Yahoo Lifestyle 10 Rare Cat Breeds with Beautiful Blue Fur
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Blue cat breeds are some of the most beautiful and highly coveted pets in the world. Although blue felines are classified as one of the rarest solid colors, albino cats sit at the top of the list. Other rare breeds include blue, cream, fawn, lilac, chocolate, and chinchilla. If you're familiar with the most well-known blue breeds—Russian Blues—you’ve probably wondered what causes their blue-hued coats.
Blue coats can range from light gray to dark gray with an intense or subtle blue color throughout each animal’s fur. The color of each strand of a cat’s fur isn't solid. Each hair shaft contains granules of pigmentation that cause the outward color coat of cats. There's an underlying genetic reason that some cats end up with blue-colored coats. Researchers at UC Davis Veterinary Genetics Laboratory found that color dilution genes are an inherited recessive trait that certain cat breeds have which gives them an uneven distribution of pigment in hair shafts which makes the color of a cat's coat pale or diluted. All blue cat breeds are the result of diluted black fur genes inherited from their parents that manifest in their coat's coloring. All blue-coated cats have two recessive genes for this black dilution to occur and cause "blue" fur.
If you’re thinking about expanding your family with a friendly feline, settle in to learn about the physical characteristics, personalities, origins, life spans, and needs of the prettiest blue cat breeds!
Check out Country Living's ‘Life with Pets’ Collection and find more insightful cat content below.
Blue Burmese Cat
Personality Traits: intelligent, social, playful, highly vocal, and loyal
Lifespan: 13 to 16 years
Household Suitability: Homes with young children
Origin: Burma (now Myanmar)
Breed Details: Whether they're watching over the neighborhood from a window perch or playing with their favorite toy, Burmese cats are an engaging breed that enjoys being active but can be left alone for a few hours. They are loving pets, intellectually curious, and adapt well to change. These felines are friendly with other Burmese cats (not so much with other breeds) and can adjust to families that are big or small.
Interesting Feline Facts: Blue Burmese cats are extremely playful and can even be trained to play fetch. They are highly vocal cats and give lots of auditory cues to family members.
Blue Korat Cat
Personality Traits: intelligent, athletic, social, and affectionate
Lifespan: 10 to 15 years (some live to 20 years old)
Household Suitability: Homes with experienced cat parents and older children
Origin: Siam (now Thailand)
Breed Details: Blue Korat cats are known for their striking green-hued eyes and petite stature but have big personalities that thrive in active homes. The socially inclined felines need regular attention, thrive in environments with constant companionship and mutual affection, and do not like being alone for long periods. They need weekly grooming and plenty of outdoor space to stay healthy.
Interesting Feline Facts: Korat cats love interactive playtime that involves toys, climbing gyms, and cat trees.
Blue British Shorthair Cat
Personality Traits: calm, intelligent, affectionate, independent, quiet
Lifespan: 12 to 17 years (some live to 20 years old)
Household Suitability: Homes with older kids or without kids
Origin: Egypt (evolved from the domestic cats brought to Britain by Romans from Africa)
Breed Details: Blue British Shorthairs are round with a broad chest, strong legs, short plush gray-blue coats, and pineapple-hued eyes. The stocky breed tends to be reserved around strangers, loves napping, and brief playtime periods. Despite their easy-going nature, they are suitable for families with other cats and even cat-friendly dogs.
Interesting Feline Facts: British Shorthairs inspired Lewis Carroll’s Cheshire Cat in Alice in Wonderland and are the most popular pedigreed cat breed in the United Kingdom.
Blue Persian Cat
Personality Traits: quiet, affectionate, loyal, docile, sweet
Lifespan: 10 to 15 years
Household Suitability: Homes with older kids or without kids
Origin: Persia (now Iran)
Breed Details: Blue Persian cats love to take things slow and steady. The pretty cats are often called “furniture with fur” and are known for their sedentary habits, fluffy fur, and flat faces. They're content staying indoors with a regular meal schedule, period of playtime, sunbathing near a sunny window, or relaxing next to their favorite human. Overall, their friendly deposition, quiet nature, and ability to adapt make them popular among pet owners.
Interesting Feline Facts: They're a high-maintenance breed and need daily grooming to manage their long fur. Many pet parents give them regular trims like "The Teddy Bear Cut" which leaves fur at a length of 1/2–3/4 inch while leaving the tail fluffy and long. They're also surprisingly skilled pest hunters.
