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At
a glance...
Body Size... Medium
Coat Length... Short
Life span... 15 yrs |
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Chartreux |
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Description... |
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This is a sturdily built cat
with a round head. They have a plush coat with a thick undercoat.
The accepted colour is blue, varying in shade from a mid-blue to plum
blue, and the hairs should be tipped in silver. The eyes are copper
to orange.
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History...
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 This breed of cat arose in
France. Legend holds that they were originally raised by the
Carthusian monks at the monastery of LaGrande Chartreux near
Grenoble, makers of Chartreux liqueur. Other sources claim that the
breed name is a reflection of their woolly coat, which resembles a
Spanish wool of the same name that was well known in Europe in the
18th century. The Chartreux breed of cat had almost disappeared by
the 20th century. In the 1920's, two sisters found cats of this
breed on the grounds of the hospital at Belle-Ile-sur-Mer in France,
and established a breeding program.
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Traits...
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Chartreux are agile, active
cats that are playful and intelligent. They may be taught to fetch,
and may learn to come to their names when called.
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Health...
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No breed specific health
risks have been identified.
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Summary...
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Kittens are born with blue
eyes that slowly change to a brownish-grey before achieving the
copper to orange coloration of the adult cat. The dense coat of the
Chartreux should not be brushed, but instead should be rubbed by
hand and/or with a chamois. The Chartreux is a
sturdy French breed coveted since antiquity for its hunting prowess
and its dense, water repellent fur. Its husky, robust type is
sometimes termed primitive. Though amply
built, Chartreux are extremely supple and agile cats; refined, never
coarse nor clumsy. Males are much larger than females and slower to
mature. Coat texture, coat colour and eye colour are affected by sex,
age and natural factors which should not penalize. The qualities of
strength, intelligence and amenability, which have enabled the
Chartreux to survive the centuries unaided, should be evident in all
exhibition animals and preserved through careful selection.
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