If you’ve ever spotted a cat that looks like a piece of elegant storm cloud wandered in from a Gothic novel, you’ve met a “blue” cat. In feline fancier speak, “blue” doesn’t mean bright azure or sky colour. It’s actually a soft, silvery grey that ranges from pale ash to deep charcoal. This colour comes from a diluted version of the black gene, passed down from both parents to create that distinctive smoky appearance. The result is nothing short of stunning, but here’s the catch: five different pedigree breeds sport this misty coat, and from across the room, they can all look remarkably similar. The good news? Once you know what to look for, telling them apart becomes surprisingly easy. Let me introduce you to the Russian Blue, the Chartreux, the British Shorthair, the Korat, and the Nebelung, each with their own personality quirks and visual calling cards.
Russian Blue: The Elegant Aristocrat
Picture a cat that moves like a ballet dancer and gazes at you with eyes the colour of spring leaves. That’s the Russian Blue in a nutshell. This medium-sized breed is the poster child for elegance, with a slender, graceful build that practically floats across the floor. Their short, dense double coat has a silvery shimmer that catches the light beautifully, almost as if someone dusted them with fairy powder. But the real showstopper? Those vivid, intense green eyes that seem to look straight through to your soul. Kittens start with yellow eyes, but by around six months, the transformation to emerald is complete.
Personality-wise, Russian Blues tend to be reserved and a touch shy when meeting new people, but once they warm up, they become devoted companions. They’re the sort of cat who will follow you from room to room, not demanding attention but quietly keeping you company. One charming detail: their paw pads are typically mauve or lavender, a dainty touch that feels almost too refined for this world.
Chartreux: France’s Smiling Companion
If the Russian Blue is a ballet dancer, the Chartreux is a rugby player who moonlights as a comedian. This French breed, often dubbed France’s national cat, is built like a small tank: sturdy, muscular, and surprisingly heavy when you pick one up. Their blue-grey coat is short and slightly woolly in texture, giving them a plush, touchable quality that invites a good scratch behind the ears. Unlike the Russian Blue’s silvery shimmer, the Chartreux coat appears darker and more solid, without that glittering finish.
The Chartreux’s most famous feature is the perpetual smile created by the structure of their face and cheeks. Combine that with deep gold to copper eyes, and you’ve got a cat that looks permanently pleased with itself, as if it just heard the world’s best joke and isn’t sharing. Chartreux cats are known for being calm, gentle, and excellent companions for families. They’re less skittish than Russian Blues and more likely to greet visitors with curiosity rather than vanishing under the nearest piece of furniture.
British Shorthair: The Teddy Bear
The British Shorthair in “British Blue” colouring is what happens when someone decides to create the world’s most huggable teddy bear and accidentally brings it to life. These cats are chunky in the best possible way, with a broad chest, strong legs, and a round face that makes you want to squish their cheeks. Their plush, dense coat feels like stroking the finest velvet cushion, and their large round head with full cheeks gives them an adorably grumpy expression, even when they’re perfectly content.
British Blues typically have copper or orange eyes that contrast beautifully with their grey-blue fur, creating a warm, inviting look. Unlike the slender Russian Blue or the muscular Chartreux, the British Shorthair has a cobby, solid build that makes them look substantial and grounded. Think less “graceful panther” and more “distinguished gentleman in a very expensive suit.” Personality-wise, they’re calm, intelligent, and independent, happy to spend time with you but equally content to nap on the sofa while you work. They’re the ultimate low-drama companion.
Korat: The Heart-Faced Good Luck Charm
The Korat hails from Thailand, where this breed was traditionally considered a symbol of good fortune and abundant harvests, thanks to their rain-cloud grey coats and luminous eyes. This medium-sized cat is muscular but compact, with a body that’s surprisingly solid for its size. What really sets the Korat apart, though, is the distinctive heart-shaped face that looks like it was designed by a romantic poet. Their large, expressive green eyes (sometimes amber-green while young) seem almost too big for their face, giving them a perpetually wide-eyed, innocent look.