Blue Chartreux Cat
Personality Traits: intelligent, calm, curious, independent, affectionate
Lifespan: 11 to 15 years
Household Suitability: Homes with older kids
Origin: Syria
Breed Details: These beautiful felines are known for their gray-blue coats, muscular frames, and balanced nature. Blue Chartreux cats have unique personalities that are extroverted and introverted. Pet parents can leave them at home without worrying about them having a tantrum. Their balanced nature makes them ideal for quiet drama-free homes with regular schedules. They like playing with family members but also need periods of solitude for napping, hunting pests (like mice), or exploring without interruption.
Interesting Feline Facts: A chartreux cat is the mascot for the world’s largest jazz festival—Montreal International Jazz Festival. The mascot is named “Ste Cat” after the festival’s central location on Sainte Catherine Street in downtown Montreal.
Blue Oriental Shorthair Cats
Personality Traits: extroverted, athletic, affectionate, intelligent, very social
Lifespan: 12 to 15 years
Household Suitability: Homes with children and other pets
Origin: England
Breed Details: If you're looking for a cat breed that's overly affectionate, easy to groom, wants to tag along with you around the house, or come along for afternoon walks through the neighborhood, Blue Oriental Shorthairs are a perfect match for you. The felines are a result of crossbreeding Siamese cats with other breeds like Russian Blues, British Shorthairs, and Abyssinians to revive domestic breeds in Europe after World War II threatened to make many extinct. They aren't a good fit for you if most of the household members are away at work, school, or traveling for long periods of time. They crave attention, physical activity, and a relaxing home to be happy.
Interesting Feline Facts: Oriental Shorthair cats are highly intelligent and happen to be one of the feline breeds that can be easily trained to walk with a harness or leash.
Blue British Longhair Cat
Personality Traits: sedentary, curious, social, clingy, and adaptable
Lifespan: 12 to 17 years
Household Suitability: first-time pet owners, families with children and other pets
Origins: United Kingdom
Breed Details: Blue British Longhairs are known for their playful personality, fluffy semi-long coat (which requires daily grooming), and wide eyes. They enjoy spending lots of time relaxing with human companions, speaking to their family members, and spending time alone. Although they tend to be needy, most British longhairs can spend a few hours a day at home alone too. They can become overweight easily if their routine lacks regular physical activity or playtime.
Interesting Feline Facts: They need regular activity to avoid health issues. Many families choose to cat-proof garden areas, install an enclosed catio, or add cat trees indoors to encourage these sedentary cats to move daily.
Russian Blue Cat
Personality Traits: intelligent, well-behaved, very vocal, affectionate, playful, curious
Lifespan: 12 to 20 years
Household Suitability: Homes with older children or senior aged adults
Origins: Archangel (Arkhangelsk) Island in northern Russia
Breed Details: All of these visually striking felines have three physical characteristics that make them easy to identify: bluish-gray to deep silver with blue undertones coats with multiple layers, bright green eyes, and mauve or lavender pads on their feet. Russian Blues are usually reserved or shy when introduced to new people but will become playful once they develop a friendly rapport. This breed needs regular stimulation, weekly grooming to manage their dense double coat, and attention from their family.
Interesting Feline Facts: Russian Blue cats are close relatives of Siamese cats are very vocal and give human companions lots of auditory cues when they're ready to eat, play, or spend quality time in the arms of their favorite person.
Blue American Shorthair Cat
Personality Traits: friendly, gentle natured, affectionate, playful, loyal, adaptable, and not very talkative
Lifespan: 15 to 20 years
Household Suitability: Homes with kids and other pets
Origins: Europe
Breed Details: The popularity of Blue American Shorthair cats is a result of their pleasant personalities, dense blue-gray coats, and stocky body frame. Although the breed has short hair, it is very thick and requires regular grooming. These felines are highly affectionate, love playing, and having time to independently explore their surroundings. It's important to give them a regular schedule that includes a healthy diet and physical activity. They are friendly toward humans (even strangers) and can be left alone for long periods.
Interesting Feline Facts: This common domestic cat breed traveled to North America with early settlers like the Pilgrims to provide pest control on cargo ships.
Blue Nebelung Cat
Personality Traits: affectionate, loyal, gentle natured, intelligent, social, playful, and loyal
Lifespan: 11 to 18 years
Household Suitability: Quiet homes with older children or senior aged adults
Origins: United States
Breed Details: These wide-eyed cats are known for their solid green to yellowish green eyes, silky blue-gray semi-long coats, bushy tails, tufted ears, and fluffy paw pads. They are extremely loyal companions it's not uncommon for Blue Nebelung cats to form a close bond with their favorite human. Overall, Nebelungs are easy-going, friendly, and loving to their family members. Despite their cordial personalities, they don't like noisy households, are reserved with strangers, and take a while to warm up to frequent house guests.
Interesting Feline Facts: This unique cat was created when a domestic shorthair cat produced a litter with a Russian Blue in Denver, Colorado during the 1980s.
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