Chartreux Cats

Different countries have different breeds of cats. Chartreux cats belong to the breed usually found in France. They are basically domestic cats that like to be with their masters. There is a legend about the Chartreux cats that they were brought to France by the Carthusian monks to live in their monastery. There is another legend regarding their origin. According to that, the ancestors of this breed were from the feral mountain, which is now known as Syria. They were brought by the Crusaders to France around the 13th century.

This breed of cats was diminished during the period of the First World War. But some of the European breeders kept this breed from extinction. In 1971, the first Chartreux breed was taken to USA. Later, the Cat Fanciers’ Association gave this breed an international status. The most famous Chartreux owner was the French novelist Colette.

The Chartreux cats, generally, have a muscular body and their size is quite large. They are fine boned and their limbs are short. Their paws are very big in size, and they have very sharp reflexes. Due to their great agility, they have been often called as ‘potatoes on toothpick’. They are also famous for their blue or grey short hair coats, which are water resistant. Their eyes are also peculiar because of the color, which is copper or gold. Their long and tapered muzzles and the peculiar structure of their head give the impression that they are always smiling. For that reason, this breed of cat is often called the smiling cat. These cats are very good hunters; they are experts in hunting their prey. These cats are the farmers’ choice because they help them tackle rodents in the fields.

The temperament of this cat is also of a different kind. These cats appear to be very quiet, but they very often make noises like crying or mewing. Some of them even appear mute. These cats are very observant and keenly intelligent. They are so intelligent that some of them even learn to operate the radio buttons and to open the latches of the screen doors. Normally, they take 2 years to be matured and reach adulthood. When they become adults, they appear to be very playful with their masters. They behave very much like dogs, and some can be trained to fetch small items.

Chartreux cats are very friendly with children, and they are quite compatible with other animals. Unlike other breeds of cats, they are not at all aggressive. On the contrary, they appear to be very affectionate with others. They are very good in traveling because of their healthy physique. These cats are generally one-man-cat; they establish a special bond with one person in the household. However, they are also very humble and affectionate to the other members of the household.

You can go in for a Chartreux cat if you are looking for a pet. You will not regret your decision as life will become more interesting with the presence of this lovable cat.