Chartreux Cat - Gentle, Uncomplicated and Quiet, But Love to Play

Although the friendly grey cats originate from France, they have nothing to do with the Chartreux monks – who were more concerned with the production of herbal liqueur than breeding these kind-hearted animals. In fact, a brother and sister started breeding in 1920, but it was not until 1977 that the Chartreux cat was given the status of a separate breed. Especially during wartime, breeding was not easy, as British shorthair cats in grey or the also grey Russian Blue often entered the gene pool and “diluted” it. Therefore, today it is strictly observed that the breed-typical characteristics of the Chartreux cat are meticulously maintained.

The grey cats stand out from the masses of active and playful shorthair cats due to their level-headed and calm nature. This makes them the perfect family cats, they get along great with children and also with other animals. The Chartreux cat can cope with being alone for a few hours a day, but still needs attention and love from its owner. In general, it is very affectionate and likes to follow its “favourite human” all over the house – almost like a little dog. In old age, cats usually become much calmer, but they do not want to be excluded from family life – they just don’t like too much hustle and bustle. Sometimes they are described as somewhat “solitary”, which is mainly due to the fact that as an outdoor cat they spend a lot of time outside and usually have a very large territory.

In general, the Chartreux cat is medium sized and strongly built. Legs and chest are very muscular, the paws relatively large. The paw pads are dark grey. The ears are medium sized and sit high on the head. Only yellow and amber shades are permitted as eye colour, green is absolutely taboo. The eyes should not be too round, but large. In hardly any other cat breed are the males and females so clearly distinguishable from each other visually. While the males are large, muscular and look very imposing due to their broad nose and thick cheeks, the females are smaller (especially the head!), more compact and somewhat more delicate.
The dark grey coat of the Chartreux cat is short and has a dense undercoat. It must not show any markings or patterns.

Even if they seem quiet – in particular young Chartreux love to play! That’s why you should provide them with enough toys and opportunities to move around. These clever cats like to have a good overview, which is why a scratching post with an elevated sitting position is particularly worthwhile. You also need several places where they can rest undisturbed and recover from a possibly hectic daily routine. As they are skilled hunters, they are happy to be outdoors, but their quiet nature also makes them excellent indoor cats.

Important: As many cats become more sedentary with age, you should make sure to adjust the amount of food if necessary to prevent overweight. Chartreux cats are very easy to care for, it is sufficient to brush them once a week.