The German word ‘nebelung’ means ‘creature of the mist.’ This breed of cats is very aptly named because of two reasons: the silvery-blue color of its coat that resembles the mist and its taciturn nature which makes it mysterious like the mist. Being a quiet, loving domestic cat, it is most suitable for people who want lap cats, families with older children and senior citizens but are very difficult to find.
Origin of Nebelung
The nebelung is a fairly recent breed in cats compared to others. It was developed in 1980s to reproduce the Russian Blue cats with long hair that existed in the 19th and 20th centuries. Siegfried and Brunhilde, owned by Cora Cobb, were the blue-grey cats that resembled the Russian Blue immensely and triggered the idea of recreating the breed. Cora Cobb sought the help of American Cat Association’s geneticist Dr. Solveig Pflueger to remake or reintroduce the breed which was successful. The only difference between the Russian Blue and Nebelung is the size of their coat. While the former has a long-haired coat, the latter sports a medium sized coat. They can also be outcrossed without any fine.
The nebelung, though not very common, is recognised by The International Cat Association (TICA, www.TICA.org), Traditional Cat Association (TCA), WCF, LOOF, Cat Fanciers Federation (CFF) and independent cat associations in Netherlands, Belgium and Germany. However, it is still seeking recognistion from ACFA.
Appearence of the Nebelung
Nebelungs have long, sleek, muscular bodies with a long,silky and thick fur coat. The color of their coat varies from blue to grey and they have a long furry tail with wisps of silver hair. They have eyes oval in shape and the color ranges from yellow-green to green.Their ears are big and pointed with tufts of hair behind them. They have a wedge-shaped, pointed head. Generally male Nebelungs, and sometimes even the females, have a fringe of long hair around the neck. Their hind legs have a pantaloon-like fur. They have a very soft and silky fur which needs brushing twice in a week and grows to its full length at the age of 2 years.
Characteristics of the Nebelung
These cats are moderately active and very intelligent. They are not very vocal but their extremely curious nature compensates for their quite demeanor. They are very friendly and loving to the family but are not comfortable with strangers so they might hide when guests are around. They will be comfortable with a cat sharing their nature but not around the noisy and rowdy cats and dogs. They are lap cats and love being stroked. They are also not very receptive to change and prefer following a specific routine. However, early socialization can help them become more adaptable. They can be very choosy about litter, food and cleanliness.
Things to Know about Nebelung
The Nebelung is generally healthy. The medium-long coat needs twice-weekly brushing. Nebelungs are rare and may be difficult to find.
Picture of Nebelung Cat and Kittens
Video of Nebelung Cat
If you like this post, you can also read about other cat breeds here.
No related posts.
Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.
