Nebelung

The Nebelung is a medium longhaired cat with a solid blue-grey coat and green eyes. Its name comes from the German word for fog, a nod to the fine silver-tipped guard hairs that lend the coat a hazy, misted appearance. In build and manner the breed sits very close to the Russian Blue, and the obvious point of difference is coat length.

This is a quiet, observant cat. A Nebelung generally fixes on one or two favourite people and trails them about the house, keeping an eye on things from a comfortable distance rather than insisting on constant lap time. Among its own family it is warm and playful. When visitors arrive it tends to slip away until it has sized up the situation.

Because the breed is easily unsettled, it fares best in a calm, predictable household. Abrupt shifts in routine, noisy surroundings, or a steady stream of strangers can leave a Nebelung anxious and withdrawn.

Who it suits

The Nebelung suits people who want a devoted companion and can provide a settled, low-traffic home. It rewards owners who let it come to them in its own time and who keep the daily rhythm steady. It is a poor match for busy households with a constant flow of guests, very young children, or homes where the cat would be left on its own for long stretches, since the breed bonds hard and hates being left alone.

The Nebelung is a young breed that took shape in the United States through the 1980s. It began with two blue longhaired kittens born to short-haired parents. A breeder by the name of Cora Cobb is credited with launching the programme after she took on these kittens, a male and a female, and set out to establish the longhaired blue cat as a breed in its own right.

The breeding plan leaned on the Russian Blue standard. Since the longhaired kittens matched Russian Blues in body type and colour, that breed's written standard served as the benchmark, with a longer coat added to the picture. This kept the Nebelung close to its short-haired cousin in conformation while handing it a different look.

The International Cat Association granted the Nebelung championship status, and other registries have since recognised the breed. In Australia the breed remains scarce, and enthusiasts here look to bodies such as the Co-ordinating Cat Council of Australia and the Australian Cat Federation for registration. To keep the small gene pool sound, outcrossing to Russian Blues has been allowed in many programmes.

The Nebelung is still an uncommon cat. Numbers are low, breeders are few and far between, and the breed is not readily available across most of the country, which keeps it a fairly rare pick next to longer-established longhaired breeds.

The Nebelung carries a long, graceful body on fine to medium bone, which makes it lighter than its coat would suggest. The head forms a modified wedge with large, wide-set ears and a soft expression. Its signature feature is the silky semi-long double coat in solid blue, each hair tipped with paler silver so the cat seems to shimmer as it moves. A ruff about the neck and a full, plumed tail round out the silhouette.

Coat and colours

The sole accepted colour is solid blue, a clean blue-grey right through the body with no tabby markings, white patches, or other shades. The silver tipping on the guard hairs is what produces the breed's trademark misted sheen. Kittens are now and then born with faint ghost tabby markings that fade as the coat matures, and the adult coat takes roughly two years to come in fully. The fur is fine and lifts slightly away from the body rather than lying flat, and toms often carry a heavier neck ruff than queens.

The Nebelung is a gentle, even-keeled cat that bonds tightly with a handful of people. Around its family it is affectionate, quietly playful, and happy to stay within reach, often picking a vantage point from which to keep watch over the household. It speaks in a soft voice and is not usually pushy, though it does seek out attention from its chosen person.

With strangers the breed holds back and will often hide until the visitors have gone or until it has had time to settle. Warming to new people can take a while. Around other pets a Nebelung is generally easygoing when introductions are made slowly, though it favours calm companions over rowdy ones. With young children it may retreat from rough handling, so it pairs better with gentle, older children.

This is a sensitive cat that thrives on routine. It tends to baulk at change, noise, and disorder, and a stable home helps it stay confident and sociable indoors.

