Nebelung

Physical Characteristics

This cat is graceful and long with green eyes and firm muscles. It looks similar to the Russian Blue, but there are some differences. The most striking difference is its coat length. The Russian Blue sports a short coat, while the Nebelung’s coat is covered with semi-long soft and silky hair; it also has a dense undercoat. The coat's bright blue color is accented by the silver-tipped guard hairs which gives the cat a glowing halo.

Personality and Temperament

This is a mild-tempered, soft-spoken cat that will rarely give you sleepless nights. Affectionate and playful, the Nebelung showers love upon its housemates but won’t interfere in every aspect of your life. The cat, however, is shy around strangers and may even hide under the bed to avoid facing them. Overall, it makes for a devoted and loyal companion.

History and Background

The story of the Nebelung breed began in the early 1980s when Cora Cobb, a computer programmer, gave a black domestic shorthair named Elsa to her son as a gift. Elsa later mated with a Russian Blue, producing a litter of five black and blue shorthairs. However, there was one kitten which had long blue hair. Cobb kept this curious male cat named Siegfried, and when Elsa gave birth to Brunhilde, another blue longhair, she also took it home. These two cats would be the first Nebelungs.

Cobb named the breed Nebelung, which means "creatures of the mist" in German, because of their unique appearance. And after contacting The International Cat Association's (TICA) genetics chairperson, Dr. Solveig Pflueger, she was advised to write the breed standard. She chose to keep it nearly identical to the Russian Blue standard, except for the part describing its coat length.

The Nebelung was recognized by TICA in 1987, but Russian Blue fanciers were hesitant in accepting the new breed. Moreover, they were reluctant in crossbreeding their cats, making it harder for Cobb continue the Nebelung line.

Finally, in 1988, the owner of Supreme Grand Champion Vladimir of Castlecats agreed to offer her a Russian Blue, in order to cross with one of Brunhilde's daughters. Since then, the Nebelung increased in number and fame exponentially. However, it has yet to be recognized by the Cat Fanciers Association -- something Nebelung fanciers hope to rectify in the coming years.

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