Breed of the month: The Chartreux

We’ve recognised the Chartreux as one of the smartest cat breeds, but we thought it was high time we featured these loveable cats as our breed of the month! With its smiley features and interactive personality, the Chartreux is a much-loved breed with a fascinating history.

Holy cat!
The Chartreux has a fascinating history. Legend has it that the breed began being cultivated in Le Grand Chartreux monastery in medieval France just after the Crusades had ended. Apparently, crusaders had returned with many delights from abroad, including a few blue cats they had found in Africa. The monks of the Chartreux monastery – famous for making liquor, wine and weapons, apparently – applied the same dedication and work ethic to the continuation of their new feline mascot.

Because monasteries needed to be quiet places in order for the monks to pray (in between developing heavy artillery, of course!), it is said that extra effort was put into breeding only the cats with the quietest voices, so that they did not disturb the monks’ divine communion.

However, while this is thought to explain the way the cat evolved in Europe, the breed wasn’t promoted or classified until the 1920s, when two French women discovered them in the grounds of hospital – also, coincidentally, run by a Church organisation. Charmed as the monks had been all those centuries earlier, the French women decided to make a conscious effort to establish the breed – and thus the modern Chartreux came about.

Temperament
The Chartreux keeps its kitten-like qualities well into adulthood and loves nothing more than playing the fool. They love to be stimulated and will watch TV with you, interact when you’re talking on the phone (they think you’re talking to them!) and can even be trained to fetch like a dog. An intelligent and loyal breed, the facial features of the Chartreux make it appear to have a smiley face, which perfectly suits the personality of the breed.

Appearance
With a stocky body and slender legs, you would be forgiven for assuming the Chartreux was a clumsy or awkward cat, but this isn’t so. They are agile creatures, and their playful nature fuels their physical activities, with a love of exploring and chasing propelling them all about the place. Its blue-grey fur is very dense and water resistant, and as a result your Chartreux probably won’t be a fan of the old grooming brush.

When such an interesting history combines with a charming personality, the cat is sure to be a winner, and anyone who has ever owned one of these affectionate and entertaining cats will attest to the fact that there’s definitely something special about the Chartreux.

Image sourced by: Different Types of cats, Assets of Life and Blue Cat Farm