Grooming

• Brush the semi-long double coat two to three times a week to head off mats and cut down on loose hair
• Step up to almost daily brushing during the seasonal moult in spring and autumn
• Check behind the ears, through the ruff, and along the back of the legs, where knots form first
• Trim the claws every two to three weeks and check the ears for wax or grime
• Brush the teeth regularly to keep dental disease at bay

Exercise

• Set aside 15 to 20 minutes of interactive play once or twice a day
• Reach for wand toys and puzzle feeders to work the breed's clever mind
• Provide height such as cat trees and shelves for climbing and keeping watch
• Rotate the toys to keep a curious cat keen

Environment

The Nebelung does best as an indoor cat in a quiet, predictable home. It sets store by consistent feeding and play times and can grow withdrawn or anxious when the routine shifts or the household gets loud. A perch by a window and a few safe boltholes help it feel secure, especially when guests are about.

The Nebelung does well on a complete and balanced diet made for cats, with animal protein at the top of the ingredient list. As an obligate carnivore it needs plenty of protein and fat to hold muscle and a healthy coat. Working some wet food into the menu supports hydration, which counts for urinary health. Portion to the individual cat's weight and activity rather than leaving food out all day, since the breed's fine bone can hide extra weight beneath the longer coat.

Treats and supplements

Hold treats to no more than about 10 per cent of daily kilojoules. Fresh water should be on offer at all times, and many cats drink more readily from a wide bowl or a pet fountain. A diet that is already complete and balanced needs no extra supplements unless a vet advises them, for instance to support the joints or coat in older cats.

The Nebelung is regarded as a generally healthy breed and often lives 13 to 16 years with good care. It carries no long list of breed-specific faults, thanks in part to the limited gene pool and the outcrossing to Russian Blues. The most routine worries are the same ones that turn up in most cats: dental disease, weight, and the inherited conditions that can crop up in any pedigree line. Responsible breeders screen their breeding cats to cut the chance of passing on heritable trouble.

Preventive care

• Annual vet exams, shifting to twice yearly for senior cats
• Keep vaccinations and parasite control up to date
• Regular dental care, including brushing and a professional clean when advised
• Watch weight and body condition at home
• Keep the cat indoors to lower the risk of injury and disease

The Nebelung is a clever cat that picks things up quickly when training stays calm and consistent. It can learn to use scratching posts, come when called, walk on a harness, and perform simple tricks. Because the breed is sensitive and reserved, it responds far better to patience and rewards than to pressure. Harsh corrections tend to send it into its shell. Short, regular sessions in a quiet spot work best, and the breed's natural curiosity makes puzzle feeders and interactive toys handy ways to keep its mind busy.

Basics

1. Start in a quiet room with no distractions and keep sessions to a few minutes
2. Reward the behaviour you want straight away with a small treat or praise
3. Use the same words and cues every time so the cat can learn the pattern
4. Redirect unwanted scratching to an approved post rather than punishing it
5. Finish each session on a win and let the cat rest

Nebelungs reach sexual maturity at roughly 10 to 12 months, though responsible breeders normally wait until a cat is physically and behaviourally mature before breeding. Gestation runs about 63 to 67 days, and litters are typically small. Because the gene pool is limited, many programmes outcross to Russian Blues to keep genetic health sound, and queens and toms are screened before mating.

Kittens are sometimes born with faint ghost tabby markings that clear as they grow, and the full silver-tipped adult coat can take up to two years to come through. Newborns depend entirely on the queen for the first weeks. Early, gentle handling and exposure to ordinary household sounds matter a great deal for this breed, since sound socialisation helps offset its natural shyness with strangers later in life. Kittens should stay with the mother and litter until about 12 to 14 weeks so they are fully weaned and well socialised before heading to new homes.

Nebelung registration and microchipping in Australia

Torn flyscreens and doors left ajar send indoor cats to the pound every week, and a fair few states expect pet cats chipped and on the register anyway. A free United Pet Club profile means the scan pulls up your number wherever your Nebelung turns up. Register your cat in a couple of minutes, free for her whole life.

Scanners find chips in seconds; the question is what the number points at. Point your Nebelung's chip at a live record: free with the lifetime plan, open to all brands, kept current through every move without charges. Microchip registration plus a free account, and she's covered.