Nebelung

Nebelungs originated in America, with two cats named Siegfried and Brunhilde. Their owner, impressed with their beauty, decided to find out if she could start a new cat breed and sought advice from the geneticist of the American Cat Association, Dr Solveig Plfeuger.

A breed standard was written, following that of the Russian Blue, except with a longer coat, and they were named Nebelung – Nebel in german meaning ‘fog’ or ‘mist’ and Nebo in Russian meaning ‘sky’ or ‘heaven’. Nebelungs were first presented to the GCCF in the UK at a Russian Blue show in 2011.

The Nebelung is an active cat who will appreciate some climbing trees and platforms, and will enjoy food dispensing puzzles and toys. They are sensitive and will be upset by a busy household with a constant traffic of visitors, or loud, noisy households, this can result in behaviour problems such as inappropriate toileting and self-harm – scratching at the neck or over-grooming.

They won’t mind some time by themselves each day but will be upset if left longer. This cant breeds enjoys playing with his family, and loves to race around the house and climb the furniture. The Nebelung does well with positive clicker training. 

The Nebelung is fit and active enough to enjoy outdoor time, but care must be taken that they are secure in their own garden or cat-run. They may hunt and get themselves into trouble, and their silky long coat is not particularly weather proof, leaving them at risk of overheating in hot weather and getting very cold in wet weather. Their stunning looks can be a theft risk too.

The Nebelung needs to be indoors during the hot summer months, this cat breed is intelligent and does well in apartment living or home living, but does need mental stimulation and lots of exercise. 

Every cat is unique and each has their own particular likes, dislikes, and needs when it comes to food. However, cats are carnivores and every cat must obtain 41 different and specific nutrients from their food. The proportion of these nutrients will vary depending on age, lifestyle and overall health, so it's not surprising that a growing, energetic kitten needs a different balance of nutrients in her diet than a less active senior cat. 

The Nebelung will need a high-quality diet; however, it needs to be a high-quality diet that is appropriate for specific life stage of the cat. Protein as an ingredient, needs to come first. Dry cat food is a popular choice because it promotes healthier gums and teeth, however, wet food provides cats with more moisture. 

Other considerations to bear in mind are feeding the right quantity of food to maintain 'ideal body condition' in accordance with feeding guidelines and catering to individual preference regarding wet or dry food recipes.

The Nebelung’s longer coat will require fairly frequent grooming. The Nebelung will assist with grooming but this is a semi long-haired cat with fluffy knickers, so a daily check for dirt under the tail and around the mouth and ears is sensible, with a full comb through once a week. 

Remember that a greasy coat can be evidence that your cat is no longer attempting to groom themselves, which can be indicative of poor or failing health or excessive weight. As with all cats, Nebelung benefit from regular vaccination, parasite control and an annual veterinary health check.
 

The Nebelung will suit the quieter household, with older children or senior aged adults. They adore people they know well, but are worried and upset by noisy visitors or a constant stream of strangers. For the quiet, peaceful home, the Nebelung makes an excellent family cat.

Socialisation is imperative for all cat breeds, no matter how docile a breed is, with socialisation, cats learn how to get along with other animals and people. By playing with and providing the best care for your rescue, you will develop a close bond, and working towards reducing, and eventually eliminating, any negative feline behaviours with positive clicker training.

The Nebelung is one of the most popular cat breeds around the world. With its intelligent personality, fun attitude, and gorgeous looks, adopting this cat breed will be extremely rewarding. Please consult the adoption organisation, if you are adopting, for details on a specific cat’s character.