How about a trip to France? A little French wine, some bread and wine? Oh, and what about picking up a little Chartreux?

The Chartreux is a natural French breed of antiquity. It is known for its gray-blue color, woolly double coat, powerful build, and mild temperament. Although it is a massive cat, it has a sweet, smiling expression and a tiny voice. It is always gray-blue in color, with gold to copper eyes. Authors through the centuries have praised the Chartreux as a gentle cat, a quiet cat, an excellent hunter, devoted to its master, easy to keep and a good traveler. Such attributes were prized in this breed then and are still true of the Chartreux today.

Natural colonies of these cats were known to exist in Paris and in isolated regions of France until the around the early part of the twentieth century. They were never very numerous. Still, the Chartreux was known as the cat of France, they were also thought of as a cat of the common people.

After the First World War French cat breeders focused interested in preserving this ancient breed. The initial breeding stock came from geographically isolated colonies of Chartreux; one important colony was on an island, Belle Ilse. Early breeders were careful from the beginning to utilize only those cats that bred true. Chartreux from these breeding programs were first exhibited at European shows in 1928.

By the end of the Second World War, no known natural colonies of blue cats left in France. Since Chartreux have been available only from cat breeders. Even today the Chartreux are still relatively rare, even in France.

Chartreux were first imported to the US in the 1970s, and since then, the US is known to have some of the purest breeding lines of Chartreux. Breeders both in the France and The United States have tried to preserve the Chartreux unchanged through the years. The show cats from the 1930s could be Grand Champions in our shows today.

Temperament

Chartreux cats are quiet cats and rarely making noises such as mewing or crying. Very observant and intelligent, with some Chartreux learning to operate radio on/off buttons and to open screen door latches. They reach adulthood in about two years. Chartreux cats are playful cats, even into their adult years. Some Chartreux have been taught to fetch small objects much like a dog. Good with children and other animals. Non-aggressive, affectionate, traveler well, and generally a very healthy breed.

Chartreux tend to bond with one person in their household, yet they are still loving and affectionate to the other members of the household.