Nebelung

Familiar company and a silver-shimmering coat

When visitors arrive, a Nebelung may initially watch from a raised resting place. In familiar surroundings, the same cat can enjoy games and follow a trusted person from room to room. The British cat registry GCCF and the International Cat Association, known as TICA, describe this combination of reserve with strangers and affection towards family. When meeting a cat, you should therefore also find out how she behaves with people she knows.

The name evokes mist and the silvery tips of the blue coat. In cat breeding, “blue” means a blue-grey coat colour. The longer outer hairs lie above a fine undercoat. A long, muscular body, a full tail and green to yellow-green eyes shape the appearance. The coat can look denser or lighter with the seasons.

The breed was developed in the United States during the 1980s by Cora Cobb. Two blue longhaired cats, Siegfried and Brunhilde, were among its foundation cats. TICA accepted the Nebelung for championship competition in 1997. It is a separate breed related to the Russian Blue. A grey longhaired domestic cat cannot be identified as a Nebelung from colour and coat length alone. The ancestry of a pedigree cat should be traceable.

Settling in calmly and playing together

A new home is easier for a reserved cat to explore when she can begin in a quiet room. Food, water, a litter tray, a scratching surface and a hiding place should be available there. She should be able to watch from shelter without anyone pulling her out. Sitting quietly nearby lets her decide when to close the distance. Visitors should also allow her to approach them.

Once your Nebelung has settled, games that involve watching, stalking and then moving can be enjoyable. A toy mouse that disappears behind a box is often more interesting than something waved continuously in front of her nose. The cat should regularly be able to catch the toy. Some Nebelungs retrieve a thrown toy. You can try this with a suitable lightweight toy and see whether your cat enjoys it, without pressuring her to join in.

Firmly secured shelves or a sturdy scratching tree provide raised places to watch the room. Sheltered sleeping places at other heights should also be available. In a home with several cats, you should spread out feeding places and litter trays so one cat does not have to pass the other to reach them. A predictable routine, shared games and reliable care can help a more cautious cat feel at ease.

For practical play, food searches and quiet retreats, read Indoor Cat Enrichment: Play, Food Puzzles and Safe Retreats ↗

Everyday cat training: carriers, grooming and confidence ↗

Caring for the undercoat without pulling

The medium-long coat looks soft and light but contains a dense undercoat. These fine hairs can become caught among the longer hairs. You should comb the coat regularly with a suitable tool and check for small tangles between sessions. A thorough weekly groom can be a starting point. More frequent grooming is needed during shedding, with particularly dense coats or if tangles begin to form.

A brief daily check is often more comfortable than a long session after several days. It lets you see whether the comb passes easily through the coat and whether your cat is still comfortable being touched in different places. A few gentle strokes in an area she enjoys are a good way to introduce grooming. If she turns away or becomes tense, you should give her a break. The undercoat should not be pulled out with force.

Firm mats close to the skin should be dealt with professionally. Trying to cut them out with scissors can easily injure the skin underneath. Your veterinary practice can advise on a suitable approach and grooming tools. A suddenly dull coat, repeated licking or markedly reduced grooming should also prompt an examination. Extra brushing alone will not resolve the cause of these changes.