Nebelung Cats: Long Haired Russian Blues

By Editorial Staff in Nature On 7th February 2016
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The Nebelung is the longhaired variety of the Russian Blue.

The name is German and means "creature of the mist," a reference to the cat's shimmering silvery-blue coat that seems to float over his body.

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.

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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.

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The primary difference in conformation between the Nebelung and the Russian Blue is coat length, otherwise, the standards are almost identical.

Whereas the Russian Blue's coat is short and dense, the Nebelung's fur is medium-long, silky, and possesses a dense undercoat. The bright blue color is contrasted with silver-tipped guard hairs and therefore the coat catches the light, giving the fur a luminous, misty quality. Even with a dense undercoat that makes the coat stand away from the body, the fur resists matting and does well with a good once-a-week brushing.

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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.

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.

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The Nebelung has a reputation as a gentle, quiet cat, somewhat shy, but don’t get the wrong idea.

This cat may have a reserved nature, but he loves to play (being especially fond of retrieving) and enjoys jumping or climbing to high places where he can study people and situations at his leisure before making up his mind about whether he wants to get involved. Guests will not receive his immediate attention and may never see him unless he decides they are worthy of his notice, but toward family members, especially his favored person, he is ever loyal, following them through the house and even riding on a shoulder.

Lack of attention can cause him to become anxious or fearful.

The Nebelung is a sensitive cat who doesn't like to be ignored and will be hurt if he doesn't receive the same amount of affection he gives.

While the Nebelung loves your company, he is capable of entertaining himself during the day while you are at work.

Unlike some active, intelligent breeds, he is not destructive but moves through the house with the lithe grace of a Russian ballerina. When you are at home, his subtle sense of humor and manual dexterity will never fail to entertain. Just make sure you laugh with him, not at him. He has a strong sense of self-worth and doesn't like being made fun of.

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This is a cat who does best in a quiet, stable environment.

He doesn't like change, and it's especially important to him that meals arrive on time. Count on him to be a faithful alarm clock in the morning, not so you don't miss work but so he doesn't miss a meal.

If you take the time to develop a relationship with a Nebelung, your reward will be a deep bond with this loving cat.