Chartreux Temperament: *Calmly Attentive *Placid *Sociable *Gentle *Good With Children *Excellent Hunter "The Chartreux thrives on family life, loves to climb trees (and leap back down!) and- like a dog- will come when called. Despite its status as a giant in the cat world, the Chartreux has a tiny, gentle voice that fits its happy, placid nature. Head: Large and broad; domed but not round; small break on nose Eyes: Round; orange, copper, yellow Ears: Medium rounded; upright Body: Large, heavy, and muscular; fine-boned legs  Coat: Medium length; soft, dense; males are wooly, females silkier Tail: Medium length; heavy at base Patterns: Any shade of blue- often tipped with silver Breed History: This robust yet regal cat with bright orange eyes has a wonderfully wise look that befits its legendary past. Supposedly, the Carthusian monks of Le Grand Chartreux monastery (famous for its green liqueur) took time off from their work to breed mysterious blue-gray cats that silently padded the monastery, keeping it safe from plague carrying rats. Others say the Chartreux came from the Middle East on crusader ships. Still others claim that it is descended from a common un-pedigreed European housecat. Whatever their origins, the Chartreux have been known and loved in France for hundreds of years. However, in the early part of this century they had become the rarest of all cat breeds. Until recently, there were only about a thousand of these cats left in the world. Fortunately, in the 1950's breeders began to take a strong interest in this elegant French cat and crossed it with blue Persians, British Shorthairs, and virtually any other blue cats they could find resembling the Chartreux. In this way, they hoped to breed back to the original Chartreux look- a wooly blue-gray coat, bright orange eyes and a husky, robust body with somewhat thin legs. In the 1970's, original Chartreux from from the French countryside came to America, where they gained championship status and a certain je ne sais quoi that makes them distinct from other blue cats. Additional Notes: