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Chartreux
Country of origin
France
Breed standards (external links)
AACE, CFA, ACFA, CCA, ACF, TICA, FIFe

The Chartreux is an internationally recognized breed of domestic cat from France. There is a legend that the Chartreux are descended from cats brought to France by Carthusian monks to live in the order's head monastery, the Grande Chartreuse, located in the Chartreuse Mountains north of the city of Grenoble (Siegal 1997:27). But in 1972, the Prior of the Grande Chartreuse denied that the monastery's archives held any records of the monks' use of any breed of cat resembling the Chartreux (Simonnet 1990:36–37). Legend also has it that the Chartreux's ancestors were feral mountain cats from what is now Syria, brought back to France by returning Crusaders in the 13th century, many of whom entered the Carthusian monastic order. The first documented mention of the breed was by the French naturalist Buffon in the 17th century. The breed was largely decimated during the first World War and wild populations were not seen after World War Two. A concerted effort by European breeders kept the breed from extinction. The first Chartreux were brought to the USA in 1971 by Helen and John Gammon of La Jolla, California. There are fewer than two dozen active Chartreux breeders in North America as of 2007.

Physically, the Chartreux is large and muscular, with short fine-boned limbs, big paws, and very fast reflexes. They have been described as "potatoes on toothpicks". They are known for their blue (grey) water-resistant short hair double-coats and gold- or copper-colored eyes. Chartreux cats are also known for their "smile"; due to the structure of their heads and their long, tapered muzzle, they often appear to be smiling. Chartreux are exceptional hunters and were highly prized by farmers. Patellar luxation is a common weakness in the breed which responsible breeders screen for.

Chartreux cats tend to be quiet, rarely making noises such as mewing or crying, and some are mute. They are quite observant and intelligent, with some Chartreux learning to operate radio on/off buttons and to open screen door latches. They take about two years to reach adulthood. Chartreux cats are playful cats well into their adult years; some can be taught to fetch small objects in the same manner as a dog. Chartreux are good with children and other animals. They are non-aggressive and affectionate, good travelers, and generally very healthy. Chartreux tend to bond with one person in their household, preferring to be in their general vicinity (often following their person from room to room), though they are still loving and affectionate to the other members of the household.

Trivia

Template:Trivia Historically famous Chartreux owners include the French novelist Colette and French general/president Charles de Gaulle.

In 1987, the Cat Fanciers' Association (CFA) advanced the Chartreux breed to championship status (Siegal 1997:27).

The first letter of the official name of a Chartreux cat encodes the year of its birth; all Chartreux born in the same year have official names beginning with the same letter. The code letters rotate through the alphabet each year, omitting the letters K, Q, W, X, Y, and Z. For example, a Chartreux born in 2002 would have an official name starting with the letter T (Fogle 2001:128).

The mascot of the world's largest jazz festival, The Montreal International Jazz Festival, is a blue Chartreux affectionately named 'Ste Cat[1]', after the festival's hub, 'Sainte Catherine' street in Montreal.

References

Fogle, Bruce (2001). The New Encyclopedia of the Cat. New York: DK Publishing Inc [Dorling Kindersley]. ISBN 0789980212.

Siegal, Mordecai (1997). The breeds. Chapter 2 in The Cornell Book of Cats: A Comprehensive and Authoritative Medical Reference for Every Cat and Kitten. Second edition. Edited by Mordecai Siegal. Villard:New York. ISBN 978-0679449539.

Simonnet, Jean (1990). The Chartreux Cat. Translated by Jerome M. Auerbach. Paris: Synchro Company. ISBN 978-2950600905. (This book's ISBNdb.com page lists "Auerbach Pub" as the publisher, but the book itself gives "Synchro Company, Paris" on an unnumbered page immediately following page 190.)

External links

• CFA profile
• Chartreux d'Europe