The Chartreux is a robust French breed with a woolly blue-grey coat and copper eyes, re-established on the island of Belle-Île in the 1920s.
Quiet and calm, it is recognised in Britain but remains rare there.
The Chartreux is the blue cat of France: a sturdy, quiet short-haired breed with a woolly blue-grey coat and copper eyes. It resembles the blue British Shorthair but is a separate breed with its own history.
Origin
Blue-grey cats have been recorded in France for centuries, and the naturalist Buffon described the "Chartreux" in the eighteenth century. A popular story links them to the Carthusian monks of the Grande Chartreuse monastery, though the order's own records do not mention them. The modern breed dates from the 1920s, when two sisters on the Breton island of Belle-Île began breeding from the blue cats living there. Numbers fell so low during the Second World War that other blue breeds were used to rebuild it.
Appearance
The body is large, broad-shouldered and deep-chested, carried on comparatively fine-boned legs. The head is broad with full cheeks and a narrow muzzle, which gives the face the appearance of a slight smile. The coat is short to medium, dense and slightly woolly, with a water-repellent texture, and comes only in shades of blue-grey. The eyes are gold to deep copper. Males are much bigger than females.
Temperament
Chartreux are calm, observant and attached to one or two people. They are notably quiet, and many chirp instead of miaowing. They remain playful and are capable hunters.
Care and health
The coat is combed with the fingers or a wide comb once a week; hard brushing damages its texture. The breed is generally healthy. Slipping kneecaps occur, and breeders screen for kidney and heart disease.
Recognition
The Chartreux is recognised by the international registries and by the Governing Council of the Cat Fancy in Britain, where it remains uncommon: 16 kittens were registered in 2023.
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