The Chartreux Cat (Felis catus) is a mammal in the Felidae family of cats. It is a rare domestic cat. A cat is a felid, or a feline.
The Chartreux Cat has short, thick, silver-grey fur, which is called blue fur. Unlike most other cats, it has water-resistant fur due to a double layer of medium-length, slightly woolly hair. It sheds its fur moderately. It is large and muscular with short ears and a fluffy tail. It has distinctive orange or amber eyes. It is considered to be highly intelligent.
It grows to 24-28 centimetres (9-11 inches) tall. Its tail measures about 21 centimetres (8 inches) long.
It may be native to Asia. It is found in France.
The Chartreux Cat is ultra-quiet. It is known as ‘the world’s quietest cat breed.’ It has a squeak, instead of a meow. It is said that it was bred to not disturb the monks in the Carthusian monasteries in Chartreux in south-east of France in the late Middle Ages.
It eats mice and birds in the wild, and cat food in domestic habitats.
The female cat is pregnant for 66-75 days, before giving birth to 2-6 young, called kittens. The kittens have thick fuzzy fur, which is replaced by the adult coat after around 60 days.
The Chartreux Cat lives, on average, for 12-16 years.
Location of photographs: Paris, France
Photographer: Martina Nicolls
Martina Nicolls: SIMILAR BUT DIFFERENT IN THE ANIMAL KINGDOM