Chartreux

The Chartreux is a French blue cat breed with a dense, slightly woolly double coat, copper to orange eyes, and a sturdy body carried on comparatively fine legs. It is often described as an old French natural breed, though romantic stories about monastery cats are difficult to document. Modern Chartreux breeding was organized in the twentieth century from blue cats in France, and after wartime losses some lines were intertwined with other blue shorthairs before breed identity was re-established. The breed should look robust and smiling-faced, not like a British Shorthair in another name.

Chartreux are usually quiet, observant cats that suit indoor homes where they can climb, play, and keep a comfortable routine. The coat does not need elaborate grooming, but combing during heavy shedding helps the woolly undercoat release cleanly. Because the breed is relatively rare in many countries, buyers may need patience and should expect breeders to be protective of pedigrees, type, and health records. Good stewardship means avoiding exaggerated size, keeping the copper eye color strong, and maintaining enough genetic diversity while preserving the characteristic blue coat.

Colors: Bicolor, Black, Blue, Blue Point, Brown, Calico, Chocolate, Chocolate Point, Cinnamon, Classic Tabby, Cream, Cream Point, Dilute Calico, Dilute Tortoiseshell, Fawn, Flame Point, Golden, Harlequin, Lilac, Lilac Point, Lynx Point, Mackerel Tabby, Mink, Pointed, Red, Seal Point, Sepia, Shaded, Shell, Silver, Smoke, Spotted Tabby, Tabby, Ticked Tabby, Torbie, Tortoiseshell, Van, White