two years. |
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Fault
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Upturned nose
or severe nose break. Broad, heavy muzzle. Eyes almond-shaped or set too
close together. Green eyes, dull or washed out eye color. Coat: White lockets.
Tipping, ghost barring, or variation in coat color. Brown or red highlights. Disqualify: kinked or abnormal tail, lockets or spots. Blue eyes. Crossed eyes. Incorrect nose leather or paw pad color. Malocclusion of the jaw that results in a severe underbite or overbite that visually prohibits the described profile and/or malformation that results in protruding teeth or a wry face or jaw. Distinct barring on the torso. Any color other than the four accepted colors of sable, champagne, blue and platinum. |
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Character
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This well-balanced, easygoing, independent cat has a strong personality, though is not very vocal. Affectionate and devoted to his owner, the reserved Chartreux enjoys solitude and tranquility. This robust, hardy, lively cat is perfectly suited to cold climates and life in the open air, which enables him to develop his hunting instincts and ensures a quality, wooly coat. However, too much time in the sun results in brown highlights in the coat. The Chartreux does not reach maturity until two to three years of age. A curry brush must be applied weekly to maintain the wooly coat. Heavy shedding |
| No known genetic defects. Generally an extraordinarily healthy breed. |
Chartreux ~ Blue