Let’s face it, there’s just something about a cat that has a light gray, almost blue coat that’s just impossible to ignore. Especially when you then take that cat and specifically breed it so that, you transform the short haired variety into a luxurious long-haired beauty.
And this is exactly…
What Nebelung cat breeders chose to do when they took the Russian Blue Cat breed and breed it with domestic longhair cats that possessed the “longhair gene”. And while some may argue that choosing to do so didn’t really “create” a brand new breed, nobody can argue that the results didn’t create an absolutely stunning looking cat!
But this doesn’t mean…
That owning a Nebelung cat is going to be the “right” choice for you. This is why in this article, we want to take a moment and discuss what it might be like to own a Nebelung cat so that you can have a better idea if adopting one of these dark blue beauties will be right for you.
So, without further ado, let’s dive right in.
Nebelung Cat Breed Fast Facts
Country of Origin: United States
Size: Medium to Small
Weight: 6 to 8 pounds
Eyes: Oval Shaped
Shape of Head: Wedge-Shaped
Lifespan: 15 to 18 years
Origin of the Nebelung Cat Breed
While it is true to say that the Nebelung cat breed “originated” in the United States, it’s hard to say that one would be able to “fully” understand where this cat breed actually comes from without taking a moment and look at the history of the Russian Blue cat breed.
Because…
At the end of the day, the Nebelung cat breed is really just a Russian Blue that has been breed with a domestic longhair. And don’t get us wrong, we think combining these two was a brilliant idea! It’s just that in order for someone to fully understand the history of the Nebelung breed they also need to understand where the Russian Blue came from first.
The Russian Blue Cat Breed
If you love the look of the Nebelung breed, you’re going to need to thank his Russian Blue ancestor for that, because this is where the Nebelung cat gets its magnificent blue coat.
And unlike…
The Nebelung breed that has only been around since the mid to late 1980’s, the Russian Blue cats have been around for several centuries (at least). You see, these naturally occurring cats have been reported to have been rather popular back in the late 1860’s all throughout Northern Russian particularly within the port city of Arkhangelsk.
And it was…
In Arkhangelsk, where they were first “noticed” by British sailors who thought it would be a great idea to “adopt” a few of them and bring them along on their travels. As a result, the Russian Blue or the Archangel Blue as they were commonly referred to back in the day, quickly spread all throughout Northern Europe where their thick fur allowed them to thrive.
Unfortunately…
Like many other domesticated animals throughout Europe, the Russian Blue’s population was seriously diminished as a result of WWII. So much so that the Russian Blue was almost whipped out entirely. Fortunately, despite the fact that the Russian Blue became a very rare breed, folks at the time recognized the need to “save” these guys and choose to mix them with the Siamese cat breed. This is why today’s “modern” Russian Blue has a bit of a “Siamese” look about them.
Now fast forward…
Forty years or so, and now you’re ready to understand where the Nebelung comes from because it was in the mid 1980’s when Cora Cobb of the Nebelheim Cattery decided to cross breed a Russian blue with a domestic longhair.
Inspired by…
A single kitten long haired Russian Blue by the name of Siegfried, Cora Cobb decided to dedicate herself to breeding Russian Blues with long hair.
And while…
This “decision” has a lot of folks very grateful, many Russian Blue “purists” were not impressed which is why, the Nebelung eventually went on to be “officially” recognized as tits on separate cat breed by the Cat Fanciers Association (CFA), the American Cat Fancier Association (ACFA), the International Cat Association (TICA) and the Traditional Cat Association as well.
Physical Characteristics of the Nebelung Breed
As we’ve already discussed, the main feature that sets the Nebelung Breed apart form his close relative the Russian Blue, is that unlike the Russian blue, the Nebelung will have a long coat. In fact, it is this “long coat” that’s a part of the breed standard that makes a Nebelung a Nebelung.
But apart from just that…
These guys are actually quite an attractive cat breed just like the “short haired” Russian Blue version. What, with their green eyes, long lean body and long tail, it’s clear that Ms. Cobb knew what she was doing then she went about creating this new “breed”.
But that’s not…
The only reason why one should consider purchasing a Nebelung kitten or better yet adopting a Nebelung rescue cat! You see, these guys are also a lot of fun to own as well.
Nebelung temperament
As we all know, every cat is going to have his or her own unique personality, however, there are a few things that you can count on when adopting a Nebelung. First, they are going to have a ton of energy, and second, if you’re looking to keep their long coat in “tip top” shape, you’re going to want to be sure to give our little fellow a good brush down at least two or three times a week.
Also…
It should be noted that if you’re looking for a cat that is just going to sit around that house all day and not be interested in having his or her own adventures, then this probably isn’t going to be the right cat for you.
You see…
These guys tend to be a bit “flighty” and while they are affectionate with their owners, they’re not going to be looking for constant attention form their “human” companions. This is why the Nebelung cat breed isn’t always considered the best cat for families with children. No this isn’t because they’re going to “attack” your kids, more likely their probably just going to ignore them!
Nebelung Cat Breed Health Issues
By all reports, it appears that the Nebelung cat breed is pretty healthy pedigree cat breed, without any obvious hereditary medical issues to speak of. That said however, it’s important to understand that the Nebelung cat breed is still a relatively “new” cat breed so only time will tell if this breed will continue to remain a healthy one as it continues to grow in popularity.
But even in cases…
When one is considering adoption a particular animal that has a healthy track record, we here at IndulgeYourPet still like to recommend all of our readers to take a moment and consider possibly purchasing a pet insurance policy for their new loved one.
Because…
Even in cases like the Nebelung breed, it’s still quite possible that you Nebelung cat could become sick or injured at some point during his or her life. And whether you know this or not, we can assure you that vet bills can be quite expensive particularly if your pet has a serious medical emergency!
Now will a pet insurance policy be “right” for everyone?
No, probably not. But how will you know if one might be “right” for you before you know what these types of insurance policies will and won’t cover, and how much they cost?
We don’t think it’s possible!
Which is why we choose to write our Best Pet Insurance Companies so that your readers can quickly have all of their questions answered and know for sure if makes any sense to buy a pet insurance policy.
