The Nebelung is a characteristic and elegant cat breed which is just beginning to be recognized by breeders. The Nebelung is currently accepted in CFF, TICA and TCA, and as a provisional breed in Catz.

The word Nebelung is German and means "creature of the mist."

Nebelung Cat Origin

The American foundation of this cat breed was laid by the cats Siegfried (1984) and Brunhilde (1985). Cora Cobb, the owner of Siegfried and Brunhilde, was very impressed by the beauty of her blue/grey cats. Siegfried and Brunhilde looked like a Russian Blue but with a semi-long coat. To find out if it was possible to start a new breed with these cats Cora got in touch with the geneticist of the American Cat Association. This geneticist, DR. Solveig Pfleuger, said that the breed was best defined as semi-long haired Russian Blue. Supported by DR. Pfleuger, Cora Cobb wrote the breeding standard according to the blue Russian, but with a difference: its coat length. Read Nebelung cat history by Cora Cobb.

Nebelung male TICA is the first association to recognize the Nebelung and provides the breed standard. The goal of the Nebelung breeding program is to produce a blue cat with the same type as those imported from Russia in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries and to combine this type with a thick shimmering coat of medium length.

Nebelung Cat Appearence

When it comes to the Nebelung, the operative word is long: long, graceful neck and body, long legs, long coat and long tail. Slightly oval eyes are a vivid green color, or sometimes a yellow-green. Large, pointed ears sit atop a modified wedge-shaped head that's more pointed than rounded. The overall appearance is of a long, sturdy, well-muscled cat.

Nebelung Cat Colors and Coats

The soft double coat feels fine and silky. It's blue and may be tipped with silver. Males and, to a lesser extent, females have a ruff around the neck. The fur on the tail is longer than that on the body. Tufts of fur are found behind the ears, and the hind legs sport pantaloons. The adult coat reaches its full development when the cat is approximately two years old.

The Nebelung Temperament

Nebelungs are mild, soft-spoken, and gentle. They are generally reserved around strangers, ranging from hiding-under-the-bed timid to warily eyeing intruders from a safe distance. Given humans' unpredictable behavior, this could be interpreted as a sign of extreme intelligence.

To their family, Nebelungs are like Russian Blues, affectionate and playful although not intrusive. They tend to bond with a select few humans and stay loving and devoted throughout their lives.