Group Classification: Shorthair
Country of Origin: France
Date of Origin: 16th century
Weight (M): 12-16 lbs.
Weight (F): 7-10 lbs.
Life Expectancy: 17+ years

History
The Chartreux dates back to 16th-century France. Some believe they were brought to back to Europe by Carthusian monks returning from the Crusades. These are the very monks who achieved fame for creating Chartreuse liquor, and the cat got its name by association. Others state that the cats were named for the fact that their coats were similar in texture to a fine wool cloth of the Elizabethan era known as'pile de Chartreux'.

General Description
The cat's thick, velvety coat can be any shade of blue-gray, from ash to slate, with the tips lightly brushed with silver. The copper or gold eyes of the Chartreux hint at its relation to the Russian Blue (their eyes are a deep emerald green) yet the two breeds are not genetically related.

The robust body of the Chartreux features a broad chest and relatively fine-boned legs. The broad head has powerful jaws and pronounced cheeks and a small tapered muzzle that provides a sweet expression. Blue is the only acceptable color for this cat, but variations of the color are permitted from any shade from light ash to deep slate. The full body on fine-boned legs can be described as primitive. Technically, they are neither cobby nor slender, but they are slim compared against the British Blue, a much stockier cat..

The mature adult should have a silver-tipped, woolly, dense coat. The eyes should be brilliant orange. It can be two to four years before a Chartreux' coat and eye color reach perfect standards. In old age, their eyes may fade back to the lighter tones of their youth.

Colors
Any shade of blue-gray, from ash to slate, with the tips lightly brushed with silver.

Coat
Short to medium length with a dense undercoat.

Health and Care
Chartreux generally adapt to any lifestyle. Their days combine short energy spurts and mellow relaxation. They enjoy interaction with people and develop games of their own with favorite toys. Many learn to play fetch both with their owners and with other animals. They tend to pick a favorite person who they will consistently prefer above all others, and they are known to form strong bonds with other animals in their family, including the dog. Usually Chartreux communicate in squeaks and chirps, but they can also vocalize with a resonant bass purr.

Despite the coat's thickness, it requires little maintenance. Run your fingers through the cat's fur to remove loose hair from the thick undercoat and you're finished. Chartreux do enjoy intimate interaction, however, so owners often comb the cat more for the simple joy of that exchange than for any grooming necessity.

Still rare in the U.S., there are often waiting lists to obtain a kitten from a reputable breeder. 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. Cats born in 2010 will be named using the letter "F".

Resources
None at this time