Nebelung Cat Breed Information - Personality & Grooming

Nebelung Cat History

The Nebelung cat breed was created the same way as many others. A stray cat wandered out of the mist and developed into a unique new breed.

This cat breed began in the early 1980s when a short-haired black female feline and a black longhaired Angora cat produced a litter of three. One of the three kittens was given to the son of a computer programmer Cora Cobb. He named the kitten Elsa.

In 1984, Else produced a litter with a short-haired Russian Blue-type tomcat. Both the cat breeds must have a recessive gene of long hair because her litter of six included one longhaired blue color male. Cora Cobb adopted the kitten and named him Siegfried.

As this kitten grew, Cobb was very much attracted to his beauty and loving personality. On the other hand, Elsa again had a litter with a Russian Blue-type tomcat. It includes a longhaired female kitten that possessed most of the Siegfried characteristics.

This female kitten was beautiful with long silky hair, and Cobb named her Brunhilde. Now that Cobb has a matching set of these beautiful blue cats, she decided to breed them to preserve their loving personality and beauty.

In 1985, Cobb moved to Texas and took Siegfried and Brunhilde with her. In 1986, both the cats produced a litter of three blue longhairs. They also inherited Siegfried’s Russian Blue body type and Brunhilde’s longer, glossy blue fur.

However, at that time, Cobb was unfamiliar with the genetics of Nebelung breeding cats. She did not know that only Siegfried and Brunhilde can produce blue, longhaired kittens. This means that since both breeds had solid blue coloration and long hair, all offspring would have both traits as well.

Cobb named that breed the Nebelung. It is a German word that means “creatures of the mist.” It was believed to be an appropriate name for the feline that ran away whenever strangers visited.

Cobb was very much enthusiastic to see how this new cat breed would establish. Thus, on the advice of Dr. Solveig Pflueger, Cobb started making efforts to produce the cat. She wrote Nebelung’s standard almost the same as the Russian Blue, except for the coat length and general appearance.

In return, TICA registered the black Nebelung cat in 1987. Moreover, this cat appeared twice on the front cover of a Japanese cat magazine. They were also shown at the 1989 TICA cat show in France. In 1997, Nebelung was granted championship status in TICA that brought it national and international attention.

Today, Nebelungs are recognized by the following associations:

• ACFA
• CFF
• TICA
• World Cat Federation (WCF)
• Livre Officiel des Origines Félines (LOOF)

Nebelung Cat vs. Russian Blue

Nebelung cats look quite similar to Russian blue cats, but both do have a few differences. Check out the following table to understand the comparison of both cats.

Nebelung Cat		Russian Blue
Native to the United States		Native to Russian
Long muscular body		Short and compact body
Nebelung had a soft, silky, bright blue color undercoat with long hair		Russian blue's coat is short and dense
Large oval eyes, green and yellow in color		Round eyes, green in color
Partially hypoallergenic		Not hypoallergenic
High-maintenance cat Requires regular grooming		Low-maintenance cat Requires little grooming
Affectionate, independent, and excellent companions		Affectionate, calm, and smart

These cats are not completely hypoallergenic but you can check other hypoallergenic cats to get one for yourself.

Nebelung Cat Physical Attributes

Here are some distinctive physical attributes of the Nebelung cat breed.

• Body

  The body of this cat breed is well-proportioned and athletic. The overall body structure is long with medium boning. Furthermore, both male and female cats are well-muscled.

• Head

  The head is of a wedge shape and pointed. However, the long hair gives a more rounded look. There is a straight line from the tip of the nose to the tip of the chin with a medium length muzzle and puffy whisker pads. On the other hand, the forehead is straight to the level of the eyes.

• Nose

  The tip of the nose has a shallow concave curve that appears virtually straight. There is no stop, break or nose bump.

• Ears

  The ears are large and pointed.

• Eyes

  The eyes are slightly oval, widely spaced, and medium-size. Most commonly they are vividly green eyes or yellow/green mix.

• Legs & Paws

  The cat has long legs with medium boning. The feet are well-rounded and are of medium size with tufting between the toes. It appears to stand and walk on the balls of feet.

• Tail

  The tail hair must be longer than on the body or at least to the body length from rump to shoulder blades.

• Coat

  The coat is of medium size, all over the body with increasing length from shoulder to tail. The males may display neck ruff, and the fur is longer on the tail.

  Similarly, the texture of the coat is soft and two-layered, suitable for all climates, and resistant to water. The outer coat, on the other hand, is fine, silky, and semi-long, beginning at the shoulder where the coat is shorter. There are also pantaloons on the hind legs.

  Lastly, the adult coats may take up to almost two years to fully develop.

• Color

  The cat has a blue coat, and the undercoat layer is very soft and light blue with silver tips in contrast to the hairs of the outer double coat.

Nebelung Cat Personality and Temperament

The best thing about the Nebelung cat breed is its personality and temperament. They are affectionate, loving, sweet, and form close bonds of trust and love with their human companions. Moreover, this cat stays very devoted and loyal to its owners for their entire lives.

They are very playful and intelligent and love to follow their owners from room to room. They usually keep an eye on them and enjoy sitting beside or in the lap of their favorite humans.

Mostly these cats develop a special bond with their selected people and stay loving and dedicated to them. They quickly sit on their lap to receive petting and pampering.

Furthermore, the Nebelung cat breed likes a steady routine and does not like disruptions to their habits. They also need enough time to adjust to household changes and adapt to them slowly. But they learn their owner’s routine quickly.

