Nebelung. Information on this new breed of cat includes Nebelung history, breed description, characteristics and temperament and many pictures of the Nebelung.

The Nebelung is a new breed, intended to resemble a long-haired Russian Blue. It is a slender cat with a medium-long, silky blue coat. This breed is not widely recognized.


History

The Nebelung, essentially a longhaired Russian Blue, is named for the luminous quality of its silver-tipped coat.

In the 1980s in the United States, a Russian Blue male was crossed with a female that carried the longhair gene. The foundation stock for the new longhaired breed, the Nebelung, was taken from two litters of that cross.


Nebelung is a German word meaning 'creature of the mist'. These cats are judged on the same standard as a Russian Blue with the exception of their coat, which is mid-length with a dense plumy tail.


The breed is still uncommon and mainly located in America, but a small number of 'natural' long-haired Russian Blues have been discovered in Russia and there are a number of breeders interested in developing the breed in their theoretical homeland.

Description

The Nebelung is a long, fine-boned, graceful cat. Round green eyes are prominently featured on a triangular head with a blunt muzzle and erect, widely spaced ears.


The Nebelung's lustrous, silver-tipped gray coat is one of its most distinctive features. Its fluffy tail distinguishes the breed from the Russian Blue.

Hair is semilong on the body and long on the plumy tail. The overall effect is that of a romanticized 1900 cat picture.

Nebelung are intelligent cats, well mannered and fastidious, with quiet voices to match their gentle demeanor. Owners describe them as shy yet affectionate.


A Nebelung is highly loving to its owners and family members, but may be shy with strangers, especially young children.

Nebelungs are sprightly cats; many will retrieve objects and some reportedly can open doors.


Many Nebelungs are lap sitters, loving to be petted. Often they follow their owners from room to room. If allowed, they enjoy sleeping on their owner's bed.

Special Requirements

Even with the double layered coat, the fur resists matting and doesn't require the amount of grooming some longhairs do.

Still, Nebelungs do require a certain amount of care to look their best. Figure combing twice or three times a week with a good quality steel comb, and every other day during the seasonal shedding periods.