Nebelung

Things you Should Know about the Nebelung

The Nebelung is often referred to as the “longhaired Russian Blue.” While these breeds share some similarities and genes, they both have distinguishing features. The most notable one is the long silky fur coat of the Nebelung. 

These cats are affectionate and devoted companions and like to please their owners.

The Nebelung was created due to a cat-breeding program. The aim was to produce a blue cat identical to those imported from Russia during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. 

A cat with the Russian Blue’s physical traits and personality and a glamorous thick coat.

Some Russian Blues do have the longhair gene. These cats are the official outcross for the Nebelung breed.

Appearance Matters. What does a Nebelung look like?

A Nebelung cat has a long, graceful neck and body, long legs, a long tail, and a long coat. They are medium-sized cats but have strong and muscular bodies. The length of their coat is medium over the body, but it gets longer on the tail.

The Nebelung has a sleek appearance. The long and strong body sports a medium-length blue coat with shimmering silver tips. They have a long tail that is thickly plumed. Their ears seem large compared to their heads, but they fit elegantly. 

This long-haired blue cat’s eyes are yellow while it is a kitten, and they turn green during adulthood.

All males and some females have a ruff around their necks. These cats also have tufts of fur behind their ears and between the toes. Their hind legs have furry pantaloons. All this gives them a sophisticated aura. 

Their coat does not mature fully until they are about two years old. These cats can weigh anywhere from 5lbs for small females up to 16lbs for larger males. The average weight ranges from 8bs to 11lbs.

What colors do the Nebelung cats come in? 

At first glance, these cats look gray, although they are considered blue. Their fur will ideally be silver-tipped, which makes it seem as if their coat is glistening. 

This silver tipping often appears only on the head and the shoulders.

There are cases when Nebelung kittens are born with “ghost stripes.” This is a reminder of the tabby gene that exists in all cats. The stripes generally fade, and the cat is left with a solid blue coat by the time it matures.

What is the difference between Nebelung and Russian Blue?

The Nebelung is often referred to as the “long-haired Russian Blue,” and they are almost identical if not for the difference in coat length.

The Russian blue has a short and dense coat, and the Nebelung has one that is medium-long. It is also as soft as silk and thickened by a thick undercoat. However, the color and the silver tipping is similar.

It's all Personal. The Nebelung Temperament

The Nebelung cat personality generally makes them good companions. While highly intelligent, these cats tend to be a bit fussy. They also have a subdued personality. They are active but mostly enjoy the safety of staying indoors. 

The Nebelung breed feels comfortable when surrounded by their family but will often run and even hide from strangers. 

These cats will tolerate the company of other cats if they share a similarly quiet personality. If they are more active, the Nebelung might become intimidated. 

They are also excellent communicators and will remind you if something is bothering them. This could happen quite often since they are picky about their food and cleanliness.

Nebelung cats also like routine, so they may take some time to get used to any changes in your household. If you get one, it is best to socialize it early with all members of the household, including other pets. This will help it become more adaptable as an adult.

If raised by a good breeder, they can already be individually socialized during their early lives. This will make the job much easier for you.

Caring for your Nebelung

Nebelung cats need daily grooming in order to remove any shedding or dead hair. They have a medium-length double coat that is quite silky and soft, so grooming them is not a problem. 

However, it really needs to be done daily.

You should be careful when grooming leg and body hair. These are sensitive areas you should avoid. Some cats can have extremely sensitive areas around their backs, legs, and belly area. Use curry brushes to help with grooming. These will get rid of dead hair and debris from the coat.

Since they do shed quite a lot, Nebelung cats are not hypoallergenic.

The Health and Happiness of your Nebelung

These cats are quite healthy and moderately active. 

They can, however, be susceptible to several health conditions.

Calcium oxalate bladder stones pose a danger for Nebelung cats. All cats have a small amount of calcium oxalate in their urine. But, if it starts to appear in larger amounts, it can become a problem. 

This can happen because of genetic predisposition as well as diet and environmental conditions. You should always consult with your veterinarian when dealing with this condition.

Another health condition that can be dangerous for Nebelung cats is ringworm. This is an infection of the hair, skin, or claws caused by a fungus called dermatophyte. 

There are also different skin disorders that the Nebelung is prone to. One such disorder is idiopathic seborrhea. 

This is an inherited skin disorder that results in the overproduction of an oily substance. This substance causes clumps in the cat’s fur, which causes a nasty smell. If your cat is constantly scratching and has red, irritated skin, this might be the cause.

The average Nebelung cat’s lifespan is around 16 years, although it can be longer.

How Much Money Does a Nebelung Cost?

These cats might seem quite expensive with their luxurious coats and the fact that they were specifically bred so cats from Russia didn’t need to be imported. However, the truth is they are more affordable than many other breeds.

Nebelung kittens for sale can be found at a price of around $1,000. This price will net you a high-quality kitten from a reputable breeder.

The price can change a bit, but will not go lower than $600 or higher than $1,200. It all depends on the breeder, as well as the pedigree of the cat you want to adopt.

Feline History. Where does the Nebelung come from?

The Nebelung cats were first bred in the Nebelheim cattery by Cora Cobb. She had two cats, Siegfried and Brunhilde, and they both looked like Russian blues with long coats. 

She wanted to breed more cats like them and wrote the breeding standard. She wrote it in collaboration with geneticist Solveig Pfleuger.

Siegfried and Brunhilde were the base of the breeding program for the Nebelung. The first litter was born in 1986 and was given new breed status by the International Cat Association in 1987. The Nebelung cat was fully accepted by 1997.