Chartreux Breed History

Chartreux cats have a reputation for being sought after by political elites and royalty. Former French president Charles de Gaulle reportedly was the owner of a Chartreux cat..

Legend surrounding the genesis of the Chartreux cat breed claims that these peaceful felines resided in the main monastery of the Carthusian monks. The tranquil lifestyle of the monks was said to pair well with these cats' laid-back demeanors and quiet attitudes. But as there is no formal documentation of these cats in any of the monk's archives, this narrative is just that—a legend.

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Another tale suggests that the modern-day Chartreux is a descendant of feral cats from Syria, brought to France by Crusaders sometime in the 13th century.

One of the first references of a French grey cat is in Joachim du Bellay’s 1558 poem, “Vers Français sur la mort d’un petit chat.” A cat of similar description is additionally represented in a 1747 painting by Jean-Baptiste Perronneau, titled “Magdaleine Pinceloup de la Grange.” Interestingly enough, the Chartreux is painted as a pet, which was still relatively rare for that time.

Officially, the first mention of the Chartreux breed name was in the 18th century. French naturalist, George-Louis Leclerc, Comte de Buffon, described these felines as blue cats of France. Until the beginning of the 19th century, not many people took note of these cats. Mainly used in the fur trade industry or to catch vermin in barns and homes, it wasn’t until post-World War I that citizens began taking a greater interest in the breed.

By the end of World War II, the Chartreux population had declined drastically, and hardly any of these cats could be found in the wild. Thanks to the efforts of various breeders around Europe, the Chartreux was saved from extinction.

By the 1970s, this breed was brought to the United States, where people also recognized the brilliance, beauty, and uniqueness of these cats. Today, the Chartreux breed is still rare, even in their home country of France.

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