Chartreux Cat Breed
Size :
Medium to large
Weight :
males weighing 10 to 15 pounds and females weighing 6 to 11 pounds
Coat :
Medium
Color :
Any shade of blue, from ash to slate
Description
Often called the smiling cat of France, the Chartreux has a sweet, smiling expression. This sturdy, powerful cat has a distinctive blue coat with a resilient wooly undercoat. Historically known as fine mousers with strong hunting instincts, the Chartreux enjoys toys that move. This is a slow-maturing breed that reaches adulthood in three to five years. A loving, gentle companion, the Chartreux forms a close bond with her family.
According to legend, Carthusian monks bred Chartreux at the Grande Chartreuse Monastery in southeast France. The breed was named after the monks’ world-famous yellow and green Chartreuse liquors, and the cats were selectively bred to have quiet voices so as not to disturb the monks’ mediations.