Chartreux cat breed: the cat with the mysterious past, also known as the smiling cat

Fans of the breed consider it the most loyal cat. Its quiet nature, balanced and calm behavior make it an ideal companion for many. And let's not forget its beauty and intelligence!

The Chartreux is kind and quiet, with a gentle and friendly nature. It ikes to be held and watch TV with its owner. It often follows its loved ones wherever they go. This cat is acrobatic and an excellent hunter, which is why it really likes different games, whether it’s a skillt game or cat fishing. Because it is very smart, it likes to learn tricks too.

History

The Cartreux is a naturally evolved, historic breed from France, known for centuries for its unique coat and blue colour. References to French blue cats appear in literature as early as the 16th century. The 18th century natural scientist Linné and Buffon identified the Chartreux as one of the four known cat breeds of their time. However, many believe the breed’s history goes back much further than that. One popular theory holds that the first such cats lived around the 11th century in the monastery of the Grande Chartreuse in France. Here they were bred by monks. Legend has it that the reason they are so quiet is because they took a pledge of silence with the monks. Others, however, claim that the monastery’s inhabitants did not breed blue cats, as no surviving documentation supports the theory.

Another suggestion is that its name derives from the fact that its fur is reminiscent of the Chartreux wool traded by the Spanish. Many believe that the breed originated in or around Persia and was brought to Europe by traders who used its fur to make muffs. The cats, which were released into the wild, were molted and proliferated in parts of France.

Selective breeding was a long time coming. Around 1925, two sisters, Christine and Suzanne Leger, set up a breeding farm on the island of Belle Île. Like many other cat breeds, the Chartreux almost disappeared after the Second World War. The only way to maintain the population was to bring in blue British Shorthairs and Persians.

Breed standard

The Chartreux is a medium sized cat breed. Its body weight is between 3-7 kg. It has a large, inverted trapezoidal head. The ears are moderately large, with slightly rounded tips on top of the head. The eyes are alert, large, slightly upturned, ranging in colour from golden yellowish copper to amber. They may not be greenish, but over time the eye colour tends to fade as the cat ages.

The neck is short and strong. The egs are medium long, muscular and strong; the paws are relatively large and round. Its tail is moderately long, thinning towards the end. The coat is shiny, short, thick and slightly protruding from the body. The double coat is lighter and woolly at the base. Its colour may be any shade of blue. The Chartreux life expectancy is about 11 years, but there are also longer-lived ones.

Character

The Chartreux could be compared to a pantomime, because it is quiet and entertaining. It is also known as the smiling cat in its native country because of its friendly expression. For it, a perfect day consists of an endless games mottled with naps and yummy meals. It is a very good hunter, so it is worth buying it toys that allow it to indulge this instinct. It has long been known to make its living by hunting mice in the streets of France. The Chartreux is an attentive and affectionate companion who likes to be close to its owners and observe their activities. It appreciates all attention, especially when scratched under the chin or between the ears. But it does not demand attention, content to follow the owner around devotedly.

The Chartreux rarely uses its voice, but it communicates with a little meow when necessary. It’s important that you know your pet well, as it’s unlikely that if it has a problem it will let you know about it vocally.

Ideal environment

This is an adaptable cat with a balanced personality. Not a social butterfly, but not shy or withdrawn. Discreet but friendly with guests, dogs or children. Its calm nature makes it suitable to be left home alone while its owner is at work. It does not object to sharing its home with another cat or dog. This same good nature makes it a great travel companion for a travel-loving owner. As long as it has a similar routine every day, it will be happy.

The Chartreux is a friendly, polite cat, which makes a joy to live with it. This is a cat who obeys the rules and doesn’t wreck or run riot when home alone. Always treat it with kindness and patience and you will be rewarded with a friend for life.

Care

Its short, thick coat is easy to maintain by combing it once a week. It sheds its coat in spring, when it needs to be brushed several times. Bathing is rarely necessary. If the Chartreux does require bathing, it may take some time for the water-repellent coat to become sufficiently damp. The claws should be clipped every few weeks. Teeth should be brushed regularly.

Occasionally wipe the corners of the eyes with a soft, damp cloth. Use a separate area of the cloth for each eye to avoid spreading an infection. Also check the ears weekly. If they look dirty, wipe them with a cotton pad or a soft, damp cloth soaked in a 50-50 mixture of apple cider vinegar and warm water. Avoid using ear cleaning sticks as they can damage the inside of the ear. As all cats are finicky about the cleanliness of their litter, make sure that the tray is always spotless.

Common health problems

The Chartreux is generally healthy, but is prone to polycystic kidney disease and can develop kidney stones. In addition, it can sometimes suffer from patella luxation, which is a dislocation of the kneecap.

(Literature used: János Szinák – István Veress: Cat Guide, Laura Aceti – Viola Autieri: Our Best Friend, the Cat, Jean-Luc Renck: The Cat)