The blue cat of France, with golden eyes, has existed for countries

This breed is very old. Its short, wooly coat is said to have been sold as otter fur in ancient times! The Chartreux has apparently existed in France for many centuries. In the 16th century, Joachim du Bellay mourned the death of this little gray cat, Belaud.. In the 18th century, Buffon, in Natural History, refers to the Chartreux as the Cat of France, while Linne distinguished it from the Angora cat, naming it Felis cattus caeruleus, or blue cat.
There are many theories as to the origins of this breed. Legend holds that the Carthusian monks bred these cats after bringing them back to France from South Africa.
So what is the origin of this breed’s name? Some believe the name describes its dense, wooly coat that resembles a Spanish wool fabric called Chartreux pile. Others, such as Fizniger, posit that the breed is a cross between the Manul cat and the Egyptian cat. In fact, its ancestors may have been born in the harsh mountainous regions of Iran, Syria, and Turkey where they would have needed their thick coat. Some Chartreux were introduced in France during the Crusades.
In the 1920s, French breeders crossed the Chartreux with Persians. A formal breeding program did not begin until 1926, when the leger sisters began working with smoke blue cats roaming freely on Belle-Ile-sur-Mer in Morbihan, France. After defining their body features, Dr. Jumaud (1930) named these cats Felis cattus cartusinorum. The breed was shown at the Cat Club de Paris in 1931.
The first standard was published in 1939.
In the 1960s and 1970s, crossbreeding with Blue British Shorthairs was so common that the F.I.Fe decided in 1970 to combine the two breeds. So was the Chartreux destined to disappear? Indeed no. J. Simonnet, President of the Chartreux Cat Club, effectively proved the authenticity of this ancient French breed to the F.I.Fe, which then separated the two breeds and prohibited mating across the two breeds.
The first Chartreux arrived in the United States in 1970. Both the C.F.A. and T.I.C.A. recognize the breed.

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Characteristics

This well-balanced, easygoing, independent cat has a strong personality, though it is not very vocal. Affectionate and devoted to its owner, the reserved Chartreux enjoys solitude and tranquility.
This robust, hardy, lively cat is perfectly suited to cold climates and life in the open air, which enables it to develop it hunting instincts and ensures a quality, wooly coat. However, too much time in the sun results in brown highlights in the coat.
The Chartreux does not reach maturity until two to three years of age.
A curry brush must be applied weekly to maintain the wooly coat. Heavy shedding.