The Chartreux is a natural French breed of great antiquity. It is known for its gray-blue color, wooly 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. These characteristics were prized in a working breed, and are still true of the Chartreux today.
Stories of the
"blue cats of France" began during the sixteenth century. It is thought that
these cats descend from the "Cat of Syria," described in the 16th century
as a stocky cat with a wooly ash-gray coat and copper eyes, which was first
brought to Europe during the Crusades.
People probably
began to use the name "Chartreux" for these cats during the 17th century.
By the beginning of the 18th century, trade dictionaries and encyclopedias
listed "Chartreux" as the common name of a type of blue cat whose pelt was
prized by furriers. The naturalists, Linnaeus and Buffon, wrote of the Chartreux
as the cat of France and gave it a Latin name (Felis Catus Coeruleus, "blue
cat") to distinguish it from the domestic cat (Felis Catus Domesticus).
Natural colonies
of these cats were known to exist in Paris and in isolated regions of France
until the early twentieth century. They were never very numerous. Although
known as the cat of France, they were also thought of as a cat of the common
people. They did not lead easy lives, as they were valued primarily for their
pelts and meat, or as ratters.
After WWI, French
cat breeders became interested in preserving this ancient breed for posterity.
The initial breeding stock came from geographically isolated colonies of
Chartreux; one important colony was on an island, Belle Ile. Early breeders
put together a breed standard based on the 18th century naturalists'
descriptions. They were careful from the beginning to utilize only those
cats that bred true to the standard. Chartreux from these breeding programs
were exhibited in European shows beginning in 1928.
By the end of WWII,
there were no known natural colonies of blue cats left in France. Since that
time Chartreux have been available only from breeders. They are still relatively
rare, even in France. They are unknown in many countries including the UK.
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 in the
US and France have tried to preserve the Chartreux unchanged through the
years. The early show cats from the 1930s could be Grand Champions in our
shows today. This is unusual in the cat fancy (many breeds have changed
substantially in that time). It is due to the continuous effort of breeders
dedicated to preservation.
Quite a few notable
French have owned pedigreed Chartreux, including General de Gaulle, and the
well-known writer, Colette. Colette's book La Chatte features Saha,
one of her Chartreux.
Chartreux are less
talkative than other breeds. Many Chartreux are completely mute: they purr,
but cannot meow. Others have a quiet, high pitched meow or chirp which they
use infrequently. This quietness can be a plus, but remember that a silent
cat cannot let you know when it is lost or in trouble.
Neither gregarious
nor shy, Chartreux are calmly attentive to the world, and will tend to hang
back and observe, rather than rushing in. They are tolerant and gentle with
strangers, small children, and other animals. They tend to withdraw from
conflict rather than becoming fearful or aggressive. They accommodate themselves
to most situations without complaint, travel well, and do not mind being
left alone for long periods.
They are natural
hunters, more interested in chasing and "killing" a toy than in romping around
or wrestling in play. Even in play they are efficient, watching until the
perfect moment and then letting loose with a fast and accurate pounce. They
play in short spurts, sleeping and relaxing the rest of the time. They are
creatures of habit and enjoy the same games and rituals day after day.
Towards those they
love, Chartreux display a passionate devotion that strangers would never
guess at. They prefer to be nearby, preferably getting their jowls scratched
and giving loving head-bumps to their owners! They will follow you everywhere,
comfort you when you are sad or ill, and prefer to sleep with you or on top
of you. Their supportive, cheerful presence can be wonderful for elderly
people and people living alone.
Yet this devotion
is never obtrusive. They do not demand attention, and are content to sit
quietly when you are busy. They have a strong sense of proper behavior and
strive to be "good citizens." They likewise appreciate courtesy from others,
and remember how they have been treated. Chartreux are highly sensitive to
scolding and praise, although they can sometimes be slow learners. Be patient
and forgiving with this gentle breed.
The short thick
coat does not require much maintenance. During shedding season you will want
to spend some time brushing out dead hairs so that they do not cover your
clothes and furniture. If you ever need to bathe your Chartreux, be forewarned
that it will take time to get it wet down to the skin. The coat repels water
due to its thickness and texture.
Chartreux are not
picky eaters, but can sometimes be sensitive to changes in diet or very rich
food. Some Chartreux breeders switch to adult food around age 4 or 5 months
because the premium kitten foods are so rich. Older Chartreux may need to
be switched to a "light" cat food so that they do not become overweight.
Some Chartreux
have small and close-set incisors which can get pushed out of line when the
adult teeth come in, and might need to be pulled. Also, some Chartreux tend
to get gingivitis if their teeth are not well cared for. It's a good idea
to bring your Chartreux to the vet for periodic tooth check-ups and cleaning.
Patellar luxation
(displacement of the kneecap) is sometimes seen in Chartreux. This condition,
when mild, does not usually cause any symptoms in the cat, but if it is severe,
it can cause lameness. Because this condition is hereditary, most reputable
breeders screen their breeding animals for it and do not use questionable
animals for breeding. You may want to ask questions about patellar luxation
when you talk to breeders.