It is not an ideal choice for those who spend full time working because they need love and attention. If you are leaving Nebelung alone for a long time, they may have trouble adjusting. Therefore, you must provide a compatible cat companion to keep them busy.

Early socialization may help them adapt to the changes easily. They are mostly soft-spoken unless something wrong happens. It may include empty food dishes or cat boxes that are not up to their standard of cleanliness.

Remember, Nebelungs are particular about their environments and get offended easily if something does not meet their standards. They make their feelings visible in such scenarios.

This breed is generally reserved around strangers, and their attitude can vary from hiding under the bed to avoiding them completely. Nevertheless, they are affectionate towards their chosen family.

Nebelung Cat Care and Grooming

The following are the tips that you must follow to groom this cat breed.

• Brushing 

The long and dense coat of this cat must be combed twice a week to remove dead hair and distribute skin oil. Moreover, they are regular shedders, so people with allergies should not adopt this cat.

• Cleaning Teeth

  Brush the teeth daily to prevent periodontal disease. However, weekly dental hygiene is also ideal.

• Clean Eyes

  Wipe your cat’s eyes with a soft, damp cloth to remove any discharge. Use a separate area of the cloth for each eye, so the feline does not get any infection.

• Check the Ears

  Check the ears weekly. Wipe them out with a cotton ball or soft cloth moistened with a 50-50 mixture of cider vinegar and warm water if they look dirty. Also, avoid using cotton swabs that can damage the interior of the ear.

• Trim Nails

  It is better to trim the nails of your cats every couple of weeks.

• Keep the Litter Box Clean

  These cats are very particular about bathroom hygiene. Therefore, keeping their litter box clean will also help to keep their coat clean as well.

Ideal Environment

The Nebelung Cat Patronus love to receive cuddles from their owners and are suited to apartment living. They also live happily with quiet and gentle children, dogs, and cats. Thus, they are most comfortable living in stable and structured environments without young children or high-energy dogs.

Most cat owners prefer to keep their Nebelung cats indoors only. It is to protect them from catching diseases spread by other cats and suffering attacks from dogs. Additionally, they do well in a variety of temperatures.

Diet and Nutrition

Nebelung cats are one of the largest cats. They need meat for fat and a high-quality protein diet because they are carnivores.

Also, they must never be fed dog food with excessive Taurine. It does not meet their nutritional needs because it is too high in carbs that Nebelungs can’t digest well.

It is better to consult a vet about your Nebelung’s weight and food. These cats like to have small meals throughout the day. Thus, leave the food out so she can eat whenever she feels hungry. Furthermore, plan out the portion control and do not give excessive snacks or treats.

Exercise Needs

They do not have a very high degree of exercise demands. You can provide them you different toys and other forms of enrichment around the house. It will keep them exercised, stimulated, and entertained. These may include cat gyms, cat scratchers, and interactive cat toys within a cat-friendly home environment.

Nebelung Cat Health Problems

As the Nebelung cat is a new breed, there are fewer chances for them to develop inherited conditions. They are considered a healthy and active breed but are prone to certain health issues given below.

Calcium Oxalate Bladder Stones

Cat’s urine has small amounts of calcium. If increased, it can cause oxalate bladder stones that can pose a serious issue. Moreover, this health condition can be because of diet, environment, or genetic predisposition.

Ringworm

It is an infection of the hairs, claws, and skin caused by a fungus called dermatophyte. This condition usually occurs in 98% of cats and spreads easily from cats to humans. The most common symptoms include circular and bald patches.

Skin Disorders

This cat breed is also prone to various skin disorders, including idiopathic seborrhea. It is caused by the overproduction of oily substances resulting in a bad smell. Red and irritated skin with excessive scratching is a major symptom.

Nebelung Cat for Sale

As being a new and rare breed, you must get it from a reputable Nebelung cat breeder. For this, you may need to travel further afield to find one. Moreover, this rarity means that they won’t often be found in rescue groups or shelters either.

An average Nebelung cat price is about $600 to $1200, but it can vary from breeder to breeder. Sometimes, catteries do not sell this breed if it is the only cat in the household. Therefore, be ready to spend some extra money to buy a Nebelung cat. On the other hand, the Nebelung cat for adoption can cost around $50 to $125.

Other Expenses

If you are purchasing a cat outside the US, you will also have to bear transportation or shipment charges that may cost around $1.54 per mile. Similarly, you may also need to get a pet carrier or crate with a price of about $9 to $30.

Other cat items with their average costs are given below:

• Food Bowl - $3 to $12
• Water Dispenser - $5 to $14
• Cat Bed - $8 to $30

• Litter Box - $7 to $25
• Cat Tree - $19 to $40
• Cat Toys - $2 to $20

Nebelung Cat Interesting Facts

The following are some interesting facts about the Nebelung cat breed.

Can a Nebelung Cat Qualify for an Emotional Support Animal?

This international cat breed is quite intelligent, less demanding, and loving towards its owners. They have all the traits that cat lovers usually adore.

If you are thinking about whether Nebelung cats make good emotional support animals, the answer is yes. They are extremely good house pets and tend to bond with one person over others. Thus, if you suffer from depression, anxiety, or any other mental health issue, this breed is definitely the right choice.

All you have to do is get a valid and authentic ESA letter to keep your cat with you. It will also allow you to travel and live with your support cat without paying any extra charges. However, you can also contact us at RealESALetter.com if you need a professionally written letter within 24 hours.