The Korat’s short single coat lies close to the body and has pronounced silver tipping that creates a shimmering, rain-cloud effect quite different from the Russian Blue’s overall silver sheen. These cats are intelligent, playful, and affectionate, with more energy and spunk than the reserved Russian Blue. They bond strongly with their humans and aren’t shy about demanding attention when they want it. If you’re looking for a cat with personality and presence, the Korat delivers.
Nebelung: The Smoky Mystery
If the Russian Blue decided to grow out its hair and embrace a slightly softer, more bohemian lifestyle, you’d get the Nebelung. Often called the long-haired version of the Russian Blue, this rare breed has a semi-long, fine blue coat with visible silver tipping that gives them an ethereal, smoky appearance. Their fluffy tail is particularly striking, often carried like a plume, and they tend to develop a charming ruff around the neck that adds to their romantic, fairy-tale look.
Nebelungs are elegant like Russian Blues but with a softer, more flowing silhouette. Their eyes range from green to yellow-green, not quite as intensely emerald as their short-haired cousins but still captivating. Personality-wise, they share the Russian Blue’s gentle, somewhat reserved nature but can be a bit more playful and less aloof once they trust you. Finding a Nebelung can be challenging, as they remain relatively rare, but if you do meet one, you’ll understand why cat lovers fall hard for this misty beauty.
Telling Them Apart: The Quick Field Guide
When you’re face to face with a blue cat and trying to work out who’s who, start with the eyes. Green eyes point you toward Russian Blue, Korat, or Nebelung, while gold or copper eyes mean you’re looking at a Chartreux or British Shorthair. Next, check the coat. Is it short and sleek? You’re in Russian Blue, Chartreux, Korat, or British Shorthair territory. Semi-long and flowing? That’s your Nebelung.
Body shape is another quick tell. If your blue cat looks like it’s wearing a plush teddy-bear suit with a round face and substantial build, that’s almost certainly a British Shorthair. A slender, graceful cat with a triangular to apple-shaped face suggests a Russian Blue. If the cat is muscular but compact with a distinctive heart-shaped face, you’ve likely found a Korat. The Chartreux sits somewhere between elegant and chunky, with a broad, smiling face and a surprisingly solid build.
Don’t forget the finishing touches. The Nebelung’s fluffy tail and neck ruff make it unmistakable once you spot them. The Chartreux’s perpetual smile and woolly coat texture are equally distinctive. And if you’re lucky enough to check paw pads, the Russian Blue’s mauve or lavender pads are a charming giveaway.
The Pedigree Reality Check
Here’s the thing: most blue cats you meet in real life won’t be any of these purebred beauties. They’ll be domestic shorthairs or longhairs with gorgeous grey coats and personalities just as wonderful as any pedigree cat. Only official pedigree papers from a registered breeder can truly confirm whether a cat belongs to one of these breeds. That mystery blue cat at the rescue centre might have Russian Blue ancestors, or they might just happen to have won the genetic lottery for stunning coat colour. Either way, they deserve all the love and appreciation.
The joy of identifying these breeds isn’t about gatekeeping or snobbery. It’s about appreciating the incredible diversity of the feline world and understanding the unique traits that make each cat special. Whether you share your home with a documented Chartreux or a beloved “blue house panther” of uncertain ancestry, you’re living with a small, elegant creature who has almost certainly taken over your heart, your favourite chair, and probably the warmest spot in your bed. And really, isn’t that the most important thing? These silver-grey beauties, pedigree or not, bring a touch of elegance and mystery into our lives, like having a personal storm cloud that purrs. What could be better than that?
Header image: Tamra Maew (The Cat-Book Poems) thought to originate from the Ayutthaya Kingdom (1351 to 1767 AD). Over a dozen are now kept in the National Library of Thailand.