Some cat books
claim that the Chartreux is the same cat as the British Blue, or that it
"once was a separate breed, but has now become identical to the British Blue."
This is not true. Not only do the two breeds have different physical and
temperamental characteristics, but pedigree research and blood typing confirms
that the breeds have distinct ancestry. These books are referring to the
confusing use of the name "Chartreux" by certain European cat clubs to refer
to the British Blue.
In 1970, FIFe (the
European federation of cat fanciers) decided to assimilate the Chartreux
with the British Blue under the name "Chartreux" but with the breed standard
of the British Blue. This decision came about because many of the member
countries were not interested in the Chartreux as a breed, but preferred
the name "Chartreux" with its long history to the less interesting name "blue
British Shorthair." They sought to save the name and apply it to another
breed.
Chartreux breeders
protested, and in 1977, FIFe overturned its earlier decision and returned
to separate registries and standards for the two breeds. However, since the
1970s, a few "independent" (non-FIFe) European cat clubs have continued to
use the name "Chartreux" for the blue British Shorthair, or for the blue
European Shorthair, or for hybrids between these breeds and the Chartreux.
This practice is more common in those countries like Germany where there
are fewer genuine Chartreux available.
Chartreux have
championship status in all major associations in the US (CFA, TICA, ACFA,
and CFF). They also have championship status in the major European association,
FIFe. The US associations and FIFe do not allow hybridization with other
breeds. Chartreux registered in these associations are pure Chartreux.
Chartreux are not
recognized by the major association in the UK (GCCF).
Use caution when
buying Chartreux from European breeders that are not FIFe affiliated. Some
European cat clubs that are not affiliated with FIFe use the name "Chartreux"
for cats of other breeds such as the British or European Shorthair. These
"Chartreux" are not the same breed as the Chartreux accepted in the US and
in FIFe. Some of them even have long hair or come in colors other than blue.
When choosing a
registered name for your Chartreux, it is customary to use the French naming
system. The first letter of the cat's name is determined by the year of the
cat's birth. The years follow a 20 year cycle (the letters K, Q, W, X, Y,
and Z are not used). For example, 1993 was an "I" year, so Chartreux born
in 1993 have names like Isabelle and Indigo.
This is a highly condensed and edited version of the CFA breed standard for the 1994-1995 show year. Other US associations have similar standards for this breed; European standards differ slightly. If you want to show or breed your Chartreux, you should get a copy of the current breed standard from your favorite association, and study it carefully!
The Chartreux is
a sturdy French breed coveted since antiquity for its hunting prowess and
its dense, water repellent fur.
Broad, rounded
head with powerful jaw and full cheeks. Straight nose with a slight depression
between the eyes. Comparatively small, tapered muzzle. Sweet, smiling expression.
Medium sized ears set high on the head, with a very erect posture. Rounded,
open, expressive eyes.
Robust, medium-long
body with broad shoulders and deep chest. Solid and dense. Females are medium
in size, males are large. Tapering, moderate length tail. Comparatively short
and fine-boned legs. Feet are round and appear almost dainty compared to
body mass.
Slightly wooly,
medium-short coat (slightly longer than most shorthairs). Dense undercoat;
longer, protective topcoat. The coat should clump up like sheepskin (we say
the coat "breaks") at the neck and flanks. Silkier, thinner coat permitted
on young cats and females.
Color: Any shade
of blue-gray from ash to slate; tips of hairs lightly brushed with a pale
silvery color. The coat should be clear (not have shadow barring) although
young cats may have some barring or tail rings. Slate gray nose leather,
blue lips, rose-taupe paw pads. Eye color is copper to gold, with brilliant
orange preferred.
Cats with a white
spot, kinked tail, green eyes, or any signs of lameness in the hindquarters,
are disqualified and may not be shown.
Point score (the
relative importance of these characteristics):
Head structure: 35
Body structure (including legs and tail):
30
Coat length and texture: 20
Coat color and eye color: 15
Looks can be deceiving
with the densely built Chartreux. An average sized male Chartreux has the
same bulk as many
of the other large breeds, but the Chartreux
appears much smaller because of his shorter legs, compact build, and short
coat. Pick him up, however, and you'll be surprised at his weight!
Another hypothesis is suggested by the early mentions of the Chartreux as
"a type of blue cat whose pelts are traded by furriers." The pelt was valued
for the thick, wooly texture of the fur. It is possible that fur traders
and clothing makers named the cat after a type of fine wool called "pile
de Chartreux" which was considered very luxurious at the time.
CFA affiliated Chartreux breed club since 1983. The club publishes a newsletter,
"Griffonage", and gives the Gamon Award to CFA's highest scoring Chartreux
kitten, adult, and premier. Contact: Kitty Kisrow, 202 Scott Ave, Nashville,
TN 37206.
Large, active FIFe affiliated breed club which promotes the Chartreux throughout
Europe. Also publishes a newsletter. Contact: M. Simonnet, 66 rue de Ponthieu,
75008 Paris.
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Last UpDate : Friday 14 August, 2014, 21:53:02
Author : Alexande KAPPA
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