Nebelung Cats
Cat Facts

Many people describe Nebelung cats as a 'recreation' of the Longhaired Russian Blue cat. They were originally seen in cat shows in Britain almost 100 years ago. Both Russian Blue shorthair and Russian Blue longhair were shown, but sadly, the longhaired cat faded into obscurity whilst the shorthaired cat went on to gain recognition in most of the cat registries across the world. Interestingly, the longhaired gene is carried as a recessive gene in the Russian Blue cat.

The Nebelung cat was bred to resemble the longhaired Russian Blue cat imported from Russia in the early 20th century. To this day Nebelungs are outcrossed to Russian Blue cats, preferably those with the recessive longhaired gene to ensure breed standard and increase the gene pool.

Cat Features and Characteristics

The overall look of the cat is a long, sturdy and well balanced cat that is well muscled. Come to think of it, everything about the Nebelung is long - coat, legs, tail and body.

Body: It is a medium sized cat, athletic, long, sturdy and well proportioned. Nebelung cats are graceful and well muscled with medium boning.

Tail: The tail is long and should be equal to the body length. The hair on the tail is long with a thick plume and the tail hair is longer than the body hair.

Legs: The legs are long and medium boned and the paws are characterized by tufts of hair between the toes.

Head: The head is shaped like a modified wedge and should be more pointed rather than having rounded contours. The muzzle is medium in length with puffy whisker pads. Its wide-set eyes are medium in size and slightly oval in shape. The color should be a vivid green, but a yellow-green is also acceptable. Nebelungs have large, pointed ears that are quite large in proportion to their heads. Ears do have tufts of hair on the back.

Neck: Due to the long fur, the neck appears short, but it is in fact slender and long and somewhat graceful.

Coat: The coat is blue and it has a lustrous sheen to it. The silver tipping on the hair gives the fur a luminous, misty aura. Nebelung cats are available in one color only - Blue! (At first glance the fur may appear gray, but a closer look will reveal a slate-blue color). The hair is blue from the root to the tip. Silver tipping is preferred and gives the coat a 'luminous misty aura'. Their coats have a lustrous sheen, it has often been described as 'shimmering'. In terms of length, the coat is medium-long. The fur gets longer from the shoulders to the tail.

The double-layered, water-resistant coat is soft, fine and silky. Climate and seasonal changes can be observed: In Summer the coat is less dense, whilst in Winter you can expect to find a fuller, longer and denser coat. Male Nebelung cats may have a neck ruff and the hind legs may have pantaloons. Their magnificent coats may take 2 years to reach full maturity.

Check all breeds of cat breed standards in your country

Personality and Temperament

The Nebelung cat breed is a good natured cat with a mild disposition. A highly intelligent cat, undemanding but quite talkative. They are lively active and playful and whilst they can adapt to indoor living they much prefer the outdoors.

The Nebelung is relatively shy and rather timid around strangers. They generally form long lasting bonds with a single member of the family and are exceptionally loyal. Getting to know your Neb takes time, but once they adapt to their new environment, you'll have a companion for life. They are loving and affectionate cats, who adore a warm lap.

They generally do not tolerate solitude well and it's said that they react badly to change - they prefer routine. It is recommended that if owners are away for extended periods during the day that they should get two Nebelungs.

Nebelung Cat Information

Would they suit a home with Children and other Pets?

Nebs (as they are fondly called), do not enjoy clumsy handling or rough play. So unless the family has older children versed on how to handle cats, they are not suitable for a family with toddlers. The good news is that they do tolerate the company of other cats and get on well with cat-friendly dogs

Indoor or Outdoor Cats

The Nebelung prefers to be outdoors. Outdoor living is ideal provided that the outdoor living area is a safe, escape-proof enclosure. They can adapt to indoor-living provided that you create an 'adventure zone' for them - a cat that feel confined will present with destructive behavior.

Cat Grooming and Cat Care

A longhaired cat needs more grooming than a cat with shorthair. Nebelung cats need to be brushed twice a week and this should be increased during Spring when shedding increases. Visit our comprehensive cat care information for tips on cat grooming.

Cat Health Concerns

This is a robust, healthy breed no hereditary or genetic issues. Like all cats, they do need feline vaccinations against the common infectious diseases. We also suggest you consider medical catinsurance for any emergency illnesses or accidents.

Cat Diet and Nutrition

Like most cats this beauty is a fussy eater, so be sure you establish a diet routine of their favorite foods early on! The Nebelung must be fed a high quality cat food. As it is a longhaired cat, it may benefit from commercially prepared cat foods specific to breeds with long hair - it may minimize hairball.

Our cat food and cat nutrition information will provide you with in depth info on all types of cat foods.

The Average Weight

2.5 kg - 5.0 kg (5.5 - 11.0 lbs)

Life Expectancy

A well cared for Nebelung will be around for 16 + years or more.

Related Cat Pages:

Nebelung - the origin and history of this longhaired cat breed

Pictures of Nebelung - beautiful photos of Nebelung aka the longhaired Russian Blue cat

Nebelung Cat Breeders - a list of cat breeders from around the world

Cat Photos Courtesy of:

© Bernard Boucher of Chatterie Le Fort del la Bosse Marniere